THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY OCTOBER 31, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

IHSAA COMMISSIONERS REPORT:

+++++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL+++++++

CLASS 6A

SECTIONAL 1

LAKE CENTRAL (3-6) AT CROWN POINT (9-0)

PENN (9-0) AT PORTAGE (0-9)

SECTIONAL 2

CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (6-3) AT ELKHART (6-3)

FORT WAYNE SNIDER (3-6) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (7-2)

SECTIONAL 3

ZIONSVILLE (3-6) AT WESTFIELD (7-2)

HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (4-5) AT CARMEL (8-1)

SECTIONAL 4

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (5-4) AT HOMESTEAD (6-3)

FISHERS (6-3) AT NOBLESVILLE (1-8)

SECTIONAL 5

BEN DAVIS (3-6) AT AVON (5-4)

BROWNSBURG (9-0) AT PIKE (3-6)

SECTIONAL 6

NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (2-7) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (7-2)

LAWRENCE CENTRAL (4-5) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (7-2)

SECTIONAL 7

SOUTHPORT (1-8) AT ARSENAL TECH (4-5)

WARREN CENTRAL (5-4) AT PERRY MERIDIAN (2-7)

SECTIONAL 8

JEFFERSONVILLE (4-5) AT CENTER GROVE (8-1)

COLUMBUS NORTH (4-5) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (4-5)

_______________________________________________

CLASS 5A

SECTIONAL 9

MUNSTER (3-6) AT HAMMOND CENTRAL (0-9)

MERRILLVILLE (7-2) AT HAMMOND MORTON (6-3)

SECTIONAL 10

MICHIGAN CITY (6-3) AT VALPARAISO (2-7)

LAPORTE (3-6) AT CHESTERTON (5-4)

SECTIONAL 11

WARSAW (6-3) AT CONCORD (8-1)

FORT WAYNE NORTH (5-4) AT GOSHEN (2-7)

SECTIONAL 12

LAFAYETTE JEFF (8-1) AT MCCUTCHEON (2-7)

KOKOMO (3-6) AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS (4-5)

SECTIONAL 13

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (6-3) AT ANDERSON (1-8)

NEW PALESTINE (9-0) AT PLAINFIELD (7-2)

SECTIONAL 14

FRANKLIN (4-5) AT EAST CENTRAL (7-2)

COLUMBUS EAST (5-4) AT WHITELAND (8-2)

SECTIONAL 15

TERRE HAUTE NORTH (0-9) AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH (6-3)

TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (7-2) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (8-1)

SECTIONAL 16

EVANSVILLE NORTH (7-2) AT NEW ALBANY (0-9)

FLOYD CENTRAL (8-1) AT CASTLE (6-3)

______________________________________________

CLASS 4A

SECTIONAL 17

LOWELL (8-2) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (4-6)

HOBART (8-2) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (2-8)

SECTIONAL 18

PLYMOUTH (4-6) AT MISHAWAKA (9-1)

NORTHRIDGE (3-7) AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (9-1)

SECTIONAL 19

FORT WAYNE SOUTH (3-7) AT EAST NOBLE (10-0)

COLUMBIA CITY (6-4) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (8-2)

SECTIONAL 20

FRANKFORT (0-9) AT LEBANON (8-2)

LOGANSPORT (7-3) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (6-4)

SECTIONAL 21

YORKTOWN (7-2) AT BEECH GROVE (7-3)

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (6-4) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (9-1)

SECTIONAL 22

DANVILLE (6-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (7-3)

BREBEUF JESUIT (3-7) AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (8-2)

SECTIONAL 23

SHELBYVILLE (5-5) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (7-3)

CHARLESTOWN (8-2) AT MARTINSVILLE (4-6)

SECTIONAL 24

EVANSVILLE REITZ (7-3) AT HERITAGE HILLS (9-1)

EVANSVILLE HARRISON (3-7) AT JASPER (8-2)

____________________________________________

CLASS 3A

SECTIONAL 25

CALUMET (6-4) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (3-7)

GRIFFITH (9-1) AT KNOX (10-0)

SECTIONAL 26

LAKELAND (6-4) AT GARRETT (5-5)

ANGOLA (5-5) AT WEST NOBLE (8-2)

SECTIONAL 27

PERU (3-7) AT TWIN LAKES (8-2)

WESTERN (7-3) AT FRANKTON (2-8)

SECTIONAL 28

MISSISSINEWA (9-1) AT JAY COUNTY (4-6)

NORWELL (2-8) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (5-5)

SECTIONAL 29

CASCADE (10-0) AT TRI-WEST (7-3)

CRAWFORDSVILLE (5-5) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (6-4)

JH PREDICTION: GUERIN, 42-21.

SECTIONAL 30

LAWRENCEBURG (8-1) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (8-2)

SOUTH DEARBORN (5-5) AT GREENSBURG (3-7)

SECTIONAL 31

INDIAN CREEK (6-3) AT MADISON (2-8)

NORTH HARRISON (4-6) AT SCOTTSBURG (8-2)

SECTIONAL 32

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (9-0) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (9-1)

SOUTHRIDGE (6-4) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (5-5)

______________________________________________

CLASS 2A

SECTIONAL 33

ANDREAN (8-1) AT WHEELER (8-1)

RENSSELAER CENTRAL (8-2) AT BREMEN (6-4)

SECTIONAL 34

SOUTHMONT (9-1) AT WESTERN BOONE (6-4)

SEEGER (9-1) AT LEWIS CASS (7-3)

SECTIONAL 35

MANCHESTER (7-3) AT EASTSIDE (8-2)

ADAMS CENTRAL (10-0) AT BLUFFTON (9-1)

SECTIONAL 36

EASTBROOK (10-0) AT ROCHESTER (9-1)

TIPTON (6-4) AT EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (9-1)

SECTIONAL 37

PARK TUDOR (5-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (9-1)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (6-4) AT MONROVIA (4-6)

SECTIONAL 38

NORTHEASTERN (9-1) AT TRITON CENTRAL (9-1)

LAPEL (10-0) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (6-4)

SECTIONAL 39

NORTH POSEY (7-3) AT SULLIVAN (7-3)

LINTON (7-3) AT GREENCASTLE (5-5)

SECTIONAL 40

CLARKSVILLE (5-5) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (7-2)

PAOLI (8-2) AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (10-0)

_______________________________________________

CLASS 1A

SECTIONAL 41

LAVILLE (6-4) AT NORTH JUDSON (8-2)

BOWMAN ACADEMY (6-4) AT WEST CENTRAL (9-1)

SECTIONAL 42

FRONTIER (10-0) AT PIONEER (9-1)

TAYLOR (6-3) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (6-3)

SECTIONAL 43

SOUTHWOOD (3-6) AT NORTH MIAMI (7-3)

TRITON (7-3) AT FREMONT (7-3)

SECTIONAL 44

HAGERSTOWN (4-6) AT MONROE CENTRAL (5-5)

SOUTH ADAMS (7-3) AT TRI (6-4)

SECTIONAL 45

SOUTH PUTNAM (8-2) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (6-4)

NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (7-3) AT RIVERTON PARKE (10-0)

SECTIONAL 46

INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-7) AT CLOVERDALE (6-4)

SHERIDAN (6-2) AT CLINTON PRAIRIE (3-5)

SECTIONAL 47

MILAN (4-4) AT EASTERN GREENE (2-8)

KNIGHTSTOWN (6-4) AT NORTH DECATUR (7-2)

SECTIONAL 48

SPRINGS VALLEY (10-0) AT PROVIDENCE (7-2)

TECUMSEH (6-4) AT NORTH DAVIESS (9-1)

___________________________________________________________________________

+++++++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL SEMI-STATE++++++++++

NORTH

1. ROCHESTER COMMUNITY
10 AM ET | M1: CROWN POINT VS. PENN
12 PM ET | M2: CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) VS. WESTFIELD
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

2. HUNTINGTON NORTH
10 AM ET | M1: FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER VS. HAMILTON HEIGHTS
12 PM ET | M2: NORTHWOOD VS. MISHAWAKA MARIAN
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

3. PERU
10 AM ET | M1: BENTON CENTRAL VS. SOUTHWOOD
12 PM ET | M2: LAKELAND VS. SOUTH ADAMS
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

4. FRANKFORT
10 AM ET | M1: FAITH CHRISTIAN VS. SOUTH NEWTON
12 PM ET | M2: ROSSVILLE VS. TRITON
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

SOUTH

1. MARTINSVILLE
10 AM ET | M1: PLAINFIELD VS. CASTLE
12 PM ET | M2: YORKTOWN VS. FLOYD CENTRAL
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

2. JASPER
10 AM ET | M1: JASPER VS. TRI-WEST HENDRICKS
12 PM ET | M2: BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL VS. RONCALLI
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

3. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
10 AM ET | M1: BARR-REEVE VS. GREENCASTLE
12 PM ET | M2: EASTERN (PEKIN) VS. TRITON CENTRAL
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

4. JENNINGS COUNTY
10 AM ET | M1: SPRINGS VALLEY VS. LOOGOOTEE
12 PM ET | M2: GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

______________________________________________________

+++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS/GIRLS SOCCER+++++

STATE FINALS

FRIDAY, OCT. 31, 2025
6 PM ET | CLASS 2A BOYS | GUERIN CATHOLIC (17-4) VS. INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD (11-7-2)
8:30 PM ET | CLASS 1A BOYS | FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN (17-0-5) VS. INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (17-4-1)

_______________________________________________________

+++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY +++++

STATE FINALS

SITE: LAVERN GIBSON CHAMPIONSHIP CROSS COUNTRY COURSE, WABASH VALLEY FAMILY SPORTS CENTER, 599 S. TABORTOWN ROAD, TERRE HAUTE, IN 47803.
COURSE LAYOUT

TIME: NEW IN 2025: BOYS RACE AT 12 PM ET; GIRLS RACE AT 1 PM ET WITH AWARDS CEREMONY FOR BOTH TO FOLLOW.

GATES OPEN: 9:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM CT.

________________________________________________________

+++++MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL+++++

WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, OCT. 24
TORONTO 11 LA DODGERS 4 (TORONTO LEADS SERIES 1-0)

SATURDAY, OCT. 25
LOS ANGELES 5 TORONTO 1 (SERIES TIED 1-1)

MONDAY, OCT. 27
LOS ANGELES 6 TORONTO 5 18 INNINGS (DODGERS LEAD SERIES 2-1)

TUESDAY, OCT. 28
TORONTO 6 LOS ANGELES 2 (SERIES EVEN 2-2)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
TORONTO 6 LOS ANGELES 1 (TORONTO LEADS SERIES 3-2)

FRIDAY, OCT. 31
LAD VS. TOR, GAME 6^ — 8 P.M. (FOX/FOX DEPORTES)

SATURDAY, NOV. 1
LAD VS. TOR, GAME 7^ — 8 P.M. (FOX/FOX DEPORTES)

^(IF NECESSARY)

_____________________________________________________________

+++++++++COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 10 SCHEDULE+++++++++

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

DELEWARE STATE 27 NORFOLK STATE 20

COASTAL CAROLINA 44 MARSHALL 27

TEXAS SAN ANTONIO 48 TULANE 26

________________________________________________

FRIDAY, OCT. 31

7 P.M. | BROWN AT PENN | ESPNU

7 P.M. | NO. 25 MEMPHIS AT RICE | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA AT SYRACUSE | ESPN

8 P.M. | SAM HOUSTON AT LOUISIANA TECH | CBSSN

10:30 P.M. | IDAHO AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | ESPN2

SATURDAY, NOV. 1

12 P.M. | PENN STATE AT NO. 1 OHIO STATE | FOX

12 P.M. | NO. 10 MIAMI AT SMU | ESPN

12 P.M. | NO. 9 VANDERBILT AT NO. 20 TEXAS | ABC

12 P.M. | RUTGERS AT ILLINOIS | NBC

12 P.M. | DUKE AT CLEMSON | ACCN

12 P.M. | UAB AT UCONN | CBSSN

12 P.M. | ARMY AT AIR FORCE | CBS/PARAMOUNT+

12 P.M. | NAVY AT NORTH TEXAS | TBD

12 P.M. | BUFFALO AT BOWLING GREEN | ESPN+

12 P.M. | TOWSON AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T

12 P.M. | NEW HAVEN AT SACRED HEART | ESPN+

12 P.M. | COLUMBIA AT YALE | ESPN+

12 P.M. | GEORGETOWN AT LEHIGH | ESPN+

12 P.M. | LONG ISLAND AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

12 P.M. | WAGNER AT SAINT FRANCIS

12 P.M. | ARIZONA STATE AT IOWA STATE | TNT

12 P.M. | UCF AT BAYLOR | ESPNU

12 P.M. | WEST VIRGINIA AT NO. 22 HOUSTON | FS1

1 P.M. | MONMOUTH AT BRYANT

1 P.M. | STONY BROOK AT MAINE

1 P.M. | GARDNER-WEBB AT TENNESSEE TECH | ESPN+

1 P.M. | DRAKE AT BUTLER

1 P.M. | DAVIDSON AT MOREHEAD STATE | ESPN+

1 P.M. | VALPARAISO AT PRESBYTERIAN | ESPN+

1 P.M. | PRINCETON AT CORNELL | ESPN+

1 P.M. | LAFAYETTE AT HOLY CROSS | ESPN+

1 P.M. | ROBERT MORRIS AT STONEHILL

1 P.M. | MERRIMACK AT COLGATE | ESPN+

1:30 P.M. | SAMFORD AT WOFFORD | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MONTANA STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO | ESPN+

2 P.M. | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MORGAN STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | NORTH DAKOTA AT SOUTH DAKOTA | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MERCER AT FURMAN | ESPN+

2 P.M. | VMI AT THE CITADEL | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MARIST AT ST. THOMAS-MINNESOTA

2 P.M. | FORDHAM AT RICHMOND | ESPN+

2 P.M. | EAST CAROLINA AT TEMPLE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | MONTANA AT WEBER STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | UT MARTIN AT EASTERN ILLINOIS | ESPN+

3 P.M. | ALABAMA A&M AT GRAMBLING

3 P.M. | ALABAMA STATE AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M

3 P.M. | ALCORN STATE AT TEXAS SOUTHERN

3 P.M. | SOUTHERN AT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF

3 P.M. | MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN

3 P.M. | UNI AT ILLINOIS STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | INDIANA STATE AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | LAMAR AT UIW | ESPN+

3 P.M. | DARTMOUTH AT HARVARD | ESPN+

3 P.M. | NO. 16 LOUISVILLE AT VIRGINIA TECH | THE CW

3 P.M. | NEW MEXICO AT UNLV | TBD

3:30 P.M. | UALBANY AT WILLIAM & MARY

3:30 P.M. | NC CENTRAL AT HOWARD | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | YOUNGSTOWN STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NO. 2 INDIANA AT MARYLAND | CBS

3:30 P.M. | NO. 5 GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA | ABC

3:30 P.M. | MICHIGAN STATE AT MINNESOTA | BTN

3:30 P.M. | PITT AT STANFORD | ACCN

3:30 P.M. | DELAWARE AT LIBERTY | CBSSN

3:30 P.M. | NEW MEXICO STATE AT WESTERN KENTUCKY | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | FRESNO STATE AT BOISE STATE | FS1

3:30 P.M. | OLD DOMINION AT UL MONROE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | LOUISIANA AT SOUTH ALABAMA | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NO. 12 NOTRE DAME AT BOSTON COLLEGE | ESPN

3:30 P.M. | NO. 13 TEXAS TECH AT KANSAS STATE | FOX

3:45 P.M.| NO. 15 VIRGINIA AT CAL | ESPN2

4 P.M. | SACRAMENTO STATE AT EASTERN WASHINGTON | ESPN+

4 P.M. | IDAHO SATE AT UC DAVIS | ESPN+

4 P.M. | TARLETON STATE AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN | ESPN+

4 P.M. | NORTH ALABAMA AT UTAH TECH | ESPN+

4 P.M. | HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT NICHOLLS | ESPN+

4 P.M. | WESTERN CAROLINA AT CHATTANOOGA | ESPN+

4 P.M. | DAYTON AT SAN DIEGO | ESPN+

4 P.M. | MISSISSIPPI STATE AT ARKANSAS | SECN

4 P.M. | OKLAHOMA STATE AT KANSAS | ESPN+

4 P.M. | CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT WESTERN MICHIGAN | ESPNU

4:30 P.M. | LINDENWOOD AT TENNESSEE STATE | ESPN+

5 P.M. | PORTLAND STATE AT CAL POLY | ESPN+

5 P.M. | EASTERN KENTUCKY AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS

5 P.M. | SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT MURRAY STATE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | JACKSON STATE AT FLORIDA A&M | ESPN+

7 P.M. | EAST TEXAS A&M AT SE LOUISIANA | ESPN+

7 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN STATE AT MCNEESE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | ESPN+

7 P.M. | PURDUE AT NO. 21 MICHIGAN | BTN

7 P.M. | WYOMING AT SAN DIEGO STATE | CBSSN

7 P.M. | SOUTH CAROLINA AT NO. 7 OLE MISS | ESPN

7 P.M. | ARIZONA AT COLORADO | FS1

7:30 P.M. | NO. 8 GEORGIA TECH AT NC STATE | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | KENTUCKY AT AUBURN | SECN

7:30 P.M. | NO. 23 SOUTHERN CAL AT NEBRASKA | NBC

7:30 P.M. | WASHINGTON STATE AT OREGON STATE | CBS

7:30 P.M. | WAKE FOREST AT FLORIDA STATE | ACCN

7:30 P.M. | NO. 18 OKLAHOMA AT NO. 14 TENNESSEE | ABC

8 P.M. | ARKANSAS STATE AT TROY | ESPNU

8:30 P.M. | AUSTIN PEAY AT SOUTHERN UTAH | ESPN+

10:15 P.M. | NO. 17 CINCINNATI AT NO. 24 UTAH | ESPN

10:30 P.M. | HAWAI’I AT SAN JOSE STATE | CBSSN

______________________________________________________________

++++++++NFL SCHEDULE++++++++

NFL STANDINGS: https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2025/reg

______________________________________________________________

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

BALTIMORE 28 MIAMI 6

______________________________________________________________

SUNDAY, NOV. 2

INDIANAPOLIS AT PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M. (CBS)

ATLANTA AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 P.M. (CBS)

CHICAGO AT CINCINNATI, 1 P.M. (CBS)

LA CHARGERS AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M. (CBS)

SAN FRANCISCO AT NY GIANTS, 1 P.M. (CBS)

CAROLINA AT GREEN BAY, 1 P.M. (FOX)

DENVER AT HOUSTON, 1 P.M. (FOX)

MINNESOTA AT DETROIT, 1 P.M. (FOX)

JACKSONVILLE AT LAS VEGAS, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)

NEW ORLEANS AT LA RAMS, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)

KANSAS CITY AT BUFFALO, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)

SEATTLE AT WASHINGTON, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)

MONDAY, NOV. 3

ARIZONA AT DALLAS, 8:15 P.M. (ESPN/ABC)

BYES: CLEVELAND, NY JETS, PHILADELPHIA, TAMPA BAY

_______________________________________________________________

++++++++NBA SCOREBOARD++++++++

ORLANDO 123 CHARLOTTE 107

MILWAUKEE 120 GOLDEN STATE 110

OKLAHOMA CITY 127 WASHINGTON 108

SAN ANTONIO 107 MIAMI 101

____ ___________________________________________________________

++++++++NHL SCOREBOARD++++++++

OTTAWA 4 CALGARY 3

PHILADELPHIA 4 NASHVILLE 1

TAMPA BAY 2 DALLAS 1 OT

BOSTON 4 BUFFALO 3 OT

CAROLINA 6 NY ISLANDERS 2

WINNIPEG 6 CHICAGO 3

PITTSBURGH 4 MINNESOTA 1

VANCOUVER 4 ST. LOUIS 3

NY RANGERS 4 EDMONTON 3 OT

SAN JOSE 5 NEW JERSEY 2

DETROIT 4 LOS ANGELES 3

____________________________________________

+++++++MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER+++++++

2025 MLS PLAYOFF GLANCE

ALL TIMES EDT

FIRST ROUND – BEST OF 3 (X-IF NECESSARY)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PHILADELPHIA VS. CHICAGO

SUNDAY, OCT. 26: PHILADELPHIA 2 CHICAGO 2 (PHILADELPHIA WINS PK)

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: PHILADELPHIA AT CHICAGO 5:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: CHICAGO AT PHILADELPHIA, TBD

___________________________________________________________

CINCINNATI VS. COLUMBUS

CINCINNATI 1 COLUMBUS 0

SUNDAY, NOV. 2: CINCINNATI AT COLUMBUS, 6:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: COLUMBUS AT CINCINNATI, TBD

___________________________________________________________

MIAMI VS. NASHVILLE

MIAMI 3 NASHVILLE 1

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: MIAMI AT NASHVILLE, 7:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: NASHVILLE AT MIAMI, TBD

___________________________________________________________

CHARLOTTE VS. NEW YORK CITY

NEW YORK CITY 1 CHAROLTTE 0

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: CHARLOTTE AT NEW YORK CITY, 3:30 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 7: NEW YORK CITY AT CHARLOTTE, TBD

___________________________________________________________

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SAN DIEGO VS. PORTLAND

SUNDAY, OCT. 26: SAN DIEGO 2 PORTLAND 1

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: SAN DIEGO AT PORTLAND 9:30 P.M.

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 9: PORTLAND AT SAN DIEGO, TBD

___________________________________________________________

VANCOUVER VS. DALLAS

SATURDAY, OCT. 26: VANCOUVER 3 DALLAS 0

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: VANCOUVER AT DALLAS, 9:30 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 7: DALLAS AT VANCOUVER, TBD

___________________________________________________________

MINNESOTA VS. SEATTLE

MINNESOTA 0 SEATTLE 0 (MINNESOTA WINS ON PK)

MONDAY, NOV. 3: MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE, 10:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: SEATTLE AT MINNESOTA, TBD

___________________________________________________________

LOS ANGELES FC VS. AUSTIN

LOS ANGELES 2 AUSTIN 1

SUNDAY, NOV. 2: LOS ANGELES FC AT AUSTIN, 8:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: AUSTIN AT LOS ANGELES FC, TBD

___________________________________________________________

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

NOV. 22 – NOV. 23

EASTERN CONFERENCE: TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE: TBD

CONFERENCE FINAL

NOV. 29 – NOV. 30

SEMIFINAL WINNERS, TBD

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, DEC. 6: CONFERENCE FINAL WINNERS, 2:30 P.M.

______________________________________________________________

+++++TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES+++++

++++++++++WORLD SERIES NEWS++++++++++

DODGERS CONSIDERING POTENTIAL GAME 7 ROLES FOR OHTANI

TORONTO (AP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will consider using Shohei Ohtani as an opener or even as an outfielder in Game 7 if Los Angeles forces the World Series against Toronto to the limit.

The two-way star threw 93 pitches in Wednesday’s 6-2 loss in Game 4 and could be available as a reliever this weekend in Toronto.

However, if Ohtani entered as a reliever after starting the game as a designated hitter, the Dodgers would lose their DH. He can remain in the game as a DH if he also is the starting pitcher.

“I think we would consider everything,” Roberts said Thursday, a day ahead of Game 6. “It’s more of just kind of doing whatever we can to get through tomorrow and then pick up the pieces and then see what’s the best way to attack a potential Game 7. So everything should be on the table and will be, for sure.”

Roberts said he planned to discuss options with Ohtani later Thursday.

Ohtani has never pitched in relief during his Major League Baseball career. He made a handful of relief appearances in Japan for the Pacific League’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, mostly as a rookie in 2013. He closed out Japan’s victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final against the United States, striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out.

Ohtani took on-field batting practice Thursday, which he rarely does, appearing to hit balls off the hotel behind center field.

He is batting .250 with eight homers, 14 RBIs and 14 walks in the postseason for a 1.109 OPS and is 2-1 on the mound with a 3.50 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 18 innings.

If Ohtani entered as a reliever after starting as a DH, he would need to play a position to remain in the game once his mound appearance is over.

He made seven outfield appearances with the Angels in 2021, the year before a rule was changed allowing starting pitchers to stay in games at DH after being removed from mound appearances.

DODGERS PLAN TO ‘LEAVE IT ALL OUT THERE’ WITH JAYS ONE WIN AWAY FROM HISTORY

TORONTO — In their two previous World Series championship triumphs in 1992 and 1993, the Toronto Blue Jays won a dramatic Game 6 each time.

They have a chance to repeat history Friday night by clinching the World Series title against the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6.

Toronto needed 11 innings in Game 6 to defeat the Atlanta Braves in 1992. The next year, it took Joe Carter’s three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to take Game 6 and vanquish the Philadelphia Phillies.

Toronto is 5-2 all-time in Game 6 scenarios. But older Blue Jays fans will remember 1985, when the Blue Jays lost Games 6 and 7 at home to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.

The Dodgers will need a repeat performance from right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 1.57 ERA) to have a chance to force Game 7.

He allowed one run and four hits in a complete-game victory in Game 2 in which he retired his final 20 batters.

“Yes, it did give me a certain level of confidence,” Yamamoto said on Wednesday. “But now my mind is reset and then just focusing on the new game.”

The Dodgers have struggled scoring runs all postseason, particularly in the World Series where they have batted .201 and have been outscored 29-18. They have relied on strong starting pitching in the postseason that has not always been there in the World Series. An undependable bullpen has compounded matters, and so has some sloppy fielding.

“I think right now, we’ve got to find a way to win one game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Thursday. “They just have to compete and fight in the batter’s box. It’s one-on-one, the hitter versus the pitcher, and that’s it.”

Yamamoto’s opponent again will be right-hander Kevin Gausman (2-2, 2.55), who also pitched well in Game 2, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Gausman looks forward to the assignment.

“Rogers Centre is going to be fun. It’s going to be electric,” he said. “It’s going to be everything that it has been for the last month and probably more. … The fans there have been awesome, especially lately. They bring the energy, they pick us up when we need it.”

“It should be a fun rematch,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “I think Kev’s outing kind of got overlooked because Yamamoto was so good in Game 2. Kev kind of matched him pitch for pitch there until the seventh.”

They will have trouble matching the electric performance of Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage, who struck out 12 in allowing one run and three hits over seven innings in Game 5.

George Springer has missed the past two games with a side issue but could return to Toronto’s lineup on Friday. He nearly played in Game 5, according to his manager.

“He was right on the fence,” Schneider said. “I think he probably could have. I was really juggling what’s best for him, what’s best for the team, not just immediately to start the game, but kind of how that game may unfold too. … He was close, and he was ready to come in. I’m glad we didn’t need him and got him an extra couple days, but hopefully he’s good to go (Friday).”

The defending champion Dodgers have been in these situations before. Last year, they escaped elimination in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres by taking Games 4 and 5 en route to the title.

“I think elimination games, which we’ve had a lot of experience with, are all mindset,” Roberts said. “It’s fight or flight, it’s whatever adage or saying you want to kind of come, leave it all out there.”

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++++++++++++BASEBALL NEWS++++++++++++

TWINS HIRE FORMER COACH AND EX-PIRATES SKIPPER DEREK SHELTON AS MANAGER

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have picked former bench coach Derek Shelton, who managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for five-plus years, as their new manager.

The Twins made a formal announcement on Thursday and scheduled an introductory news conference for Shelton on Tuesday.

Shelton had an overall record of 306-440 with the Pirates before he was fired on May 8, just 40 games into this season. The 55-year-old was the bench coach for the Twins in 2018 and 2019 under two different managers, Paul Molitor and Rocco Baldelli. With the under-funded Pirates, Shelton never finished higher than fourth place in the NL Central or better than 76-86.

“We’ve seen firsthand the trust and respect he earns from players and how he helps them reach their best,” Twins President Derek Falvey said in a statement distributed by the team. “His journey, through both the successes and the tough stretches, has given him real perspective as a leader. That balance and his connection to what this place means to people will serve our players and staff well as we work to build something lasting for our fans and for Minnesota.”

Shelton will be the 15th manager of the Twins, who began in 1961 after the franchise moved from Washington, but he’s the first hire in their history with previous experience as a major league manager. Shelton, a native of Carbondale, Illinois, began his professional coaching career in 1997 in the New York Yankees farm system he played two seasons in. He had major league jobs on staffs with Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Toronto, with a total of 12 seasons as a hitting coach.

NATIONALS FINALIZING HIRE OF 33-YEAR-OLD BLAKE BUTERA AS MANAGER, AP SOURCE SAYS

The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because nothing had been announced. The Nationals fired Dave Martinez in July, and Miguel Cairo took over on an interim basis.

Butera would be the youngest manager since Minnesota’s Frank Quilici in 1972, according to ESPN, which first reported Butera’s hiring.

Washington has had six straight losing seasons since Martinez managed them to the 2019 World Series title. The Nationals went 66-96 this year.

Washington also fired president and general manager Mike Rizzo in July. Paul Toboni is the team’s new president of baseball operations.

Butera was a senior director of player development in the Tampa Bay organization. He played two seasons in the Rays’ minor league system after being drafted in the 35th round out of Boston College in 2015. It did not take him long to go into managing.

He was a bench coach for short-season Hudson Valley in 2017, then was promoted to manager the following year, becoming the youngest skipper in minor league baseball at 25. He managed Hudson Valley for two seasons and Class A Charleston (2021-22) for two more.

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+++++++++++NFL NEWS+++++++++++

Lamar Jackson throws for 4 TDs in return as Ravens rout Dolphins

In his return to action after missing more than a month, Lamar Jackson threw four touchdown passes while leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 28-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Jackson, who played for the Ravens (3-5) for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury on Sept. 28, completed 18 of 23 passes for 204 yards, no interceptions and a 143.2 passer rating.

It was the second consecutive victory for Baltimore, which hopes to become only the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs after losing five of its first six games to start a season.

The Dolphins (2-7) failed in a bid to win back-to-back games after snapping a three-game skid on Sunday at Atlanta.

Three of Jackson’s touchdown passes went to tight ends as he connected with Mark Andrews twice in the first half and fired his third to Charlie Kolar with 8:09 left in the third quarter to cap an 11-play, 68-yard drive to open the second half.

Ravens running back Derrick Henry did not score, but he ran for 119 yards on 19 carries and accomplished another career milestone when he became the 17th player in NFL history to eclipse the 12,000-yard career rushing mark.

De’Von Achane led the Dolphins with 67 rushing yards on 14 carries and caught six passes for 39 yards. However, Miami squandered numerous opportunities to reach the end zone. The Dolphins went 0-for-3 in red zone chances, and despite advancing into Baltimore territory five times, they wound up with just two field goals.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled just five days after throwing a season-high four touchdown passes against the Falcons. On Thursday, Tagovailoa completed 25 of 40 passes for 261 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

The Dolphins also sustained a pair of key injuries. Linebacker Chop Robinson exited the game in the second quarter with a head injury and was later ruled out due to a concussion. Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II injured an ankle in the first half and did not return.

49ERS VISIT THE GIANTS LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM THEIR LOSS AT HOUSTON

San Francisco (5-3) at NY Giants (2-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS

BetMGM line: 49ers by 2 1/2

Against the spread: 49ers 4-4, Giants 4-4

Series record: 49ers lead 22-21.

Last meeting: 49ers beat Giants 30-12 on Sept. 21, 2023, at San Francisco.

Last week: 49ers lost to Texans 26-15; Giants lost to Eagles 38-20.

49ers offense: overall (13), rush (30), pass (2), scoring (26)

49ers defense: overall (22), rush (15), pass (22), scoring (8)

Giants offense: overall (18), rush (15), pass (18), scoring (23)

Giants defense: overall (29), rush (30), pass (24), scoring (T26)

Turnover differential: 49ers minus-5; Giants minus-4

49ers player to watch

WR Jauan Jennings. After nearly getting 1,000 yards receiving in 2024, Jennings has struggled this season while dealing with a variety of injuries and has only 18 catches for 212 yards. But Jennings did show some flashes last week when he had four receptions for 45 yards, including a difficult 25-yarder that set up a touchdown.

Giants player to watch

DT Dexter Lawrence. His production is down, leading to criticism from retired linebacker-turned-radio analyst Carl Banks, which Lawrence took issue with, calling it “delusional.” Opponents are double-teaming and focusing on Lawrence, so measuring his play comes down to some combination of what he does and the openings created for edge rushers around him. Lawrence should be plenty fired up and motivated to make a difference.

Key matchup

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey vs. Giants defense. McCaffrey is averaging just 3.5 yards a carry through eight games, good for 41st in the league going into Week 9. New York just got dominated by Philadelphia for an NFL-season-high 276 yards, including a 65-yard TD by Saquon Barkley on the way to rushing for 150. McCaffrey has been more effective catching the ball out of the backfield and ranks second in the league with 56 receptions.

Key injuries

49ers: QB Brock Purdy is dealing with a toe injury that has sidelined him for the past four games and is questionable this week. … WR Ricky Pearsall (knee), DE Bryce Huff (hamstring), C Jake Brendel (hamstring), DL Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) are all expected to miss the game. … LB Dee Winters (knee), DE Sam Okuayinonu (ankle), DT Alfred Collins (shoulder) missed practice early in the week and their status for this week is in question.

Giants: CB Cor’Dale Flott is in concussion protocol and not expected to play. … S Jevon Holland appears closer to returning from his knee injury than CB Paulson Adebo is from his.

Series notes

San Francisco has won two meetings in a row and three of the past four. … 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh returns to the sidelines at the Meadowlands for the first time since being fired as Jets coach a little more than a year ago.

Stats and stuff

The 49ers are averaging 20 points a game, their lowest total through eight games since being at 19.3 in 2016, the year before Kyle Shanahan took over as coach. … San Francisco ranks third in the NFL on third down, converting 46.4% of chances. … The 49ers ran only 44 offensive plays last week for their fewest in any game since 2007. Their 10 rushing attempts were tied for their fewest ever in a game. … San Francisco has one TD catch from a wide receiver this season, the fewest for the franchise through eight games. … The Niners have five sacks in their past six games for the fewest of any team over the same span. … TE Jake Tonges leads the 49ers with four TD catches. … McCaffrey was held to fewer than 100 yards from scrimmage last week for the first time this season. … McCaffrey became the fifth player with at least 5,000 yards receiving and rushing. … Jaxson Dart is 2-3 since taking over as the Giants’ starting QB, with 984 yards passing, a rookie-best eight TDs and three interceptions. Dart could become the first player since Jake Browning in 2023 to have a TD pass in each of his first six career starts. … WR Wan’Dale Robinson led New York with 48 yards receiving against Philadelphia. … TE Theo Johnson leads the Giants with four TD catches. … EDGE Brian Burns is tied for the league lead in sacks with 10. … DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches got his first sack of the season last week. … LB Bobby Okereke had a team-high eight tackles against the Eagles.

Fantasy tip

Skattebo’s injury means Tyrone Tracy returns to the feature back role for the Giants. Coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka are expected to mix in some Devin Singletary carries and more, but this is Tracy’s show now.

TEXANS’ TOP-RATED DEFENSE FACES HIGH-SCORING BRONCOS IN A CRUCIAL MATCHUP

Denver (6-2) at Houston (3-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, FOX.

BetMGM line: Texans by 1 ½.

Against the spread: Broncos 3-4-1, Texans 3-4.

Series record: Broncos lead 6-4.

Last meeting: Texans beat Broncos 22-17 on Dec. 3, 2023, in Houston.

Last week: Broncos beat Cowboys 44-24; Texans beat 49ers 26-15.

Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (T3), pass (14), scoring (10)

Broncos defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (5)

Texans offense: overall (17), rush (17), pass (16), scoring (20)

Texans defense: overall (1), rush (5), pass (4), scoring (1)

Turnover differential: Broncos-minus 1; Texans-plus 4

Broncos player to watch

ILB Dre Greenlaw returns from a one-game suspension for berating a referee following his Denver debut two weeks ago. Greenlaw was the Broncos’ prized free agent acquisition but a strained quadriceps bothered him all offseason and sidelined him for the first 1 1/2 months of the season. He finally got back against the New York Giants and had six tackles in just 21 snaps. The Broncos are glad he’ll be back in the lineup while they navigate the injury to star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, whose absence will alter the way coordinator Vance Joseph deploys his defense.

Texans player to watch

QB C.J. Stroud. He is coming off his best game of the season where he had seasons highs in completions (30) and yards (318) and threw two touchdown passes. He completed passes to nine different players to lead the offense despite missing star receiver Nico Collins, who was out after sustaining a concussion. Stroud has five touchdown passes with just one interception combined in three home games this season.

Key matchup

Houston’s top-rated defense vs. Denver’s high-scoring offense. The Texans lead the NFL in both yards (266.9) and points (14.7) allowed. The Broncos have been hot since scoring all their points in the fourth quarter of a 33-32 win against the Giants two weeks ago before scoring 44 Sunday against Dallas. Their point total in the past two games is more than the 69 points Houston’s stingy defense has allowed in the past five games combined. The Texans forced San Francisco to three consecutive three-and-outs to start last week’s game and limited them to only about five minutes of possession in the first half.

Key injuries

Broncos: Surtain will miss multiple weeks after straining his left pectoral muscle making a tackle last week. … TE Nate Adkins (knee) is also expected to miss multiple games after getting hurt against the Cowboys. He was the team’s best blocking tight end until they signed 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis, a 20-year NFL veteran, this week. … WR-KR Marvin Mims Jr. was in concussion protocol all week after getting hurt on a kickoff return in the closing minutes Sunday when he wasn’t even supposed to be in the game.

Texans: Collins returned to practice this week and should play Sunday. … WR Christian Kirk said he expects to play Sunday after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury. … WR Braxton Berrios is expected to play after suffering a chest injury last week. … TE Dalton Schultz should play Sunday despite dealing with knee and shoulder injuries that caused him to miss practice this week. … DE Dylan Horton could miss the game after injuring his knee last week.

Series notes

Denver won the previous two games in the series before Houston’s win in 2023. … These teams first met in 2004 when the Broncos got a 31-13 win. … Houston won the next meeting in 2007 by the exact same score.

Stats and stuff

The Denver Broncos are off to their best eight-game start since 2016, when they also started 6-2. … The Broncos are the first team in NFL history to eclipse 35 sacks within the first eight games of a season while allowing fewer than 10 sacks in that span. … RB J.K. Dobbins has two 100-yard rushing games so far. He’s the first Broncos running back since Latavius Murray in 2022 to hit that mark multiple times in a season. … QB Bo Nix is coming off his third career game with at least four touchdown passes. That’s tied for the third most among all quarterbacks since the start of the 2024 season, behind only Lamar Jackson (five) and Baker Mayfield (four). … Nix has thrown a touchdown pass in 16 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in the NFL. … Houston RB Nick Chubb had had at least 60 yards of offense in five of seven games this season. He had a touchdown reception in his previous game against Denver last season with Cleveland. … RB Woody Marks had 111 yards of offense last week and is one of four rookies this season with at least two games with 110 or more yards of offense this season. … Collins has had at least 50 yards receiving in eight of his past nine home games. He had nine receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown in his previous game against Denver. … WR Xavier Hutchinson had a career-high 69 yards receiving and the third TD catch of his career last week. … Rookie WR Jaylin Noel had a career-high five receptions last week. … DE Will Anderson had his fifth sack of the season against the Niners. He has had a tackle for loss in six of seven games this season and had two sacks in his previous games against Denver. … DE Danielle Hunter has 8 ½ sacks and 11 tackles for loss combined in his past six home games. He had a sack and two tackles for loss in his previous game against Denver in 2023 with Minnesota. … CB Derek Stingley had a career-high four passes defensed and two interceptions in his previous game against Denver. … CB Kamari Lassiter had his fifth career interception last week. … S Jalen Pitre had his 20th career tackle for loss last week. He is the only defensive back in the NFL with at least 20 tackles for loss and 25 passes defensed (26) since 2022.

Fantasy tip

Collins could be a good pickup with 16 of his 21 career touchdowns coming in Houston.

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+++++++++++COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS+++++++++++

LSU PARTS WAYS WITH EMBATTLED AD SCOTT WOODWARD

LSU and athletic director Scott Woodward mutually agreed to part ways, the university announced Thursday night, in the wake of the high-profile firing of football coach Brian Kelly.

After LSU dismissed Kelly over the weekend, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said during a press conference at the state capitol that Woodward would not be involved in hiring the Tigers’ next coach.

LSU and Woodward are finalizing an exit agreement that will see the athletic director receive more than $6 million as per the terms of his buyout, Yahoo Sports and The Athletic reported.

Verge Ausberry, a former Tigers football player and longtime LSU athletic department executive, was named the interim athletic director. Ausberry “will lead all facets of the athletic department, including the search for the next head football coach,” the school said in a news release.

“We thank Scott for the last six years of service as athletic director,” LSU Board of Supervisors chair Scott Ballard said in a statement. “He had a lot of success at LSU, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future. Our focus now is on moving the athletic department forward and best positioning LSU to achieve its full potential.”

An LSU alumnus and Baton Rouge native, Woodward had been the school’s athletic director since 2019, when he arrived after a three-year stay in the same position at Texas A&M.

At Texas A&M, Woodward hired Jimbo Fisher as the Aggies’ head football coach. After a 45-25 run over five-plus seasons, Fisher was fired and his contract bought out for $77 million, the largest in college football history.

LSU faces a similar quagmire with Kelly, whom Woodward hired from Notre Dame before the 2022 season. Kelly was owed a $54 million buyout, according to contract details obtained by USA Today, but LSU was reportedly working to reduce that total.

The Athletic reported Sunday that Woodward told Kelly to fire offensive coordinator and play-caller Joe Sloan after LSU’s 49-25 loss to Texas A&M, and Kelly refused in an argument that “escalated.”

LSU is currently without a president, as William F. Tate IV left to become the president of Rutgers earlier this year, leaving a leadership void that Landry appeared to fill Wednesday.

“We are not going down a failed path. And I want to tell you something: This is a pattern,” Landry said of Woodward. “The guy that’s here now that wrote that contract cost Texas A&M 70-some million dollars. Right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability. We are not doing that again. And you know what? I believe that we’re gonna find a great coach.”

Woodward also oversaw the hiring of women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey from Baylor and baseball coach Jay Johnson from Arizona. Both have coached their LSU teams to national championships.

NCAA PENALIZES CMU, EX-COACH JIM MCELWAIN FOR CONNOR STALIONS ACCESS

Central Michigan will be placed on two years of NCAA probation, while former coach Jim McElwain and three of his former staff members were hit with penalties for their roles in arranging for former Michigan staffer Conor Stalions to be on the sideline for a Chippeawas’ 2023 game against Michigan State.

Known for his alleged role in Michigan’s sign-stealing scheme, Stallions revealed on social media earlier this year that for seven games over two seasons, including Michigan’s 2023 national championship campaign, he knew virtually all of the opponents’ signals.

Although the case summary does not show any direct involvement by McElwain, he was found to be responsible under the NCAA’s head coach responsibility rules. Retired since the end of the 2024 season, he was given a two-year show-cause order, restricting him from all coaching duties for the first year. If he lands a job at an NCAA school, he would be suspended for 30 percent of games for the first year and 20 percent for the second year.

Central Michigan, along with McElwain and the three former staff members agreed to take the deal offered by the NCAA’s enforcement staff on sportsmanship. The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions approved the deal.

In its 19-page report released Thursday, former Chippeawas QBs coach Jack Kostner requested extra coaching gear from Nate Mason, former coordinator of athletic equipment operations, which sidestepped the program’s regular procedures. Koster asked former director of recruiting Mike McGee to pass on the clothing and sideline pass to his friend Stalions, though Kostner had used an alias for Stalions.

“McGee was unaware of whom exactly the gear was for, but knew it was for a friend of Kostner’s who was skilled in deciphering signals,” the NCAA wrote. “During the game, Stalions stood in close proximity to McGee and other football staff. Given his staff’s direct involvement in the arrangement, Jim McElwain, former football head coach, is responsible for their violations under the head coaching responsibility legislation.”

For his part, Kostner was given a four-year show-cause order, requiring NCAA approval for any school interested in hiring him. The school would also have to show why it should not be penalized for bringing him on staff. Kostner also cannot attend any athletic-related activities for the first year and 50% of the second year, and would be suspended for 50% of the football season in the second year.

McGee and Mason are restricted from all athletic-related activities in the first year as part of their two-year show-cause orders. Both would be suspended for 30% of football games for the second year if they were hired by an NCAA school.

In addition to the probation, Central Michigan must pay a fine of $30,000 in addition to 1% of the football budget.

UCLA FACES LAWSUIT FROM PASADENA, ROSE BOWL OFFICIAL OVER POTENTIALLY MOVING GAMES TO SOFI STADIUM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The city of Pasadena, California, and the Rose Bowl Operating Company have sued UCLA for allegedly trying to move its college football games from one of the sport’s most iconic stadiums to the much newer SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

According to the Times, the suit accuses UCLA of “profoundly” betraying its trust by attempting to relocate its home games from the facility the Bruins have called home for 43 years to the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.

UCLA’s current lease runs through 2044. But the stadium is 26 miles from campus, and the Bruins (3-5, 3-2 Big Ten) have struggled with attendance in recent years. This season, UCLA’s average attendance for its four home games is roughly 35,000.

SoFi Stadium opened in September 2020, is about 12 miles from UCLA’s campus and has a capacity of 70,240.

“This lawsuit arises in an era when money too often eclipses meaning and the pursuit of profit threatens to erase the very traditions that breathe life into institutions,” the suit claims. “Some commitments are too fundamental to be traded away.”

UCLA has undergone several major changes over the past two seasons. It joined Southern California, Washington and Oregon in leaving their longtime conference home, the Pac-12, for the Big Ten in 2024.

Earlier this season, the Bruins fired second-year coach DeShaun Foster and replaced him with interim coach Tim Skipper. They’ve also changed offensive and defensive coordinators this season.

The Times reported UCLA’s outside counsel, David L. Scrader, sent a letter to Pasadena attorney Nima Mohebbi in March, saying the school’s efforts to conduct “preliminary discussions” about relocating games did not constitute a “material breach” of its contract.

But Pasadena officials and stadium representatives claim a potential move could cost Pasadena and its residents more than $1 billion in damages. City officials said in the suit that taxpayers have funded more than $150 million in renovations with an additional $130 million in bonds that were recently refinanced for additional upgrades.

The Rose Bowl, a designated National Historic Landmark, is best known for hosting the “grandaddy” of college football’s bowl games since 1922 and has a seating capacity of about 89,000. The Bruins have called the Rose Bowl home since leaving the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1982.

2025 WEEK 10 FOOTBALL RELEASE

• Week 10 of the 2025 college football season features six games. The conference slate begins with two Saturday noon ET matchups. Iowa, Northwestern, Oregon, UCLA, Washington and Wisconsin will all enjoy byes this week, with the complete schedule appearing to the right.

• Eight of the Big Ten’s 18 teams are mentioned in this week’s AP or US LBM Coaches Polls, announced on Sunday. The AP poll includes No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, No. 21 Michigan and No. 23 USC with Washington, Iowa and Illinois receiving votes. At No. 1, Ohio State leads eight Big Ten teams in the coaches’ poll (No. 2 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, and No. 21 Michigan); Iowa, USC, Washington and Nebraska also received recognition.

• Two Big Ten teams remain undefeated through nine weeks of the 2025 season. Indiana and Ohio State rank among the six NCAA FBS teams sporting perfect records entering week 10.

• The Big Ten announced its Football Players of the Week, presented by IFS.ai on Monday. Michigan’s Justice Haynes and Washington’s Denzel Boston were named Co-Offensive Players of the Week.

• Haynes tallied 152 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries to help the Wolverines defeat in-state rival Michigan State. To beat No. 23 Illinois 42-25, Washington relied on Boston’s playmaking as he set new career highs with 10 receptions and 153 receiving yards and became the first Husky to record a passing and receiving touchdown in the same game since 2016.

• Michigan’s Jimmy Rolder earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after recovering a fumble in the first quarter and finishing with a career-high 10 tackles, including one sack, to help the Wolverines beat the Spartans.

• Nebraska’s Kenneth Williams and Rutgers’ Jai Patel claimed Co-Special Teams Players of the Week plaudits. Williams opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give Nebraska a 14-6 lead. Against Purdue, Patel hit both the game-tying and game-winning field goals to give Rutgers its first Big Ten win this season.

• Seven Big Ten teams rank among the top 25 nationally in Relative Scoring Offense, the statistic most closely correlated with winning over the last ten years. Indiana leads the nation and the conference (180.95%), followed by USC at No. 2 (156.25%), No. 5 Ohio State (152.60%), No. 8 Oregon (181.49%), No. 11 Washington (146.85%), No. 21 Illinois (162.27%) and No. 25 Nebraska (153.01%).

• The Big Ten has the most wins against above .500 teams of any A4 conference with 36. The conference winning percentage of 42.35% only trails the Big 12 (44.78%), who have 18 fewer games against above .500 opponents and a 30-37 record.

• Ohio State currently holds the longest win streak in the country with 11 consecutive wins, the fourth 10-plus game winning streak for Ryan Day with 16 consecutive wins (2018-19), 12 consecutive (2021-22) and 11 consecutive twice (2025 and 2023).

• Six Big Ten teams rank within the top 15 of the NCAA in total defense entering week 10. Ohio State is the NCAA leader with 216.9 yards per game, followed by Iowa (2nd, 234.9 yards per game), Oregon (5th, 239.1), Indiana (7th, 242.8), Nebraska (12th, 284.0) and Minnesota (15th, 292.1). The Big Ten also paces A4 conferences with seven teams in the top 20 in scoring defense, four of the top five teams in passing yards allowed per game, and special teams touchdowns (14; five more than the next closest conference).

• Four Big Ten players rank within the top 10 in the country in solo tackles, the most of any conference. Maryland’s Daniel Wingate leads the Big Ten and is second in the country with 6.29 tackles per game.

• The 2025 Discover Big Ten Championship Game will be held on Saturday, December 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and will be broadcast by FOX. The winner will represent the conference as the Automatic Qualifier (AQ) to the College Football Playoff.

• Abbott and the Big Ten Conference are kicking off Season 2 of the We Give Blood drive. Students, fans, alumni and communities across the country are backing their favorite Big Ten schools by donating blood. Every donation can help save up to three lives – and bring your school one step closer to winning $1 million to advance student or community health. The top school will be announced at the 2025 Discover® Big Ten Football Championship Game on December 6, 2025.

BIG TEN SCHEDULE HAS NO. 23 USC VISITING NEBRASKA WHILE NO. 1 OHIO STATE HOSTS SLUMPING PENN STATE

Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference:

Game of the week

No. 23 Southern California (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) at Nebraska (6-2, 3-2), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

Each of these teams has at least a remote chance of earning a College Football Playoff berth by avoiding any more regular-season losses. This is Nebraska’s last remaining game against a current Top 25 team. USC’s lone upcoming matchup with a Top 25 team is Nov. 22 at No. 6 Oregon.

USC is throwing for a Bowl Subdivision-leading 326.1 yards per game, while Nebraska is allowing the second-fewest passing yards per game (127.5) of any FBS team. Nebraska has lost its last 28 games against Top 25 teams.

BetMGM Sportsbook has USC as a 6 1/2-point road favorite.

The undercard

Penn State (3-4, 0-4) at No. 1 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0), Saturday, noon ET (Fox)

What figured at one time to be one of the biggest regular-season games of the season now looks like a mismatch in the wake of Penn State’s four-game skid that included the firing of coach James Franklin. Ohio State has a Bowl Subdivision-leading 11-game winning streak and has won its last eight meetings with Penn State. The Buckeyes are favored by 20 1/2 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Impact players

Washington WR Denzel Boston had a touchdown catch and a 12-yard touchdown pass in the Huskies’ 42-25 triumph over then-No. 23 Illinois. Boston caught 10 passes for 153 yards.

Rutgers WR KJ Duff had six catches for 241 yards – including a 72-yard touchdown – in the Scarlet Knights’ 27-24 victor y over Purdue.

Michigan RB Justice Haynes leads all Power Four players and ranks third in the Bowl Subdivision with 122.4 yards rushing per game.

Inside the numbers

No. 2 Indiana has won two Big Ten games by at least 50 points – a 63-10 blowout of Illinois and a 56-6 rout of UCLA. Indiana is the first Power Four team since Clemson in its 2018 national championshiop season to win multiple conference games by at least 50 points in the same year. … Washington’s Jonah Coleman has an FBS-leading 13 touchdown runs. … Ohio State is allowing the fewest points per game (5.9), yards per game (216.9) and yards per play (3.81) of any FBS team. … Four of the top six FBS teams in total defense are from the Big Ten. Ohio State ranks first, Iowa (234.9) is second, Oregon (239.4) is fourth and Indiana (242.8) sixth.

Get to know him

Oregon freshman Jordon Davison has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his last two games. Davison ran for 100 yards on just four carries – including a 67-yard touchdown – in a 56-10 blowout of Rutgers. He followed that up by rushing for 102 yards and two scores on 26 carries in a 21-7 win over Wisconsin. He has scored touchdowns on 10 of his 51 carries this season.

Davison and the sixth-ranked Ducks have this week off before a Nov. 8 trip to Iowa, which ranks fourth in the FBS in run defense. The Hawkeyes allow 83.9 yards rushing per game and 2.64 yards per carry.

TOP-RANKED OHIO STATE LOOKS TO CONTINUE ROLLING ALONG WHEN IT HOSTS REELING PENN STATE

Penn State thought it finally got a leg up on Ohio State back in January when defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Columbus for Happy Valley to become the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.

It ended up being a temporary setback, and in the long run made the Buckeyes better.

Matt Patricia has made Ohio State’s defense even more formidable despite returning only three starters at the beginning of the season. The top-ranked Buckeyes have already posted two shutouts and only allowed four touchdowns in their first seven games.

“Like any relationship, when it breaks off, sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad,” coach Ryan Day said of Knowles. “But there really hasn’t been much communication. He did a great job when he was here, helped us win a national championship and kind of left it at that.”

Knowles return to Ohio Stadium on Saturday is one of the few remaining interesting storylines from a matchup many thought two months ago would be between the top two teams in the Big Ten.

Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) has kept up its end, but Penn State’s season imploded with four straight losses, beginning with a 30-24 double overtime setback against then-No. 6 Oregon.

Two weeks later, coach James Franklin was fired after losses to unranked UCLA and Northwestern. Terry Smith is 0-1 as the interim coach after a 25-24 loss to Iowa on Oct. 18.

Ohio State and Penn State (3-4, 0-4) both had byes last week.

The Buckeyes have won their last eight over the Nittany Lions, but the average margin of victory has been 6.75 points, including four one-score games. Not many are expecting a close game this time with Ohio State listed as a 20 1/2 point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

“Obviously, no one is giving us a chance. I’m going to re-emphasize that to our team. I don’t think we ever been 20-point underdogs since I’ve been here. But it’s motivation,” Smith said. “No one believes in us and we’re going to come out and fight like we did at Iowa. We’re going to fight a little harder.”

Day still has belief in Penn State, especially considering how everyone has written them off.

“They really have a nothing-to-lose mentality. We have to be at high alert,” Day said.

Stingy defense

Ohio State has given up only 41 points, the least allowed by a Football Bowl Subdivision team through seven games since Florida State allowed 38 in 1993.

The Buckeyes also lead the nation in total defense (216.9 yards per game), red zone defense and third-down defense.

Ohio State will look to contain a Penn State run game powered by Kaytron Allen, who is fifth in the Big Ten with 612 rushing yards along with nine touchdowns.

“I think their offensive line. They’re very violent. They go hard, they put guys on their backs. They’re chasing people downfield trying to find someone to hit,” Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles said. “And their running backs, they run hard, run physical. Especially when they get downfield.”

Rolling along

Buckeyes sophomore QB Julian Sayin has three games this season where he has thrown for at least 300 yards, multiple TDs and completed at least 85% of his passes.

He comes into Saturday’s game leading the nation with an 80% completion rate.

“I would say they have a lot of different dropback schemes that are going to be difficult for our secondary. They got gifted receivers, but they’re a complete team and they run a lot of simple stuff to keep people honest,” Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell said of the Buckeyes offense.

Two QBs for Penn State

Since he became the team’s interim coach earlier this month, Smith has encouraged coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to find another gear on offense.

At Iowa, Kotelnicki went back to a trick he used last season, deploying two quarterbacks simultaneously. Sophomore Jaxon Smolik joined Ethan Grunkemeyer and earned his first career touches, carrying the ball four times for three yards. Smolik suffered an apparent left arm injury, however, and his status is questionable for Saturday.

The good news? Penn State recently welcomed true freshman Bekkem Kritza back after missing all of spring practice, training camp and the first nine weeks of the season with an unspecified injury. Smith confirmed earlier this week that Kritza would be active this weekend while offering no update on Smolik.

Goodbye for now

This is the 33rd consecutive season Ohio State and Penn State have met, the longest active streak for the Buckeyes against an opponent since Ohio State and Michigan did not meet during the 2020 COVID-shortened season.

With the Big Ten’s expansion though, that streak ends after this year. The next meeting between the two schools won’t be until 2028 at Penn State.

NO. 17 CINCINNATI IS BIG 12’S SURPRISE TEAM AND GOING FOR 8TH WIN IN A ROW

Things to watch this week in the Big 12 Conference:

Game of the week

No. 17 Cincinnati (7-1, 5-0 Big 12) at No. 24 Utah (6-2, 3-2), Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

The Bearcats have been the Big 12’s surprise team in coach Scott Satterfield’s third season, also their third in the league. With quarterback Brendan Sorsby, they are scoring 38.3 points a game and rank fourth nationally gaining 7.36 yards per play. They have their first seven-game winning streak that is their longest since 13 in a row in 2021 when they became they made the four-team College Football Playoff.

This will be the first meeting between Cincinnati and Utah, whose only losses this season are to No. 10 BYU and No. 13 Texas Tech. The Utes are second in the league in total offense (476.9 yards per game) and total defense (285.4 ypg). They are coming off a 53-7 win over Colorado, a game they led 43-0 at halftime when the Buffaloes had minus-18 total yards. Utah had a season-high 422 yards rushing.

The undercard

No. 13 Texas Tech (7-1, 4-1) at Kansas State (4-4, 3-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

Kansas State has won three of its last four games, averaging 38 points in that span that followed a 1-3 start. The Wildcats have also won the last eight games in the series. The Red Raiders are looking for their best nine-game start to a season since 2008, which is also the last time they won in Manhattan. Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton is expected to play after missing the last two games because of a right leg injury.

Impact players

Conner Weigman has thrown for 671 yards with six TDs and no interceptions in a three-game winning streak for No. 22 Houston. The quarterback also ran for 209 yards and three TDs the past two games.

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson has multiple TD passes in his past four games, and in 17 of his 22 career starts. His 45 career TD passes are just three shy of Will Howard’s school record set from 2020-23.

Inside the numbers

The Big 12 has five ranked teams for the first time this season: No. 10 BYU, No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 17 Cincinnati, No. 22 Houston and No. 24 Utah. … Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson dropped to second nationally at 314.1 yards passing per game after only 137 yards in a loss last week at Cincinnati. … Six Big 12 teams are already bowl eligible with six wins. Arizona State and Iowa State, both 5-3, play each other Saturday. … Oklahoma State has lost 15 games in a row against conference opponents, a streak that began with their loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship game two seasons ago. … Transfer kicker Laith Marjan has made all 11 of his field goal attempts for Kansas, matching the school record of consecutive makes that dates back to 1984. Marjan also made his last 11 attempts for South Alabama last season.

OKLAHOMA’S TOP DEFENSE FACES TENNESSEE’S HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE IN WEEK 10 SEC SHOWDOWN

Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference:

Game of the week

No. 18 Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2) at No. 14 Tennessee (6-2, 3-2), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

The SEC’s top offense and defense go head-to-head this weekend as Oklahoma travels to Neyland Stadium to take on Tennessee. The Sooners have held opponents to an average of 12.1 points per game, while Tennessee’s offense has thrived under quarterback Joey Aguilar, averaging over 45 points per game. Oklahoma has lost two of three after its 5-0 start and neither team can afford a loss to keep alive any faint playoff hopes.

The undercard

No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) vs. Florida (3-4, 2-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is always a show even in an off year for the Gators. Both teams were idle last week and this will be Florida’s first game since firing coach Billy Napier after a 3-4 start to the season. Georgia comes off its biggest win of the season, a 43-35 triumph over Mississippi. The Bulldogs are favored by 7.5 points per BetMGM Sportsbook.

No. 9 Vanderbilt (7-1, 3-1) at No. 20 Texas (6-2, 3-1), Saturday, noon ET (ABC)

A surging Vanderbilt team visits a Texas team fighting to improve its playoff chances. The Commodores have won its last two, beating LSU 31-24 and Missouri 17-10. The Longhorns are coming off back-to-back overtime wins against Kentucky and Mississippi State – two games they entered as significant favorites — and all eyes are on the health of QB Arch Manning, who was in the concussion protocol earlier in the week.

Impact players

– Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed led the unbeaten Aggies to a 49-25 win over LSU, accounting for four touchdowns and 310 yards of total offense.

– LB Anthony Hill Jr. had a career-high 2.5 sacks and four pressures in the overtime win by Texas against Mississippi State. In all, he had 10 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, and a forced fumble for the Longhorns.

– Alex McPherson scored 19 of Auburn’s 33 points, making all six field goal attempts and an extra point in the 33-24 win at Arkansas. McPherson kicked a season-long 43-yard field goal in the third quarter, only to top it with a 47-yarder in the fourth.

Inside the numbers

Tennessee’s Aguilar has thrown for an SEC-high 321.4 yards per game, contributing a conference-best 510.1 total offensive yards per game. His top target is Chris Brazzell II, who leads the conference with 740 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The Vols also boast the highest kick return average (29.3). … Arkansas has been the most successful team on third downs, converting 53.4% of attempts. Vanderbilt is next at 52.5%. … Texas A&M leads the FBS with 32 sacks, 10 of which belong to Cashius Howell.

GRUBB AND SIMPSON FORGING A SPECIAL BOND AS NO. 4 ALABAMA KEEPS WINNING WITH CREATIVITY

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb reached deep into his playbook to dial up the perfect call in a pivotal moment against South Carolina.

Quarterback Ty Simpson lined up at running back, took a handoff, sprinted right and found tight end Josh Cuevas for the two-point conversion that tied the score with a little more than two minutes to play. Alabama went ahead for good on its next possession, notching a come-from-behind victory that allowed the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) to take a seven-game winning streak into an off week.

Creativity in crunch time has become a specialty under Grubb, who reunited with coach Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa after a year in the NFL and appears to be building something special with Simpson.

“There’s a relationship that exists where you just enjoy hanging out,” DeBoer said. “That continues to grow, and what adds to it is the experiences that they’ve gone through, the moments that they’ve fought together. Their relationship and just the way they communicate, it becomes more and more efficient.”

Their bond was forged through ups and downs, beginning with Simpson winning the starting job in training camp and then delivering a less-than-ideal performance in a season-opening loss at Florida State.

Since then, Simpson has emerged into a Heisman Trophy contender. He leads the SEC with 20 touchdown passes, and his one interception ranks as the second fewest in college football — numbers considered more impressive given Alabama’s mostly ineffective run game.

“More mature, understand things better,” said Simpson, who spent three seasons as a backup in Tuscaloosa. “I felt like a lot of times in my years past, it almost felt like I was here, not enjoying it. You know what I mean?

“Just kind of miserable walking into the building, not knowing what I’m going to get into, not knowing how it’s going to go instead of just embracing it and understanding my role and understanding that God’s blessed me to be at the best university in the world, with the best team, with the best coaches.”

The addition of Grubb has been a big part of Simpson’s development. He added layers and intricacies to an offense that was stagnant at times last season.

The Tide are converting 50% on third down, up nearly 5% from a year ago, and are 13 of 20 on fourth down. Throw in a package of plays for offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor in key moments, and Grubb’s fingerprints on the offense are obvious.

“Ryan Grubb is just doing a great job,” DeBoer said. “Continuing to push the envelope for our whole offense to continue to attack teams in different ways. People always think to attack vertically in the passing game, but there’s other ways to attack people, do it in those moments.”

DeBoer, Grubb and Simpson continued to fine tune the offense during the bye in preparation for the final four weeks of the regular season. Alabama is still looking for more consistency. But there’s confidence the offense will get there, as the Grubb-Simpson connection continues to grow.

“They’re so efficient together as a group,” DeBoer said. “Whether it’s installation, attacking defenses, quarterback development, just really fun watching them work. And as the week goes on, I just think that they really dial in on a game plan, and they’re able to be creative and also know that it has to all fall within the identity of who we are and who we want to be.”

NO. 10 MIAMI VISITS SMU, NO. 8 GEORGIA TECH TRAVELS TO NC STATE TO HEADLINE ACC SLATE

Things to watch this week in the Atlantic Coast Conference:

Game of the week

No. 10 Miami (6-1, 2-1 ACC) at SMU (5-3, 3-1), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)

There are five one-loss teams behind league unbeatens Georgia Tech and Virginia, so this one could be a de facto elimination game in the chase to reach the ACC title game. The Hurricanes regrouped from a turnover-filled loss to Louisville by beating Stanford. The Mustangs are coming off a loss at Wake Forest, their first regular-season ACC loss following an 8-0 run through the league in their debut last year.

The undercard

No. 8 Georgia Tech (8-0, 5-0 ACC) at N.C. State (4-4, 1-3), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Yellow Jackets can become only the sixth team in program history to start 9-0, something they haven’t done since 1966. They rolled past Syracuse last week and their closest call came when they edged Wake Forest by stopping a 2-point overtime try for a walk-off win. N.C. State has lost four of five since a 3-0 start but is 3-1 at home.

No. 15 Virginia (7-1, 4-0) at California (5-3, 2-2), Saturday, 3:45 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

The Cavaliers keep winning with a sputtering offense. Virginia averaged just 23 points and 265.7 yards in wins against Louisville, Washington State and North Carolina, and two of those were among UVA’s three OT wins this year. Before the lull, Virginia was averaging 45.6 points and 539.6 yards. The Cavs will face a Cal team with a chance to clinch bowl eligibility for a third straight year.

Impact players

— Duke RB Nate Sheppard. The true freshman has taken a leading role in the backfield entering Saturday’s trip to Clemson, highlighted by a 168-yard day at Syracuse.

— Pittsburgh QB Mason Heintschel. The true freshman has led Pitt to four straight wins since taking over as the starter. He enters Saturday’s trip to Stanford coming off a freshman school record with 423 passing yards against the Wolfpack.

Inside the numbers

The league has four ranked teams in the AP Top 25 poll with No. 16 Louisville visiting Virginia Tech on Saturday. … Florida State returns from a bye by hosting Wake Forest. The Seminoles have lost 11 of 12 league games since the start of last season. … The Demon Deacons are a win from bowl eligibility under first-year coach Jake Dickert after being picked to finish 16th in the league. … North Carolina visits Syracuse on Friday night with an 0-5 record against power-conference opponents, though the past two losses have come by a combined four points.

UNBEATEN AND 8TH-RANKED GEORGIA TECH LOOKS TO DODGE UPSET AT NC STATE

No. 8 Georgia Tech is a front-runner to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Staying on course will require the Yellow Jackets (8-0, 5-0) to avoid a misstep at N.C. State on Saturday night.

“We’re going into an environment up there that’s going to be an extremely challenging environment versus a challenging team,” Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said. “They haven’t gotten the outcome they’ve wanted the last few weeks. But if you turn the tape on and watch them play … you make a judgment based on the team and how they play.”

This is the sixth time in Georgia Tech history that the team is 8-0, and the first season since 1966. In each of those previous five situations, the Yellow Jackets won the next game to move to 9-0. Going back to last season, the Yellow Jackets own a program-tying seven consecutive ACC victories.

N.C. State (4-4, 1-3) has lost two in a row and four of its last five games. That includes giving up 89 points in losses at Notre Dame and Pittsburgh.

“Nobody’s given up,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “We just got to play better and it starts with me. … (Our players are) frustrated, they’re mad, and they want to do something about it.”

Fit for a King

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is getting more attention with each win.

“He represents all that is great in college football,” Key said. “He is the best representative of any one individual for this entire sport that we play and we all love.”

Among King’s latest notable performances was completing 25 of 31 passes for 304 yards in last week’s 41-16 victory over Syracuse. That marked the highest single-game completion percentage in program history (.806) for a player with at least 30 attempts.

In last week’s game, he became the first Yellow Jacket to throw for three TDs and run for two more in the same game.

Taking notice

The rash of coaching firings at power conference schools hasn’t gone unnoticed in Raleigh. The Wolfpack will need a solid November to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time under Doeren, who’s in his 13th season and is the program’s all-time winningest coach.

“I don’t worry about that,” he said. “I’ve got to worry about my players. I’ve got to worry about my staff, my wife, my children. Those decisions aren’t mine to make.”

We meet again

These teams were in opposite ACC divisions for years, so they seldom met.

The Yellow Jackets won 30-29 last November in Atlanta, where the teams combined for 36 fourth-quarter points. Georgia Tech’s last visit to Raleigh came in 2020, suffering a 23-13 loss. That marked N.C. State’s first home victory against the Yellow Jackets since a 2000 overtime win.

In a rush

Hollywood Smothers’ ACC-leading 825 rushing yards have come despite N.C. State’s last three Bowl Subdivision opponents holding him to less than 90 yards.

Smothers scored a touchdown last year at Georgia Tech, but quarterback CJ Bailey had three of the Wolfpack’s rushing scores in that game. Smothers ran for 86 yards last week on just eight carries in a game that saw Pitt build a big third-quarter lead.

Reversal?

This is the first meeting with either in the top 10 since 2002 — almost 23 years to the day — in a game that saw the Wolfpack holding a 9-0 record and a No. 10 national ranking entering a visit from Georgia Tech.

But the Yellow Jackets, who were just 5-3 at the time, derailed the Wolfpack’s perfect season with a 24-17 win in Raleigh that started a three-game skid for N.C. State.

_____________________________________________________________

+++++++++++COLLEGE BASKETBALL++++++++++

BUTLER, SOUTHERN INDIANA OUT TO PROVE PRESEASON POLLS WRONG

Thad Matta might be eager to start Butler’s season, but he also understands the program needs to see more success during his second stint as coach.

The Bulldogs aim for a strong start when they host Southern Indiana on Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

In the first three seasons of Matta’s second go-around as Butler coach, the Bulldogs posted just one winning campaign. Butler enters this season predicted to finish 10th in the 11-team Big East in the coaches’ preseason poll.

While Finley Bizjack (10.3 points per game) is the most seasoned returner from last season’s squad, the Bulldogs feature five freshmen and five transfers. Guard Jalen Jackson arrives after averaging 19.2 points for Purdue Fort Wayne in 2024-25.

Matta, like any other coach entering the season, can’t wait to get going. However, he also knows the challenges that await, especially after the Bulldogs finished last in the Big East in scoring defense last campaign, allowing an average of 74.9 points.

“I’m excited about this season,” Matta told The Butler Collegian. “Now, (we have to) continue to bring these guys along and build the cohesiveness. … See what we can make happen.”

Butler is facing Southern Indiana for the first time since 1984. The Screaming Eagles are in their fourth season as a Division I competitor and finally are eligible for the NCAA Tournament.

However, Southern Indiana is coming off a 10-20 season, and with 12 new players in the mix, the Screaming Eagles came in ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll.

“I think our guys are athletic,” Southern Indiana coach Stan Gouard said. “We’re fast, shoot it better. Just got to keep working to get to a certain point with our team. … We’re making strides in the right direction.”

At least early on, Gouard will rely on Trey Thomas, who averaged 16.2 points last season at Bethune-Cookman.

This is the second consecutive season in which the Screaming Eagles will open against a Big East opponent, and they nearly pulled off an upset a year ago. Southern Indiana lost 80-78 in overtime at DePaul last November.

DEEP NO. 9 KENTUCKY SQUAD OPENS VS. NICHOLLS WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Kentucky has won eight NCAA Tournament championships, and expectations are high for second-year coach Mark Pope to make a deep run this coming March as the No. 9 Wildcats prepare to open their season at home Tuesday against Nicholls in Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky was 24-12 and reached the Sweet 16 last season. The Wildcats haven’t been to the Final Four since 2015 and parted ways with coach John Calipari after a string of disappointing postseason showings.

Pope inherited a stripped-down roster and quickly recruited a transfer-heavy team. The transfer portal will still be a big factor for his second squad, along with some key returnees.

Guard Otega Oweh, who was last season’s leading scorer (16.2 points per game), turned down the NBA to return for another season at Kentucky. Center Brandon Garrison (5.9 points) and sophomore guards Collin Chandler and Trent Noah (2.7 points apiece) were also part of last season’s squad, and figure to contribute again.

Pope’s massive transfer haul is led by Arizona State big man Jayden Quaintance (9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds per game last year) and Pitt point guard Jaland Lowe (16.8 points, 5.5 assists). Former Florida veteran Denzel Aberdeen (7.7 points) and Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate (7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds) also should contribute, while Tulane wing Kam Williams (9.3 points, 41.2% 3-point shooting) could be a wild card.

Add in standout freshman guard Jasper Johnson and post Malachi Moreno, along with international big man Andrija Jelavic, and Kentucky has talent and depth in spades.

Just how much talent became clear in an exhibition opener in which Kentucky rolled preseason No. 1 Purdue 78-65. That win came without Quaintance, who is rehabbing a knee injury from last year, and Lowe, who sustained a minor shoulder setback. Kentucky outrebounded Purdue 42-30 and Johnson led the Wildcats with 15 points. Noah and Oweh each tallied 10 points in the victory.

“We’re not quite as veteran as we were last year,” Pope said. “It’s going to be a work in progress. … But otherwise, I like where we are. I think our staff’s done an unbelievable job and I think our guys have really tried to buy in.”

Nicholls is coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons yet is still searching for the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998. Third-year coach Tevon Saddler is 40-27 but is rebuilding his roster.

A year ago, the Colonels finished third in the Southland Conference and went out in the semifinal round of the conference tournament. Three major scorers on that team hit the transfer portal.

Returning contributors for this season include guard Trae English (6.1 points per game) and forwards Jaylen Searles (6.5 points) and Sincere Malone (5.6).

Among the new faces is transfer Christian Winborne (3.9 points per game) from Iona. Zee Hamoda (11.9 points) was a standout last year at Sacramento State. And Jalik Dunkley was singled out by his coach as “one of the most athletic players in the conference.”

With 10 transfers and only one freshman on the roster, the Colonels will have some experience.

“I’m loving where this team is right now mentally,” Saddler said. “They’re really a tough group and I’m excited to see where the future takes us.”

AS COLLEGE BASKETBALL CONTINUES TO CHANGE, HOW LONG WILL THE GAME’S OLD GUARD OF COACHES PRESS ON?

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The faces of college basketball players change from year to year these days, as name, image and likeness inducements and the explosion of the transfer portal force coaches to rework their rosters almost every season.

Even coaches seem to change more frequently, perhaps a byproduct of the win-now pressure that comes with all of it.

But there is still a distinct old guard in college hoops — Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes, Tom Izzo, Kelvin Sampson, Mark Few and Bill Self, among others — who have served as caretakers of the game for an entire generation. They are coaches who have provided stability in a time of instability, and given their fan bases and the game itself a sense of familiarity and comfort.

The question is for how much longer?

Pitino, who led St. John’s to a 31-5 record last season, turned 73 in September. Barnes turns 72 next summer. Izzo, the longest-tenured coach in Division I basketball, will turn 71 during his 31st season at Michigan State. Sampson, coming off a loss in last year’s NCAA title game with Houston, turns 70 in October, and already has his son earmarked as the “coach-in-waiting.”

Even coaches who seem relatively young — Few and Self, coincidentally, turn 63 on the exact same day, Dec. 27 — are reaching a point where the stress of roster turnover, recruitment and the pressure to win could simply become too much.

In Self’s case, he underwent another heart procedure this past summer, though he insists he feels as good as ever.

“I always think about it,” Izzo said of walking away from the game. “I don’t like where the game has gone in many ways. It has nothing to do with paying players. I just don’t appreciate the movement and the way it’s gone at all. That’s my opinion, and I think that’s a lot of coaches’ opinions, but some are in the middle of their career and they don’t want you (reporters) ripping them for it. I’m at the end of mine. I really don’t care if you do.”

Such cataclysmic changes to college basketball helped to drive Villanova coach Jay Wright and Virginia coach Tony Bennett to retire earlier than most anyone expected. They probably played a big part in the decision of Auburn coach Bruce Pearl to do the same thing; he turned over the program to his son, Steven, after retiring less than six weeks ago.

Indeed, the game has lost several treasured coaches since the start of last season. With them went a vast amount of institutional knowledge, a track record of success, and a history of producing great players that helped to shape entire programs.

There was 76-year-old Jim Larrañaga who, early last season, stepped down from Miami, ending a coaching tenure that began as an assistant at Davidson in 1971. There was 77-year-old Leonard Hamilton, who stepped away after serving as a head coach at Oklahoma State, Miami and Florida State since 1986. And there was Fran Dunphy, also 77, who retired after a career based around Philadelphia and that included stops at Penn, Temple and LaSalle.

When you add Pearl to that trio, the four coaches accounted for four Final Four trips, 52 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, dozens of conference championships and nearly 2,500 wins — a staggering total by any measure.

“I coached obviously against Jim Boeheim and all the coaches that have moved on,” said Pitino, whose Red Storm are ranked 11th in the preseason AP Top 25. “Most certainly, a lot of them move on for different reasons. I feel like certain people like the transfer portal, NIL and so on. It doesn’t bother in me in the least. I approach …”

Pitino trailed off, before reflecting on a career that has taken six different schools to the NCAA tourney: “I have one advantage,” he said. “I retired for two years and was just like, I didn’t enjoy it as much as coaching basketball.”

That is one of the arguments for why the old guard soldiers on.

Another is the simple fact that they can still get the job done.

Sampson has his Cougars ranked second in the preseason poll after a second Final Four trip in the last five years. Barnes has Tennessee ranked 18th and Self has the Jayhawks at 19th as regular-season games begin next week. Gonzaga is right behind in 21st as Few leads the Bulldogs through their final season in the West Coast Conference.

“The guys that have been at one place for a long, long time, it’s almost like they’ve been in a different sport than those of us who have had to bounce around,” said Dusty May, who is beginning his second season leading Michigan.

As for Izzo and the Spartans, the Wolverines’ biggest rival this side of Ohio State?

“You can’t have anything but respect for their program,” May said. “Do I like them? Hell, no. Do I respect them? Absolutely.”

It’s a level of respect that an entire generation of coaches earned over time, whether it was Pitino getting his first top job as the interim coach at Hawaii in 1976, Barnes cutting his teeth at George Mason in the 1980s, Izzo learning the game’s nuances from longtime Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote, or Sampson beginning his coaching climb at Montana Tech.

Penn State coach Mike Rhoades has come to consider Izzo something of a confidant over the years, even though their teams have had some drag-out tussles on the floor. They talk frequently, about both basketball and life.

“He’s all about what is good in college basketball,” Rhoades said. “He’s what kids need right now, somebody to tell them the truth, and hold them to a high level. We need more coaches like that. But the game has changed and I understand why coaches want to move on. When that time comes for him, we’ll all be disappointed and bummed out.”

____________________________________________________________

++++++++++++NBA NEWS++++++++++

THUNDER GUARD NIKOLA TOPIC DIAGNOSED WITH TESTICULAR CANCER AND UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.

Sam Presti, the team’s general manager, announced the diagnosis on Thursday.

Topic had a testicular procedure earlier in the month. The Thunder said at the time he’d be out for at least four weeks.

Presti said doctors are “extremely positive” about his long-term outlook. He said Topic has been working out throughout the process and didn’t want the diagnosis revealed until after he started treatment.

“He has all the tools that you could ask for somebody to take on and conquer the situation,” Presti said.

Topic, a first-round pick in 2024, missed the entire 2024-2025 season while recovering from a torn ACL. He played in summer league this year and started a preseason game against Charlotte, posting 10 points and seven assists in Oklahoma City’s 135-114 win.

Topic was expected to be an important addition to a team that otherwise changed very little after winning the NBA title last season.

NBA ROUNDUP: SPURS OFF TO FIRST 5-0 START IN TEAM HISTORY

Victor Wembanyama posted 27 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and five blocks while leading the host San Antonio Spurs to a 107-101 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

The Spurs, who have won five NBA titles, are off to a 5-0 start for the first time in franchise history. San Antonio also got 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals from Stephon Castle.

Bam Adebayo scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Andrew Wiggins added 24 points for the Heat, whose three-game winning streak ended.

San Antonio, which entered the game with the best scoring defense in the NBA (104.5 points per game), won a battle against a Heat team that entered the day with the league’s No. 1 scoring offense (131.5).

Bucks 120, Warriors 110

Ryan Rollins scored a career-high 32 points and handed out eight assists, and seven other Bucks players reached double figures to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Golden State without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Myles Turner delivered his best game as a Buck with 17 points and seven rebounds. Cole Anthony added 16 points despite fouling out with more than seven minutes remaining.

Stephen Curry scored 27 points to lead the Warriors, with Jonathan Kuminga (24) and Jimmy Butler III (23) not far behind. Butler grabbed 11 boards.

Thunder 127, Wizards 108

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, seven assists and no turnovers, leading Oklahoma City to a home win over Washington.

The defending NBA champion Thunder are 6-0 for the second consecutive season after starting their championship season with seven straight victories. Oklahoma City turned up the heat defensively from the start, scoring 26 points off 23 Wizards’ turnovers while the Thunder turned the ball over just six times.

After missing the first four games due to an offseason thumb injury, Bilal Coulibaly made his season debut for the Wizards. Coulibaly scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes.

Magic 123, Hornets 107

Franz Wagner scored 21 points while Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black each added 20 points as Orlando defeated Charlotte for its first road win of the season.

The Magic, who snapped a four-game overall losing streak, shot 51.7% from the field and made 16 3-pointers. Tristan da Silva added 19 points off the bench.

Collin Sexton led the Hornets with 19 points off the bench, while Ryan Kalkbrenner and LaMelo Ball each scored 17 points. Charlotte was coming off a 1-2 road trip.

_____________________________________________________

++++++++++WNBA NEWS+++++++++

REPORTS: WNBA, UNION AGREE TO EXTEND CBA TO NOV. 30

The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association approved a 30-day extension of the current collective bargaining agreement, The Athletic and ESPN reported Thursday.

As the league and the union work on negotiating a new CBA, they faced a Friday deadline before the current agreement expired. The extension, initially offered by the league, runs through Nov. 30.

The extension comes after legal counsel for the players association said a new agreement was “not going to happen” by Friday’s deadline. The sport is in danger of a work stoppage in the absence of a new CBA.

Negotiations were extended during previous discussions in 2019, when both sides agreed to a 60-day extension before eventually signing a deal in January 2020.

The main point of contention in the ongoing negotiations is a model for salaries and revenue distribution. The league has accused the players of not engaging “in any meaningful way” on its proposals, while the PA has said the league has “retread a system that isn’t tied to any part of the business and intentionally undervalues the players.”

WNBA players were highly critical of commissioner Cathy Engelbert this past season, with Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier calling the league’s leadership “the worst in the world” during a scathing exit interview in September. She also criticized Engelbert’s lack of relationship with the players.

Collier received support for her comments from WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams, a member of the union’s executive committee.

______________________________________________________________

++++++++++NHL NEWS++++++++++

COLORADO AVALANCHE SIGN MARTIN NECAS TO 8-YEAR, $92M CONTRACT EXTENSION, AP SOURCE SAYS

The Colorado Avalanche have signed Martin Necas to an eight-year contract extension through 2034.

Necas’ deal is worth $92 million, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because terms were not disclosed.

When the contract kicks in starting with the 2026-27 NHL season, Necas will count $11.5 million against the salary cap annually. That is $500,000 a year less than what Mikko Rantanen signed for with rival Dallas.

After being unable to extend Rantanen last winter, Colorado traded the Finnish forward to Carolina, with Necas as part of the return. The Hurricanes after also not signing Rantanen long term traded him to the Stars on deadline day, when he inked a $96 million contract over eight years that is currently underway.

With the cap rising record amounts, salaries have started to match those increases. Minnesota last month signed winger Kirill Kaprizov to the richest contract in league history, eight years for $136 million with an annual value of $17 million, and just this week Utah extended budding star center Logan Cooley for $80 million over eight years.

Necas at 26 is a little over two years younger than Rantanen, who’s signed through 2033. He has seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 11 games this season, third on the Avalanche behind only Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

NHL ROUNDUP: SENATORS RALLY, TOP FLAMES IN SHOOTOUT

Drake Batherson netted the shootout winner to give the host Ottawa Senators a 4-3 comeback victory over the struggling Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Lars Eller collected one goal and one assist while Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson also scored for Ottawa, which has won four of five games. The Senators erased three one-goal deficits, finally forcing overtime on Sanderson’s tally with 2:49 to go in regulation.

Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark made 27 saves through regulation and overtime. He stopped one shootout attempt, and Calgary’s other attempt hit the post.

Yegor Sharangovich, Matt Coronato and Nazem Kadri scored for the Flames, who have only won twice in 12 games (2-8-2). Devin Cooley stopped 35 shots, including seven in overtime, before the shootout.

Flyers 4, Predators 1

Trevor Zegras notched two goals and an assist, tying his career high in points and propelling Philadelphia to a victory over visiting Nashville.

Matvei Michkov collected two assists for the Flyers, who improved to 5-1-0 in their past six games. Philadelphia’s Jamie Drysdale and Travis Konecny also scored, and Dan Vladar finished with 32 saves.

Matthew Wood’s first NHL goal was the only tally for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 14 saves for Nashville, which lost its third straight game and has won just two of its last nine.

Lightning 2, Stars 1

Anthony Cirelli scored on a breakaway after a steal 2:36 into overtime as Tampa Bay returned home for a victory over Dallas.

Cirelli took off on the game-winning dash after Brandon Hagel stripped Mikko Rantanen in three-on-three play, lifting the Lightning to their season-high fourth straight win. Hagel also scored for Tampa Bay, which improved to 2-2 in overtime.

Adam Erne scored for Dallas, which had its three-game winning streak snapped but extended its point streak to five games (3-0-2). Jake Oettinger made 30 saves, and six-time All-Star Tyler Seguin played in his 1,000th NHL game.

Bruins 4, Sabres 3 (OT)

Marat Khusnutdinov’s first goal of the season at 2:07 of overtime lifted Boston over visiting Buffalo.

David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist, Morgan Geekie and Mark Kastelic also scored and Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves in his second straight start for the Bruins, who have won three of their last four games.

Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin each notched a goal and an assist while Josh Doan also found the net for the Sabres. Buffalo goalie Alex Lyon made 18 stops.

Rangers 4, Oilers 3 (OT)

J.T. Miller scored at 2:49 of overtime, lifting visiting New York to a win against Edmonton.

Miller brought the puck through all three zones before scoring from in close to complete the Rangers’ comeback after they trailed 3-1 at the start of the third period. Braden Schneider had a goal and an assist, Jonny Brodzinski and Taylor Raddysh also scored and Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves for the Rangers, who have won two in a row.

Darnell Nurse scored two goals, Matt Savoie netted his first NHL goal in his 17th game, and Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots for the Oilers, who have lost three of four (1-1-2).

Hurricanes 6, Islanders 2

Bradly Nadeau scored his first NHL goal to begin a three-goal first-period flurry for Carolina, which rolled to a win over New York in Raleigh, N.C., snapping a two-game losing streak.

Mike Reilly and Jordan Martinook scored later in the first while Jackson Blake, Andrei Svechnikov and Logan Stankoven had a goal apiece in the third for the Hurricanes.

Matthew Schaefer and Simon Holmstrom scored and David Rittich recorded 27 saves for the Islanders, who lost their third straight (0-2-1). New York played without first-line center Mathew Barzal, who was scratched for being late to practice Thursday morning.

Jets 6, Blackhawks 3

Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi all recorded three points, and Jonathan Toews notched an assist in his first matchup with his former team as Winnipeg beat visiting Chicago for its eighth win in 11 games.

Toews, the Blackhawks legend who captained the franchise to three Stanley Cups in 15 seasons, assisted on Josh Morrissey’s third-period goal for his sixth point of 2025-26. Back after missing two seasons due to health reasons, Toews last suited up for the Blackhawks in April 2023.

Teuvo Teravainen, Alex Vlasic and a late through-the-legs backhander from Andre Burakovsky accounted for the scoring by Chicago, which entered the game on a 5-1-1 run.

Penguins 4, Wild 1

Ryan Shea and Bryan Rust each registered a goal and an assist and Pittsburgh pulled away for a win over Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn.

Ben Kindel and Anthony Mantha also scored for Pittsburgh, which earned at least one point for the eighth game in a row. The Penguins improved to 6-0-2 during that span. Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry stopped 26 of 27 shots to earn the victory.

Kirill Kaprizov scored Minnesota’s lone goal. The Wild remained winless for the fifth game in a row, and they dropped to 1-5-3 in their past nine contests. Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson allowed three goals on 33 shots.

Canucks 4, Blues 3 (SO)

Kiefer Sherwood scored a hat trick and Jake Debrusk scored the lone shootout goal to give visiting Vancouver a victory over St. Louis.

Drew O’Connor earned two assists while Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen thwarted the Blues by making 36 saves through regulation and overtime, then stopping another two shots in the shootout.

The Blues outshot Vancouver 39-18, but its winless streak was extended to six games (0-4-2). Pius Suter scored a goal and earned an assist, and Cam Fowler and Oskar Sundqvist had two assists apiece while Jordan Binnington made 15 saves.

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+++++++++INDIANA SPORTS NEWS AND RELEASES+++++++++

+++++++++COLTS FOOTBALL+++++++++

RED-HOT COLTS HEAD TO PITTSBURGH, WHERE THE STEELERS’ DEFENSE IS REELING

Indianapolis (7-1) at Pittsburgh (4-3)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS

BetMGM line: Colts by 3.

Against the spread: Colts 6-2; Steelers 3-4

Series record: Steelers lead 33-11.

Last meeting: Colts beat Steelers 27-24 on Sept. 29, 2024.

Last week: Colts beat Titans 38-14; Steelers lost to Packers 35-25.

Colts offense: overall (1), rush (6), pass (6), scoring (1)

Colts defense: overall (24), rush (8), pass (29), scoring (6)

Steelers offense: overall (25), rush (25), pass (19), scoring (11)

Steelers defense: overall (30), rush (18), pass (32), scoring (22)

Turnover differential: Colts plus-8. Steelers plus-4.

Colts player to watch

RB Jonathan Taylor. Taylor leads the NFL in yards rushing (850), TD runs (12) and total TDs (14) all while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He’s hitting game-changing plays seemingly every week. Plus, he needs two TD runs to surpass Hall of Famers, Lenny Moore (63) and Edgerrin James (64) as the franchise’s career leader. It could happen Sunday.

Steelers player to watch

LB T.J. Watt. Pittsburgh’s defense tends to go the way its perennial All-Pro edge rusher goes. Watt has 3 1/2 of his 4 sacks in Pittsburgh victories. He has rarely gotten near the quarterback in each of the past two weeks, registering zero sacks and just two quarterback hits against Joe Flacco and Jordan Love. When Watt creates chaos, Pittsburgh’s defense can be dangerous. When he doesn’t, the Steelers look very, very ordinary.

Key matchup

Colts TE Tyler Warren against Pittsburgh LBs Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen. Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen has used his rookie tight end in multiple ways, sometimes lining him up in the backfield, sometimes splitting him out wide and even putting Warren behind center on occasion. Wilson, Queen or members of the Steelers’ secondary were no match for Green Bay tight end Tucker Kraft last week, letting him set career highs in receptions and yards. Warren’s versatility makes him an even more difficult matchup for a defense that is reeling.

Key injuries

Colts: They played without DEs Samson Ebukam (knee) and Tyquan Lewis (groin) last week, and it’s unclear if either will be ready to go this week and WR/KR Anthony Gould left last week’s game with a knee injury. None of the three practiced Wednesday. Also sitting out were S Nick Cross (shoulder), WR Josh Downs (hip), CB Kenny Moore II (Achilles tendon) and DT Grover Stewart (foot). It’s also unclear whether CB Jaylon Jones (hamstring) will be ready to go this week after opening his 21-day window to return from injured reserve last week.

Steelers: S DeShon Elliott (knee) is out. Veteran LG Isaac Seumalo (pec) could play after leaving last week’s game against Green Bay. WR Scotty Miller (finger) is likely to sit out a second straight week after undergoing surgery. Reserve DL Daniel Ekuale’s season is over after tearing the ACL in his knee last Sunday night.

Series notes

The Colts and Steelers are meeting for the fourth consecutive season and the fifth time in six years … Indy has won two straight since snapping a seven-game losing streak in the series. Pittsburgh is 17-5 against the Colts since the franchise moved to Indy in 1984, a mark that includes playoff matchups following the 1995 and 1996 seasons. … The Steelers have won all five postseason games between these franchises that were among the AFC’s elite teams during the first decade of the 21st Century. … Indy and Pittsburgh were two of the three teams that switched from the NFL to the AFC as part of the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

Stats and stuff

Indy enters Week 9 with a four-game winning streak and a league-high seven victories. Pittsburgh remains atop the underwhelming AFC North despite two straight losses, but is in the middle of a stretch in which five of its six opponents are .500 or better. … The Colts lead the league with a plus-118 point differential and have a league-best four wins by 20 or more points. … Indy averages 3.46 points per drive, the second-highest eight-game total since at least 1978. The 2007 New England Patriots averaged 3.57. … Taylor has 529 yards from scrimmage and 10 total TDs over the past four weeks. He’s also scored three TDs in three of the four games. … QB Daniel Jones has thrown 13 touchdown passes, three interceptions and has a rating of 109.5 He needs two more wins to match a single-season career high (nine). … Jones was sacked a season-high three times last week but Indy has allowed just nine this season, tied for the second fewest in the league. … WR Michael Pittman Jr. has caught at least five passes and one TD in five of his past six games. He’s also tied his single-season career best with six touchdown catches this season. The Colts have not had a receiver reach the 100-yard mark yet this season. … Tyler Warren needs nine receptions to pass Ken Dilger (42) and Dwayne Allen (45) to break Indy’s rookie receptions record for tight ends. … Indy’s defense leads the league with four red zone takeaways and has allowed the fewest points (three) following giveaways. … The Colts also are tied for second with 11 interceptions. … Rigoberto Sanchez leads the NFL with an average of 47.5 yards on a league-low 16 punts. … Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers’ 16 touchdown passes are tied for third most in the NFL and are the most ever by a Pittsburgh quarterback through the first seven games of a season. … Rodgers enters Sunday with 5,511 completions, 40 behind former Falcons QB Matt Ryan for fifth most in NFL history. Rodgers is also 11 attempts away from tying Ryan for fifth-most attempts ever at 8,464. … Pittsburgh’s defense, which created 10 turnovers over its first four games, hasn’t had a takeaway in three straight contests, the first time that’s happened since 2022. … The Steelers and their 30th-ranked defense are in uncharted territory under longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh finished outside the top 20 in yards allowed just twice in Tomlin’s first 18 seasons, and never worse than 24th. … Pittsburgh WR DK Metcalf has a TD reception in five of his past six games. He’s the first Steelers WR since Antonio Brown in 2018 to have at least 450 yards receiving and five scores in Pittsburgh’s first seven games. … Steelers K Chris Boswell became the first kicker in NFL history to have three games with at least three field goals from 50 or more yards when he knocked in three from beyond 50 last week against Green Bay. Boswell has made 49 of 59 field-goal attempts in his NFL career from 50 or more yards. That 83% conversion rate is the best in league history from that distance. … Steelers DT Cam Heyward will play in his 219th regular-season game, one short of tying Hall of Fame center Mike Webster for second most in team history.

Fantasy tip

Given the current trajectory of both teams, it seems like a good week to make sure Warren is in the starting lineup. The rookie has caught at least four passes in seven of eight games this season, and considering the current state of Pittsburgh’s defense, expect Steichen to go deep into his bag to find ways to get Warren open in space.

COLTS RB JONATHAN TAYLOR NAMED AFC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER

The NFL named Colts running back Jonathan Taylor the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for the month of October, marking the third time in his career the running back has earned the title; in 2021 he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month in both October and November.

In the four games the Colts played in October, Taylor had 66 carries for 436 yards (6.6 yards/attempt) and nine rushing touchdowns; he also had 12 receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown. Taylor played a key role in helping the Colts win all four games, scoring three touchdowns in three of the four games (against the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans). He currently has four games with three scrimmage touchdowns this season, and is the fifth player since at least 2000 to record such a feat. Taylor also became the first player in Colts history to have three games with at least three rushing touchdowns.

Taylor led the NFL in total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns in the month of October and ranked second in scrimmage yards and rushing yards. Taylor is the first player in the NFL to record at least 500 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in a four-game span in a season since Jamaal Charles in 2013.

Taylor finished the month with an emphatic exclamation mark; in the Colts’ 38-14 win over the Titans in Week 8, he rushed for a career-long 80-yard touchdown and averaged a stunning (and career-best) 12.8 yards per carry, good for the second highest single-game rushing average in team history. With his three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) Taylor also became the first player in NFL history to record three total touchdowns against the same opponent in three consecutive games (Week 16 of 2024, Week 3 of 2025 and Week 8 of 2025).

The running back’s remarkable month helped propel him higher in a multitude of categories in the Colts history books, as he tied Lenny Moore for the second-most rushing touchdowns (63) in franchise history, tied Edgerrin James for the second-most career games (six) with three-plus scrimmage touchdowns and passed Raymond Berry (68) for fifth-most touchdowns in Colts history. Taylor is two rushing touchdowns away from setting an new franchise record; James currently holds the record with 64.

Taylor enters November leading the NFL in carries (143), rushing yards (850), total touchdowns (14) and rushing touchdowns (12) and explosive runs (23). He is the only player in the league to currently have over 800 rushing yards and double-digit rushing touchdowns.

Taylor is the second Colts player to earn AFC Player of the Month honors this season, joining kicker Spencer Shrader who was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. This marks the first time a Colts player has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Month since Taylor in November 2021.

____________________________________________________________

+++++++++++INDIANA PACERS++++++++++

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS HAWKS

The Pacers’ quest for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup tips off on Halloween night.

Indiana opens East Group A play on Friday when it hosts the Atlanta Hawks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

As in the previous two NBA Cups, the top four teams in each conference at the conclusion of Group Play will advance to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds in December. Additional teams in East Group A include the Cleveland Cavaliers (Nov. 23), Toronto Raptors (away, Nov. 26) and Washington Wizards (away, Nov. 28).

The Pacers (0-4) remain winless after a rough three-game road trip that concluded with a 107-105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Injuries have unfortunately headlined the start of the Pacers’ season, as eight players missed Wednesday’s game, including starters Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin, as well as key reserves T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin, among others. Due to their depleted roster, the Pacers have trotted out four different starting lineups through their first four games.

Despite their limited personal, the Pacers have lost by just six combined points in their last two games.

Against the Mavericks, the Pacers led by three points at halftime before being outscored 29-19 in the third quarter. In the final frame, Indiana cut a 12-point deficit to two with three seconds left but ultimately fell just short despite scoring 31 points in the fourth.

The Pacers shot just 34.9 percent from the field, taking 106 shots to Dallas’ 79, and finished 18 of 28 from the free-throw line while the Mavericks went 24-of-30. Dallas’ bench outscored the Pacers’ second unit 64-43.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 27 points and 13 rebounds — his third double-double of the season — while Jarace Walker, in his first start of the year, scored a career-high 20 points with six rebounds and five assists. Off the bench, two-way guard RayJ Dennis poured in a career-high 17 points, including seven in the fourth quarter.

Siakam has anchored the Pacers as they’ve navigated injury challenges, averaging 26.3 points on 44 percent shooting, as well as 11.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

The Pacers will see a much different Hawks (2-3) lineup this season after Atlanta added veteran center Kristaps Porzingis, sharpshooter Luke Kennard, and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the offseason.

The Hawks head to Indianapolis coming off a 117-112 win Wednesday night at the Brooklyn Nets. Atlanta scored at least 30 points in each of the first three quarters before holding on in the fourth for the win.

Atlanta’s bench contributed 59 points in the win, with Alexander-Walker leading the reserves with 18, Kennard adding 17, and Onyeka Okongwu posting 12 points and 14 rebounds. Jalen Johnson led all Hawks scorers with 23 points, while Porzingis had 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Through five games, Johnson and Porzingis are averaging 20 points per game to lead the Hawks.

The Hawks could be without All-Star point guard Trae Young on Friday after he sprained his knee early in Wednesday’s game and did not return.

The Pacers went 1-2 against the Hawks last season, winning the first matchup 132-127 at home on Feb. 1 before losing 124-118 on March 6 and 120-118 on March 8 in back-to-back road games. The teams will meet three times again this season.

Indiana will follow up its game against the Hawks by hosting Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at 7:00 PM ET.

Probable Starters

Pacers: G – Ben Sheppard , G – Aaron Nesmith , F – Jarace Walker, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Isaiah Jackson

Hawks: G – Trae Young, G – Dyson Daniels , F -Zaccharie Risacher, F – Jalen Johnson, C – Kristaps Porzingis

Injury Report

Pacers: Taelon Peter – TBA (right groin strain), Johnny Furphy – out (left foot bone bruise), Tyrese Haliburton – out (right Achilles tendon tear), Kam Jones – out (lower back stress reaction), Bennedict Mathurin – out (right great toe sprain), T.J. McConnell – out (left hamstring strain), Andrew Nembhard – out (left shoulder strain), Obi Toppin – out (right foot stress reaction)

Hawks: Trae Young – TBA (knee sprain)

Last Meeting

March 8, 2025: Hawks star point guard Trae Young scored 36 points and Caris LeVert chipped in 26 off the bench in a 120-118 win over the Pacers at State Farm Arena. The Atlanta victory was the second for the Hawks over the Pacers in a three-day span.

Missing Tyrese Haliburton due to a hip injury, the Pacers relied on a 30-point performance by Bennedict Mathurin off the bench to anchor its offense. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam had 23 points and Aaron Nesmith added 14 in the loss.

The Hawks led 39-19 at the end of the first quarter – Atlanta’s largest lead of the contest – before the Pacers used a second-half rally to go ahead 104-102 with around seven minutes left in the game.

Neither team led by more than four points the rest of the way, as the Hawks were able to retake the lead and hold on in the clutch.

Atlanta outshot Indiana 46.4 to 43.6 percent and won the rebounding margin 48-41. The Hawks also outscored the Pacers 58-48 in the paint and 20-13 in fast-break points.

Noteworthy

Indiana signed three-time dunk contest champion and 2024 NBA G League MVP Mac McClung ton Tuesday. McClung had seven points, two rebounds and two steals on Wednesday against Dallas.

This season, Indiana’s special NBA Cup court will feature Bobby “Slick” Leonard’s famous “Boom Baby” slogan sprawled across a Blue & Gold-painted hardwood.

The Pacers made it all the way to the NBA Cup finals in the tournament’s first year in 2023. In 2024, Indiana failed to make it out of the Group Play.

The Pacers haven’t started a season 0-4 or worse since the 1988-89 season when the team lost its first nine games.

Broadcast Information (Where to Watch and Listen to Pacers Games >>)

TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

Tickets

The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host the Atlanta Hawks for an NBA Cup game on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7:00 PM ET.

__________________________________________________________

+++++++++INDY FUEL+++++++++

FUEL WIN FIRST GAME OF SEASON ON THE ROAD

FISHERS – The Indy Fuel took their first trip of the season to face the Cincinnati Cyclones on Thursday night. After a scoreless first period, the Indy Fuel took a 2-1 win.

1ST PERIOD

The first period remained quiet until 6:30, when Kevin Lombardi was called for interference, giving Cincinnati their first power play. The Fuel responded with a strong penalty kill.

The Cyclones found their rhythm late, recording seven unanswered shots to finish the period with a 9–3 advantage.

2ND PERIOD

Just 1:17 into the period, tempers flared after a save by Owen Flores, but no penalties were given.

Moments later, at 1:38, Cincinnati’s Marko Sikic was called for a slashing penalty, giving the Fuel their first power play of the night. However, the Fuel were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Brett Moravec opened the scoring at 9:23, finding the back of the net on a partial breakaway assisted by Jacob LeGuerrier, who was playing in his first professional game in two years.

Riding that momentum, LeGuerrier added a goal of his own at 12:43, burying a backhander to extend the Fuel’s lead to 2-0.

At 14:35, tensions rose as Jesse Tucker and Rhett Parsons squared off near center ice, earning matching five-minute majors for fighting.

Later in the period, at 17:33, Lombardi was given his second penalty of the night for tripping.

As the horn sounded to end the period, tempers flared again when Christian Berger and Cincy’s Nick Rhéaume dropped the gloves. Both received five-minute majors for fighting, with Rhéaume also getting an additional two minutes for instigating. The penalties would be served at the start of the third period.

3RD PERIOD

At 4:56, Chris Cameron took his first penalty of the 2025–26 season for holding, but the Fuel successfully killed it off.

Midway through the period, Cincinnati’s Braeden Kressler was sent to the box for slashing, but the Fuel were unable to capitalize on the man advantage.

Cincinnati’s John Jaworski found the netting, but the goal was taken away due to a holding the stick penalty at 17:26.

With minutes to go, Cincy pulled their goalie in favor of the extra skater on the Indy Fuel power play.

Jaworski put Cincinnati on the board at 18:42 to bring the score to 2-1, Fuel.

The game ended with offsetting roughing penalties for Lee Lapid and Ben King at 19:47.

The Fuel took the 2-1 win for the first win of their 2025-26 season.

____________________________________________________________________

+++++++++INDIANA FOOTBALL+++++++++

NEXT UP FOR NO. 2 INDIANA IS A MARYLAND TEAM THAT HAS STRUGGLED IN 4TH QUARTERS RECENTLY

Curt Cignetti’s performance at Indiana should give even more hope to schools like Maryland.

Of course, it might also ramp up the pressure.

Cignetti takes the second-ranked Hoosiers on the road Saturday to face the Terrapins. Indiana is unbeaten. Maryland was unbeaten at the end of September but hasn’t won since.

For a while the Terps (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) looked like they might be ahead of schedule with a freshman starting at quarterback, but now this season is following a familiar pattern under coach Mike Locksley — excellent against nonconference opponents, but struggling within the league.

Meanwhile, Indiana (8-0, 5-0) exists as proof that a team can go from a Big Ten afterthought to a national title contender pretty quickly. So in that sense, Cignetti is not doing his fellow coaches any favors — although he’s earned plenty of admiration from Locksley.

“Everywhere he’s been, he’s won,” Locksley said. “He’s built it the right way. Got a lot of respect for him. Extremely good in all three phases.”

Roman’s return

Roman Hemby grew up in Maryland feeling overlooked. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and played just one game as a senior because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Maryland, he needed a redshirt year before he could crack the starting lineup. By 2024, Hemby still hadn’t earned all-conference recognition.

During the offseason, Hemby transferred to Indiana where he’s not only become a key cog in the Hoosiers’ charge toward a second straight playoff berth, he’s also emerged quickly as one of Cignetti’s favorite players.

“Roman Hemby is a warrior. That guy gives 100% every day, every play,” Cignetti said recently. “Physical runner, fast, smart, great hands, great out of the backfield. And you know, he’s a guy that wants the ball, that you can give the ball to and he’s durable.”

Fourth-quarter struggles

Maryland wasn’t far from a much sunnier outlook. The Terps have lost their last three games — to Washington, Nebraska and UCLA — by a combined 10 points. They were outscored 44-7 in the fourth quarter of those games.

“Sometimes the fourth quarter comes out to really just effort,” Maryland quarterback Malik Washington said. “Both teams have schemed each other out, you get late into the game, you see what the other team is going to bring. Sometimes it just comes down to being able to find that extra fight and finish.”

Big Ten dominance

The first two seasons of Cignetti’s tenure have been unlike anything Hoosiers fans experienced previously. They’re two wins away from the second double-digit victory total in school history, have won all 14 home games, a school record, and have reached a school-record No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25.

And along the way, Indiana has dominated in conference play like never before. The Hoosiers are 13-1 against league teams, the only loss coming last year at national champion Ohio State, and 11 of the 13 wins have been by double digits, including last year’s 42-28 victory over Maryland.

“I think at home our fans are the best, and playing at home is a huge advantage for us. Once they get going, I mean, it’s just so loud and crazy, and our players feed off of that,” Cignetti said. “On the road, we’ve been successful as well, and the thing we ask our guys to do is play every play like it’s 0-0, game on the line and from beginning to end, regardless of the competitive circumstances.”

QB matchup

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is a Heisman Trophy candidate, having completed 73% of his passes, with 24 touchdown throws and three interceptions. But Washington has been productive as well.

Through his first seven games, Washington has thrown for 1,716 yards. Among true freshmen in a power conference since 2018, only Texas Tech’s Alan Bowman (2,411 yards in 2018) and North Carolina’s Sam Howell (1,892 in 2019) had more through seven games.

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+++++++++++INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY++++++++++

HOOSIERS TRAVEL TO BIG TEN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Post season competition starts for the Indiana University cross country teams as they head to Michigan for the Big Ten Cross Country Championships. The championships will be hosted by Michigan State at the Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich.

The Championship races will include all 18 teams entering the women’s race with only 15 teams competing on the men’s side.

Four men’s teams including Oregon (10), Michigan State (13), the defending champs in Wisconsin (15) and Michigan (25) are ranked in the men’s top 25 USTFCCCA poll heading into championship week. The women have six in the top 25 with reigning champs Oregon (4), Northwestern (8), Penn State (12), Wisconsin (19), Washington (20) and Michigan State (24).

MEET INFO.
Venue: Forest Akers East Golf Course (East Lansing, Mich.)
Tournament Central | BTN | Livestats
Parking: Spectators may park in Lot 89. Shuttles will be available to the course.
Coverage: Follow Indiana XC at iuhoosiers.com and on social media at @IndianaXCTF

SCHEDULE (All times ET)
Men’s 6k – 10:35 a.m.
Women’s 8k – 11:35 p.m.
Awards Ceremony – 12:30 p.m.

HOOSIER LINEUP

Men’s 8k: Caden Click, Matt Kim, Aidan Lord, Andrew Mangum, Dylon Nalley, Cole Raymond, Ahmed Saleh, Nolan Satterfield.

Women’s 6k: Mary Eubank, Ava Jarrell, Veronica Hargrave, Lily Myers, Claire Overfelt, Michaela Quinn, Joey Rastrelli, Alayna Todnem, Katelyn Winton

2024 BIG TEN RECAP

At the 2024 Big Ten Championships, the men finished sixth with 175 points. Martin Segurola (23:00.3) and Skylar Stidam (23:01.4) led the team across the finish line, finishing 11th and 12, respectively.

The women’s team finished 13th with 362 points. Mariah Wehrle was the first Hoosier to cross the finish line, placing 29th with her time of 20:01.6.

BIG TEN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS

The last time a Hoosier won the Big Ten Championships on the men’s side was Zach Mayhew (2012) with 15 total. The women have four total individual champions with Katherine Receveur winning the last title in 2017.

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+++++++++++INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

HOOSIERS HEAD NORTH FOR HALLOWEEN CONFERENCE CLASH

EVANSTON, Ill. — Indiana men’s soccer (11-4-1, 4-4-0 B1G) hunts for a crucial three points in its penultimate Big Ten Conference match Friday (Oct. 31) night at Northwestern (6-5-3, 1-4-2 B1G).

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Fans can watch the match on the B1G+ digital platform.

KICKING OFF

• With two games remaining in the regular season, Indiana controls its destiny regarding qualification for the four-team Big Ten Tournament. With wins at Northwestern on Friday and versus Rutgers next week, the Hoosiers would automatically clinch a spot in the conference semifinal.

• On top of conference tournament goals, positive results will strengthen IU’s already glowing NCAA Tournament resume, highlighted by a No. 4 ranking in the RPI, three victories against ranked opponents and four Quad 1 victories.

• Indiana leans on its high-powered attack, producing 2.6 goals per game and leading the conference in scoring with 41 goals this season – matching, in 16 games, what it totaled in 22 games last season.

• Senior Palmer Ault is the focal point of the Indiana attack as a leading contender for the MAC Hermann Trophy. Ault tops the NCAA leaderboards in goals (15) and points (38) and has hit another gear of late, with 12 G/A in IU’s last five games.

• Chicagoland has produced some of the Indiana program’s greatest players and continues to provide a hotbed for Hoosier talent, as seven members of the 2025 team call the metro area their first home: Alex Barger (Naperville), Luka Bezerra (Chicago), Easton Bogard (Oak Park), Charlie Heuer (Elmhurst), Michael Nesci (Chicago), Owen Sloan (Lake Forest) and Seth Stewart (Oswego).

ABOUT THE WILDCATS

• Northwestern owns a 6-5-3 record on the year but has done relatively well at home, earning a 4-2-2 mark at Martin Stadium. In Big Ten Conference play, the Wildcats have managed a victory against Rutgers (1-0) and draws with Michigan State (0-0) and Penn State (2-2).

• Head coach Russell Payne leads the Wildcats in his fifth season, sporting a 34-34-15 record during his time in Evanston, and a 103-119-46 career mark over 16 seasons as a head coach.

SERIES HISTORY

• Indiana has historically dominated the series with Northwestern, winning 37 of the 48 meetings. The Hoosiers won the first 20 matchups between 1983-2003 as well as six of the last seven.

• Indiana celebrated winning a share of the Big Ten regular season title last season with a 6-1 victory over Northwestern in Bloomington. Charlie Heuer had a goal and an assist in that match, and Collins Oduro and Alex Barger each added assists of their own.

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++++++++++PURDUE WRESTLING++++++++++

#22 WRESTLING OPENS SEASON IN CALIFORNIA

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Purdue Wrestling is set to open its season with a rare trip to California, marking the program’s first time in the Golden State since 2016.

The Boilermakers will face Cal Poly on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET before traveling further inland to battle Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

The dual at Cal Poly will be available to stream live on the Mustangs’ X/Twitter account and FloWrestling. The CSU Bakersfield dual will stream live on the Roadrunners’ YouTube channel and Pac-12 Insider.

Live updates and results will be posted on the X/Twitter account for @PurdueWrestling.

Purdue will meet Cal Poly for the sixth time in program history, having won four of the first five duals. The series dates back to Jan. 4, 1997, a 25-15 Purdue win in San Luis Obispo. Four of the first five meetings were at Cal Poly, with the one exception being a neutral site 28-7 Purdue win in Reno, Nevada, in 1998.

The last time Purdue faced Cal Poly was actually the debut dual for head coach Tony Ersland. On Nov. 14, 2014, the Boilers corralled the Mustangs in a 30-9 rout to ring in the Ersland era.

The big matchup to watch in this dual will be Purdue’s No. 18 Greyson Clark squaring off with No. 4 Zeth Romney. Romney became Cal Poly’s fourth All-American this past season at 133 pounds. Two-time NCAA qualifier Clark is poised for another big leap forward, and his first opportunity comes in the form of a top-5 matchup on Saturday night.

Other potential ranked matchups include No. 23 James Rowley vs. No. 29 Ceasar Garza at 184, and No. 32 Hayden Filipovich vs. No. 16 Trevor Tinker at heavyweight.

Purdue is 3-3 all-time against the Roadrunners of Cal State Bakersfield. The matchup hasn’t happened since Jan. 15, 2006, a 25-16 Purdue win in Bakersfield. The original meeting happened in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Dec. 12, 1987, resulting in a 22-13 Boilermaker victory.

The Roadrunners are more of an unknown squad with no ranked wrestlers entering the season. But Richard Castro-Sandoval was Purdue assistant coach Matt Ramos’ first-round matchup in the NCAA Championships last season. Ramos breezed by him in an 11-3 major decision, but it will be interesting to see how the experienced Castro-Sandoval fares against one of Purdue’s listed young probables at 125, Jacob Macatangay or Isaiah Quintero.

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++++++++++PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++

KAUFMAN-RENN SELECTED TO MALONE AWARD WATCH LIST

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame has announced that Trey Kaufman-Renn is one of 20 players named to the Karl Malone Award watch list, given to the nation’s top power forward.

Kaufman-Renn is joined on the list by Big Ten counterparts Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) and Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA).

Kaufman-Renn, a senior forward from Sellersburg, Indiana, was named to the watch list after averaging 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists a year ago while shooting just under 60 percent the field. Kaufman-Renn, a first-team All-Big Ten honoree a year ago, is the only returning high-major player nationally from last season to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and two assists per game.

Kaufman-Renn has scored in double-figures in eight straight games and finished last year with 723 points, the 10th-most points scored by a Purdue player in school history. He had 12, 20-point games in the last 15 contests last season.

Purdue opens its regular season on Nov. 4, when Evansville visits Mackey Arena.

KAUFMAN-RENN, SMITH NAMED TO NABC PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith have been named to the initial National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Player of the Year watch list, the organization announced Thursday morning.

Purdue is the only school to have two players named on the 20-player watch list, and the duo is joined on the list by Big Ten brethren Donovan Dent (UCLA), Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) and Bennett Stirtz (Iowa).

The duo was named preseason first-team All-Big Ten and have been mentioned on almost every preseason All-American team.

Smith, a senior guard from Westfield, Indiana, is the lone returning first-team All-American in the country after averaging 15.8 points, 8.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds a year ago. He won the Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard last season and has 1,375 points, 758 assists and 535 rebounds in his three seasons at Purdue. He is the only player in Big Ten history, and one of 16 players in NCAA history, to have even 1,300 career points, 700 assists and 500 rebounds, and he has a full season to play.

Smith needs just 125 points and 242 assists to become the first player in NCAA history with 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Kaufman-Renn, a senior forward from Sellersburg, Indiana, was named to the team after averaging 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists a year while shooting just under 60 percent the field. Kaufman-Renn, a first-team All-Big Ten honoree a year ago, is the only returning high-major player nationally from last season to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and two assists per game.

Purdue opens its regular season on Nov. 4, when Evansville visits Mackey Arena.

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++++++++++PURDUE CROSS COUNTRY++++++++++

PURDUE HEADS TO B1G CHAMPIONSHIPS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Cross Country gears up for the 2025 Big Ten Championships on Friday, Oct. 31 starting at 10:35 a.m. in East Lansing, Mich.

Championship Notes

• The men’s 10k begins at 10:35 a.m. and the women’s 6k follows at 11:35 a.m. with both races airing live on Big Ten Network.

• All-Big Ten Teams are based on the order of top finishers at the conference championship (places 1-10, first team; places 11-20, second team). Placement on the All-Freshman Team will consist of the top five freshman and redshirt freshman finishers for men’s and women’s.

• The men’s field features four ranked teams: No. 10 Oregon, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 15 Wisconsin and No. 25 Michigan.

• The women’s field features six ranked teams: No. 4 Oregon, No. 8 Northwestern, No. 12 Penn State, No. 19 Wisconsin, No. 20 Washington and No. 24 Michigan State.

Men’s Notes

• Purdue finished seventh last season in the revamped Big Ten that added Oregon, UCLA and Washington. The Boilers have finished top five in six of the last eight seasons.

• Douglas Buckeridge has paced Purdue in his three meets this season and took fourth at the Big Ten Preview on Sept. 13. His 23:10.4 ran at the Joe Piane Invitational is the fourth-best time in the Big Ten this season. Buckeridge led Purdue at last season’s Big Tens finishing in 21st.

• Nathan Walker has followed Buckeridge in all of his appearances and his 23:11.5 at the Joe Piane Invitational is sixth in the Big Ten this season.

• Buckeridge and Walker will look to join Curt Eckstein (2020), Jaret Carpenter (2017-19), Matt McClintock (2013-15), Bob Stolz (2986-87), John Canpanik (1985) and Jim Nagle (1985) as the only All-Big Ten First Team selections in school history.

• Kiefer Bell has finished as Purdue’s third-best runner twice and fourth-best once, while Jason Polydoris has a third, fourth and fifth-place team finish in each of his meets.

• Nerius White placed fourth once and fifth twice when Purdue has run its top team.

Women’s Notes

• Sofia Munoz has led Purdue in both of its 6k races this season. She has a personal-best performance in all four of her races overall and is coming off a 21:30.3 in the 6k at the Pre-National Invitational that was a 27-second improvement.

• Lauren Pegher has a first, second and third-place team finish in her meets this season. She led the Boilermakers at the Joe Piane Invitational that was a 5k race.

• Julia Economou is coming off a season-best second-place team finish at the Pre-National Invitational. She finished in a personal-best 21:47.3. She has finished in Purdue’s top three in all four of her meets this season.

Next Up

Purdue continues postseason competition at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, Nov. 14 in Evansville, Ind.

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+++++++++NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++

IRISH CONCLUDE REGULAR SEASON AT PITT

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-1-2, 8-1-1) suffered their first loss of the season to the Pitt Panthers (6-10-2, 2-8-0) on Thursday evening in a 0-1 loss on the road to conclude the 2025 regular season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a battle from the get go between the Irish and Panthers in the cold, rainy weather in Pittsburgh.

The Irish had some early looks, primarily from Chukwu, who was without her fellow sophomore forward, Izzy Engle in Thursday’s match. Chukwu had a chance in the 18th minute where she was able to get a clean look from just outside the box, but the shot would go off the crossbar. Shortly after in the 19th minute, the Irish had a free kick from centerfield about 30 yards out, but the Chukwu shot to the bottom right corner of the net was saved to keep it at an even slate.

Both teams struggled to get on the board in the first half as it was tied at 0-0 heading into the second half.

The Irish had several opportunities in the second half as they were looking to separate themselves to take the advantage, but the Pitt Panthers remained relentless in their efforts.

While the Irish outshot the Panthers 16-13, Pitt had 6 corner kick opportunities. The Panthers would go on to score off of their final corner kick in the 86th minute on a header that fell to the back bottom corner of the net. The Panthers would go on to win it 1-0 to conclude the 2025 regular season.

UP NEXT

The Irish head to the ACC Tournament next week as the No. 2 seed and with a first round bye, will play in the semifinals in Cary, N.C. on Thursday, Nov. 6 to take on the winner of Duke and Louisville.

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++++++++++NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER++++++++

MATCH 17 PREVIEW: WAKE FOREST

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame wraps up the regular season on the road with an ACC matchup against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 31. The contest will air on ACCNX.

NOTRE DAME vs. WAKE FOREST
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Spry Stadium
Stream: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDMenSoccer
Game Notes: vs. Wake Forest

THE WAKE FOREST SERIES

• The Irish and Demon Deacons will meet on the pitch for the 16th time in program history on Friday evening.

• Notre Dame trails in the all-time series with a record of 5-7-3, however, the Irish are unbeaten over the last three meetings, posting a record of 2-0-1.

• The last time the two sides faced each other came towards the end of the 2023 season which ended in a 1-1 draw at Spry Stadium.

• Ten of the 15 matchups in the series have either ended in draws or have been decided by one goal, including three of the last four.

INSTANT IMPACT

• The freshman class has already made its presence felt on the Notre Dame roster, as the group has produced 23 points off seven goals and nine assists this season.

• Luke Burton has led the way from the striker position with three goals and three assists while making nine starts up top for the Irish.

• Ren Sylvester has found his form with two goals and two assists

• Alex Rosin has made seven starts at left back and has proved capable of going forward in attack with two goals and three assists.

• Karson Baquero has played in six matches as a midfielder, recording an assist in the win over Green Bay.

SET-PIECE SUCCESS

• The Fighting Irish have scored 11 goals off set pieces during the 2025 campaign.

• Three of the goals have come from free kicks, with Mitch Ferguson scoring a direct free kick and Diego Ochoa and Ferguson finishing from service into the box.

• The Irish have been even more lethal on corners, firing in eight goals this season. Ferguson, Burton and Rosin have each scored twice while Wyatt Borso and Martin Von Thun have each recorded one.

BK THE GK

• Blake Kelly has been a mainstay in goal for the Irish during his sophomore season, posting five clean sheets.

• The shot stopper ranks second in the ACC in saves per game with a mark of 3.44 per outing.

• Kelly started 12 matches for the Irish in 2024 and became the first true freshman goalie to start the season opener in the last 30 years for the program.

STRIKE FORCE

• The starting striker tandem of Wyatt Borso and Luke Burton has continued to gel over the course of the season, as the two have combined for eight goals and three assists.

• Borso leads the team in goals with five, which is a career high.

• Burton has recorded a point in six of the last 10 matches, scoring in wins over Pitt, Omaha and Hope and picking up assists against Louisville, Wright State, Hope and NIU.

BALANCED ATTACK

• Twelve players have scored the 24 goals for the Irish this season, as Wyatt Borso (5), Mitch Ferguson (4), Luke Burton (3), Nolan Spicer (2), Alex Rosin (2) and Ren Sylvester (2) have each scored multiple times while Jack Flanagan, Wyatt Lewis, Stevie Dunphy, KK Baffour and Diego Ochoa and Martin Vont Thun each found the back of the net once.

• Ten returning Irish players registered at least one point in their Notre Dame career, as the team returns 54 points from last year.

• Nine players that scored a goal during the 2024 campaign are back on this year’s team.

• Flanagan is the top returning goal scorer on the 2025 squad after firing in a career-high four goals during his sophomore campaign.

2025 CAPTAINS

• Mitch Ferguson and Wyatt Lewis serve as the captains for this year’s Fighting Irish team and Blake Kelly will take on the role of assistant captain.

• Ferguson has appeared in 66 games over his Notre Dame career, scoring seven goals and adding eight assists from the center back position.

• Lewis enters his third season with the Fighting Irish and has four goals and four assists as a holding midfielder.

• Kelly started 12 matches as a freshman in 2024, posting a record of 4-3-5 while recording 26 saves.

THE CHAD RILEY ERA

• McFarland Family Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chad Riley is in his eighth season in charge of the Notre Dame men’s soccer program in 2025.

• Riley became the first head coach in program history to lead the Fighting Irish to two College Cup appearances, coming during the 2021 and 2023 seasons.

• Notre Dame has captured both an ACC regular season and tournament title under his direction, both firsts in program history.

BRANDON AUBREY – NFL PHENOM

• Dallas Cowboys kicker and Notre Dame men’s soccer alum Brandon Aubrey has become one of the best kickers in the NFL in just three short seasons.

• The kicker was an All-American center back for the Irish before being drafted in the first round of the 2017 MLS Draft by Toronto FC.

• Aubrey was named First-Team All-Pro and an NFC Pro Bowler after his rookie season in 2023.

• The Irish alum has set the record for most 60+ yard field goals made in a career with five, despite only being in his third season in the league.

• Aubrey is 16-for-16 on field goal attempts this season and 92-for-101 in his career, including an astounding mark of 29-for-32 on attempts of 50+ yards.

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+++++++++++NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL+++++++++++

CARR EARNS SELECTION TO DAVEY O’BRIEN QB CLASS OF 2025

Freshman quarterback CJ Carr has earned selection to the Davey O’Brien Award Quarterback Class of 2025, making him an official candidate for the 2025 Davey O’Brien Award, which recognizes the top quarterback in college football.

Through seven games this season, Carr has completed 121 passes for 1,758 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has also rushed for two touchdowns. Among all FBS players, Carr ranks fifth in the nation in passing yards per completion (14.53), seventh in yards per pass attempt (9.55) and ninth in passing efficiency (166.8). He is the nation’s top freshman quarterback in each of those categories, and among the nation’s freshman quarterbacks, also ranks second in passing touchdowns (14) and fourth in passing yards (1,758).

Car and Notre Dame’s offense have compiled an explosive first half of the season. Nationally, Notre Dame ranks sixth in turnover margin (1.14), eighth in passing yards per completion (14.56), ninth in team passing efficiency (167.80), 10th in scoring offense (39.1), and 19th in total offense (462.1).

His standout performance of the season thus far came in Notre Dame’s 56-13 win over Arkansas, in which Carr completed 22 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. In that game, he posted most first-half passing yards (294) by an Irish quarterback since 2008, and his four touchdowns tied for the second-most ever by a freshman quarterback at Notre Dame.

Carr was recognized nationally in several instances for his Arkansas performance, not only as a Manning Award Star of the Week and Manning Award Quarterback of the Week, but as the Shaun Alexander Award Freshman of the Week, and a member of the Davey O’Brien Great 8.

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+++++++++++NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++

HIDALGO SELECTED TO NAISMITH WATCH LIST

ATLANTA — Hannah Hidalgo’s list of 2025-26 preseason accolades just keeps growing. On Thursday, the junior guard was named to the Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Watchlist. She was a finalist for the award last season.

The junior guard has already been named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year and is an AP Preseason All-American heading into this year.

Hidalgo is coming off of another record-breaking campaign last year. She averaged 23.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 steals per game. She was the only player on the men’s or women’s side to average at least 20.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 3.0 steals per game while shooting at least .400 from three-point range and .850 from the free throw line since 2000.

The ACC is well-represented on the list, as 10 of the 50 players to earn the nod hail from the conference.

#15 IRISH DOMINATE PURDUE NORTHWEST IN EXHIBITION, 119-54

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 15 Fighting Irish women’s basketball team had their final preseason tuneup before getting the 2025-26 season underway next week, as they defeated Purdue Northwest by a final score of 119-54 inside Purcell Pavilion on Thursday evening.

All five Notre Dame starters finished in double figures in the victory.

Hannah Hidalgo led all scorers with 39 points on 15-of-24 shooting while adding eight rebounds, six steals and two assists. Cassandre Prosper had an ultra-efficient evening, 12-of-13 from the field for 27 points.

Vanessa de Jesus (17 points), KK Bransford (16) and Gisela Sanchez rounded out the Irish players to finish with double-digit points.

The Irish defense was swarming throughout the contest, creating 53 points off turnovers and finishing with 22 steals. Prosper led the Irish with seven steals followed by Hidalgo (6), Bransford (6) and Jordyn Smith (4).

HOW IT HAPPENED

The combination of Hidalgo and Sanchez got the Irish offense started, as the two combined for 16 of Notre Dame’s first 18 points to build an early 10-point advantage of 18-8 midway through the first quarter.

Notre Dame finished the first frame in fashion, reeling off the final 12 points of the period to push the lead to 21 points with the score 32-11 at the end of the opening 10 minutes of play. Six different Irish players scored in the first quarter, as the team finished 13-for-21 from the field.

There was no letup from the Irish in the second quarter, as the team put up another 30-point period on the offensive end, and the lead ballooned to 38 points at the half with the score 62-24.

The Irish shot an efficient 65 percent from the field in the first half (26-of-40) and dominated inside, outscoring the Pride 38-4 in the paint.

Notre Dame posted 34 points in the third quarter while limiting the Pride to just eight to make the score 96-32 through 30 minutes of play. The Irish were led by de Jesus in the frame, as the guard scored 10 points.

The Irish closed out the contest with a 23-point fourth quarter on the way to winning by a final score of 119-54.

UP NEXT
Notre Dame officially begins the 2025-26 campaign against Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 inside Purcell Pavilion. The game will air on ACCNX.

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+++++++++++NOTRE DAME HOCKEY++++++++++

HOCKEY OPENS CONFERENCE PLAY AGAINST #2/2 WOLVERINES

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame Hockey team will finish off their three-week homestand with #2/2 Michigan on Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 6pm. This weekend marks an exciting one filled with festivities. Friday’s game is the annual with Hocktoberfest and Ralph M. DiVietro Memorial Associate Coach Andy Slaggert’s last game behind the Irish bench while Saturday’s contest features a whiteout game set to honor Rudy Chapman, who was an integral member of the team since 2018 before succumbing to his battle with cancer in July 2025.

The weekend marks the two programs’ 172nd all-time meeting. The Irish trail the all-time series by a 77-88-6 margin but have had recent success on home ice, holding a slim 34-33-2 advantage in South Bend. The last time the rivals met at Compton Family Ice Arena, the Irish skated to a 7-4 victory in January 2025.

This year’s matchup brings back a lot of familiar faces who found success in last year’s four game series. Five current Irish skaters tallied multiple points against the Wolverines a year ago, led by Cole Knuble’s five points on a goal and three assists. Brennan Ali also made a name for himself during the games, earning points in three of the four contests, including two goals and two assists. Meanwhile, Knuble and Danny Nelson each turned in three point nights in the series. The impressive offensive front of the Irish in last year’s contest will be continued into this year’s clash.

Last year’s Michigan team included one of the current Irish roster’s very own players, junior forward Evan Werner. In opposing colors last year, Werner tallied three goals against the Irish. Now with Notre Dame, Werner ranks third on the team with six points off of two goals and four assists and will look to make an impact from the other side of the rivalry this weekend.

With both teams expanding on the early season momentum and opening conference play, Friday night’s showdown in South Bend looks to deliver another memorable chapter in the Irish and Wolverine saga.

SERIES OVERVIEW

Opponent: #2/2 Michigan

Location: South Bend, Ind.

Schedule: Fri. 7pm ET | Sat. 6pm ET

TV: Peacock

Live Stats: FightingIrish.com

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++++++++++BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

BUTLER COACH THAD MATTA REVAMPS ROSTER AGAIN IN AN EFFORT TO PRODUCE A WINNING SEASON AND NCAA BID

Butler (15-20, 6-14 Big East)

Coach Thad Matta begins the fourth season of his second tenure in Indianapolis with another revamped roster, this time with five first-year players and one second-year player. It could signal a return to the recruiting philosophy that helped the Bulldogs achieve their greatest feats. They have only one winning season since 2019-20 and have missed the NCAA Tournament seven consecutive seasons. But the 58-year-old Matta still brought in experienced transfers — five in all — plus one international player.

Players to watch

Finley Bizjack (junior, G, 10.3 points, 59 3-pointers) nearly doubled his minutes last season and his performance reflected it. This year, he’s Butler’s leading returning scorer and a foundational piece. He’ll likely be paired in the backcourt with Jalen Jackson (redshirt senior, G, 19.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists), a two-time all-Horizon League selection with IPFW. Michael Ajayi (redshirt senior, F, 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds) brings size to Butler’s front line after playing last season at Gonzaga.

Departures and arrivals

After losing their top three scorers — Jahmyl Telfort, Pierre Brooks II and Patrick McCaffery — the Bulldogs brought in Yame Butler (redshirt senior, G, 13.6 points with Drexel) and All-MEAC C Drayton Jones (junior, 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks at South Carolina State). Ajayi and centers Yohan Traore (senior, 6.1 points) and Kevin Ndzie (Italian leagues) provide even more size. The freshmen class could help, too. The top recruit is G Azavier Robinson, an Indiana Mr. Basketball Award finalist.

Top games

Butler opens its season by hosting Southern Indiana on Nov. 5 and will spend most of its non-conference schedule in Indy. The only road trip is to SMU on Nov. 15. The Bulldogs also face South Carolina and Virginia in a Thanksgiving week tournament and Northwestern in Indy’s NBA arena Dec. 20. The Bulldogs open Big East play in mid-December, hosting Providence before traveling to No. 4 Connecticut on Dec. 16. UConn returns to Indy on Feb. 11. Butler also plays No. 5 St. John’s and No. 23 Creighton twice.

Facts and figures

Butler hopes swingman Jamie Kaiser Jr. can stay healthy after missing all of last season following ankle surgery. He spent his first college season at Maryland. … Jones also was an All-MEAC defensive team selection. Ajayi earned first team All-West Coast Conference honors in 2023-24 with Pepperdine. … Bizjack was chosen for USA Basketball’s 3×3 development camp this summer… Matta now has five former Indiana prep stars on his roster. … The freshman class includes some familiar names. F Bryson Cardinal is the son of former Purdue star Brian Cardinal. G Jack McCaffery is the son of Penn coach Fran McCaffery and the brother of Patrick McCaffery.

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++++++++++++BUTLER VOLLEYBALL++++++++++

BUTLER SET TO DEFEND UNBEATEN HOMESTAND WITH GEORGETOWN AND VILLANOVA COMING TO HINKLE

Friday, Oct, 31- Butler will take on Georgetown at 7 p.m. Watch Live Stats Tickets

Saturday Nov, 1- Butler and Villanova will square off at 7 p.m. Watch Live Stats Tickets

Butler Recently

After back-to-back wins over Seton Hall and St. John’s the Bulldogs improved to 11-12 on the season and 4-6 in BIG EAST conference play.

Bulldog Bites

Butler is 8-3 in home matches this season, which marks fourth best in the BIG EAST.

Alaleh Tolliver is fourth in the BIG EAST in kills (316) and kills per set (3.85).

Tolliver is also fourth in the conference in points per set (4.52).

Kaylee Finnegan is fourth in the conference in total assists (8.73).

Finnegan was named BIG EAST setter of the week on Sept. 2 after she posted 128 assists over the course of three matches.

Lauren Evans is third in the conference in digs per set (4.27)

Evans recorded her career high in digs against St. John’s (26). 26 digs is also the most digs by any player in BIG EAST play this season. That performance earned her a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

Maria Nix achieved her career high in kills (14) against St. John’s on .321 hitting.

Elise Ward has tallied 228 kills on the season and is averaging 2.78 per set.

Zoe McDonald leads the team in blocks (78) (1.00 per set).

Coach Kyle Shondell won his 100th career match as a collegiate women’s volleyball coach, last Friday night against Seton Hall.

Scouting Georgetown

Butler and Georgetown will meet for the second time this season Friday night. On Oct. 4, the Hoyas got the best of the Bulldogs, 3-1. Butler still leads the all-time series against Georgetown, 17-7, but has dropped its previous two matches against the Hoyas.

Georgetown has won three matches in a row and is 6-4 in BIG EAST play and 13-10 overall.

Juleigh Urbina and Natalie Nguyen split time as the team’s setters. Urbina leads the team with 6.53 assists per set, while Nguyen is averaging 4.44. Offensively, Samantha Soderlund and Dionna Mitchell each have more than 200 kills this season. Mitchell leads the team with 3.09 kills per set and is tied for the team lead in digs, averaging 2.26 per set.

Scouting Villanova

The Dawgs and Wildcats will square off for the second time this season, with Villanova winning the first matchup on Oct. 3. Villanova leads the all-time series 12-11, with Butler’s last win coming in 2023.

Villanova has won three of its last four matches and is currently 16-5 overall and 7-3 in BIG EAST play.

Abby Harrell ranks third in the conference in kills, averaging 3.87 per set. Alyssa Nelson and Ava Harris split time as the team’s setters; each averages more than five assists per set. In conference play, Villanova leads the BIG EAST in blocks, averaging 2.44 per set.

Up Next

Next weekend, Butler will place its final road matches of the season, facing UConn Nov. 7 and then Providence Nov. 8.

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++++++++++++BUTLER CROSS COUNTRY++++++++++++

BUTLER SET TO COMPETE IN THE BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY

Both men’s and women’s teams are set to compete in the BIG EAST Championship presented by Jeep on Friday. The championship will take place at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Nebraska. The men’s 8K race is scheduled to begin at noon ET, followed by the women’s 6K race at 12:50 p.m. ET. Both races will be followed by an awards presentation at 1:40 p.m. The event will be streamed live on ESPN, and live results will be available here. Course information can be found here.

Men’s Preview

No. 14 Butler has had a strong season thus far. The Bulldogs won the Mike Baumer XC Classic and finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in highly competitive fields at the Gans Creek Classic and the Nuttycombe Invitational.

After winning the 5K at the Mike Baumer XC Classic, Brendan Thomas was named BIG EAST Athlete of the Week. After placing 14th in the 8K at the Nuttycombe Invitational, William Zegarski was named co-BIG EAST Athlete of the Week. Both Zegarski and Thomas will look to continue their strong seasons for the Bulldogs at the BIG EAST championship.

Georgetown, ranked 30th, is the only other ranked team in this year’s field. Last year at the event, the Bulldogs finished second, with Villanova claiming the title.

Women’s Preview

The Bulldogs finished second at both the Mike Baumer XC Classic and the Rumble in the Fort meet. On Oct. 4, Butler placed 13th in the Louisville Classic, led by Hannah Moore, who finished 33rd. Moore will look to carry her positive momentum into the championship.

Georgetown, the defending champion, is ranked 10th, while Villanova, which placed fourth a season ago, is ranked 14th. Butler finished fifth i 2024.

Butler’s History at the BIG EAST Championship

Combining both programs, the Bulldogs have won the BIG EAST Championship four times. On the men’s side, Butler has won three of the last six BE championships, taking the title in 2020, 2021 and 2023.

On the women’s side, the program won the BIG EAST championship in 2019.

Up Next

The Great Lakes Regional Championship is set for Nov. 14.

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++++++++++IU INDY CROSS COUNTRY+++++++++

CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS HEAD TO FORT WAYNE FOR 2025 #HLXC CHAMPIONSHIPS

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IU Indianapolis men’s and women’s cross country teams will head to Fort Wayne this weekend for the 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Championships, held at Purdue Fort Wayne’s Mastodon Cross Country Course. The men’s 8K race will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by the women’s 6K race at noon.

The men’s program last won the team title in 2021 in Carmel and has finished second each of the past three years. Interim head coach Justin Amburgy’s team has beaten 81 percent of its opponents this season, including fourth-place finishes at the Joe Piane Invitational and Angel Mounds Invite. The Jags previously ran the Mastodon Course back on Sept. 20, paced by Luke Shappell and Nick Cook. Shappell finished the 8K race in a time of 25:08.3 and Cook crossed at 25:15.7. Other Jaguars in the top five included Joey LaPatra, Riley Nixon and Joey Ashman.

On the women’s side, head coach Antonio McDaniel’s team looks to improve upon last season’s sixth-place finish at the Horizon League Championships. The Jags finished eighth among 19 teams competing at the Angel Mounds Invitational on Oct. 17 in the final tune-up ahead of this weekend’s league championships. The Jags also competed at the Rumble in the Fort and were led by Julie Smith (21:38.3), Ella Colclesser (22:24.0) and Grace Bragg (22:40.2). Carina Alanis and Hannah Robbins were also among the team’s top five at that meet.

MEN’S ENTRIES: Joey Ashman, Nick Cook, Sam Grimes, Alec Hueftle, Nolan King, Joey LaPatra, Matt Mitsch, Riley Nixon, Eli Oetken, Jay Pillai, Noah Price, Isaac Riggs, Carter Schorr, Luke Shappell, Cameron Smith

WOMEN’S ENTRIES: Carina Alanis, Wini Barnett, Kaylynn Bedel, Grace Bragg, Emily Bruns, Ella Colclesser, AnnMarie Gibson, Hannah Robbins, Julie Smith, Julynne Spidell

UP NEXT: Both teams will participate in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Evansville, Ind., on Friday, Nov. 14.

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+++++++++++BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL++++++++++

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL BACK IN ACTION AT KENT STATE

THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL: After picking up a home sweep of Miami Tuesday, the Ball State women’s volleyball team closes the week with a two-match set at Kent State … The teams will battle at 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday at the M.A.C. Center.

FOLLOW THE ACTION: Fans unable to attend this weekend’s matches in person have several ways to follow the #MACtion … Both contests will be broadcast live on ESPN+ … Live stats will be available courtesy of Kent State … Updates from the matches will also be provided on the team’s X feed and Instagram story: @BallStateWVB.

CURRENTLY IN THE MAC: With its 11-1 league mark, Ball State owns a two-match lead in the MAC standings, with Western Michigan currently second at 9-3 … Toledo is third at 8-4, while Bowling Green and Ohio are tied for fourth at 7-5 … Rounding out the current top six is Central Michigan at 6-6 … The top six teams in the final league standings advance to the 2025 MAC Volleyball Championship held Nov. 21-23 at Bowling Green’s Stroh Center … Miami and Akron are currently tied as the first teams out with its 5-7 MAC ledgers.

MAC PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: Ball State women’s volleyball team received 102 points in the league’s annual coaches’ poll, trailing only defending regular season champion Bowling Green (119) … With coaches unable to vote for their own teams, BGSU earned 10 of the 12 votes to win the MAC regular season title, with the Cardinals claiming the other two … The Falcons were also selected as the favorite to win the MAC Volleyball Championship with 10 votes, while Buffalo and Central Michigan each garnered one vote.

PRESEASON HONORS: In addition to the team rankings, the MAC announced its annual Preseason All-MAC Team … Representing Ball State are sophomore outside Carson Tyler and sophomore libero Sophie Ledbetter … Tyler was named the 2024 MAC and AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year after ranking first on the team and seventh in the league with a 3.34 kills-per-set average last season … Ledbetter earned a nod on the 2024 MAC All-Freshman team after leading the squad and ranking 10th in the MAC with a 3.68 digs-per-set average.

BALL STATE ALL-TIME: Ball State enters Tuesday’s match versus Miami with a 1048-667-2 (.611) all-time record in women’s volleyball … Ball State became the 44th program in NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball history to reach 1,000 wins with a sweep of Central Michigan on Sept. 22, 2023 … All-time, the Cardinals have captured 12 MAC West Division Championships, 10 MAC Regular Season Championships and eight MAC Volleyball Championship titles … Ball State has made 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including three of the last six seasons … BSU has also earned two bids into the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).

WHEN IN WORTHEN: The Cardinals boast a 330-104 (.760) all-time record inside Worthen Arena, including an 84-41 (.672) mark against non-conference foes and a 246-63 (.796) ledger versus league foes … Overall, no MAC opponent owns a winning record inside Worthen Arena, as the Cardinals have at least a .630 winning percentage against all league schools on its current home floor … Ball State closes out its 2025 home slate Nov. 13-14 with back-to-back matches versus Central Michigan which is 6-27 all-time in Worthen Arena.

BALL STATE IN THE MAC: With an 11-1 record in MAC play this season, Ball State maintains its status as the winningest program in league play with a 470-226 (.675) all-time MAC mark … Western Michigan is second on the list, four matches behind the Cardinals at 466-230 (.670), while this weekend’s opponent Kent State is 10th at 246-450 (.353).

ABOUT THE 10-0 START TO #MACtion: While it’s season-long 10-match winning streak came to an end last Saturday vs. Ohio, Ball State’s 10-0 start to MAC play tied as the third-best league start in program history … The Cardinals also won its first 10 conference matches of the 1997 campaign … Ball State has also gone undefeated in league play twice, boasting an 18-0 mark in 1993, followed by a 17-0 record in 1994.

SCOUTING BALL STATE:

• The Cardinals enter the weekend with a 15-9 overall record, including an 11-1 record in Mid-American Conference play … Ball State rebounded from its first league loss of the season last Saturday with a 3-0 sweep of Miami Tuesday in Worthen Arena.

• Ball State remains the top-ranked MAC squad in the latest NCAA RPI Rankings, coming in at 56 … The Cardinals were 77th in the initial RPI rankings on Oct. 5 and climbed to as high as 45th in the Oct. 19 release.

• Ball State enters the weekend as one of the nation’s top terminating teams, ranking second nationally with 1,284 total kills … Only Towson (1,287) has more kills than the Cardinals … 402 of Ball State’s kills, which is fifth nationally, have come from the arm of sophomore outside Carson Tyler who also ranks first in the MAC and 39th nationally with a 4.19 kills-per-set average.

• In addition, the Cardinals lead the MAC and rank 46th nationally with a .254 team attack percentage … Junior middle Camryn Wise is first in the league and 43rd nationally with a .381 rate of success, while junior setter Lindsey Green ranks 96th nationally with 695 total assists and owns a 7.32 assists-per-set average.

SCOUTING KENT STATE:

• The Golden Flashes enter the weekend with an 8-15 overall record, including a 3-9 mark in MAC play … In Tuesday #MACtion, Kent State suffered a 3-0 setback at Ohio for its third straight league loss.

• KSU ranks last in the MAC in the latest NCAA RPI Rankings at 259, dropping 11 spots from its ranking of 248 last week … Kent State was ranked as high as 188th in the initial RPI rankings on Oct. 5, before falling to 239th on Oct. 12.

• Kent State enters the weekend ranked fourth in the MAC with a 14.69 digs-per-set average and fifth in the league with a .200 opponent’s attack percentage … The Golden Flashes have held opponents to sub-.200 hitting marks in 12 matches this season, including holding North Dakota to a .028 (29-26-109) rate of success on Sept. 12.

• On the offensive front, Mackenzie McGuire leads the team and ranks third in the MAC with a 3.84 kills-per-set average … McGuire has smashed double-digit kills in nine of Kent State’s 12 league matches this season, including a match-high 12 markers in Tuesday’s setback versus Ohio.

• The Cardinals currently hold a 46-18 lead in the all-time series versus Kent State, including five straight wins … Last season, Ball State picked a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) sweep in the M.A.C. Center on Oct. 19, 2024 … It was BSU’s fifth straight win via sweep in the series and helped the Cardinals improve to 18-9 in matches played in Kent, Ohio … KSU’s last win over BSU was also its last home win of the series on Sept. 24, 2021, by a score 3-2 (19-25, 13-25, 28-26, 25-19, 17-15).

BALL STATE QUICK HITS:

• Sophomore outside Carson Tyler has been one of the nation’s top attackers so far this season, ranking fifth nationally with 402 kills for a MAC-best 4.19 kills-per-set average … She has reached double-digit kills in 22 matches so far this season, including a career-high 29 kills versus Toledo (Oct. 10), 28 kills versus Cincinnati (Sept. 18), 26 kills versus James Madison (Sept. 14) and 21 kills at UConn (Sept. 5) … Last season, Tyler averaged 3.34 kills per set to become the first player in program history to earn AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year accolades.

• With her 13 kills in Tuesday’s win over Miami, Carson Tyler took over sole possession of 18th in program history with double-digit kills in 44 career matches … She has 22 such matches this season, while collecting 22 her freshman campaign … In addition, Tyler is one of just nine players in program history to register 20-or-more kills in at least 10 career matches, with her 24 kills at Bowling Green (Oct. 16) being her 12th.

• A six-rotation player, Carson Tyler is currently second on the squad with 243 digs … She has recorded kill/dig double-doubles in 13 matches this season, with her latest coming versus Miami (Oct. 28) … Tyler registered a career-high 19 digs in the win at Marquette (Sept. 12) and collected 18 versus Cal Poly (Aug. 31) and James Madison (Sept. 14) … Tyler also leads Ball State’s primary passers with a .961 reception percentage, successfully passing 540 of the 562 serves she has faced … Tyler also led the Cardinals’ primary passers with a .963 reception percentage last season by successfully passing 650 of the team-high 675 serves she faced.

• Graduate outside Noelle VanOort has made quite an impact playing for the Cardinals, smashing 280 total kills, collecting 182 digs and hitting .215 (280-103-823) … A member of the Golden Gopher Invitational All-Tournament Team, VanOort has tallied double-digit kills in 17 of BSU’s 24 matches, including a season-high 20 kills twice … Throw in 97 matches with double-figure kills during her four-year career at Indiana Tech and VanOort has been credited with at least 10 kills in 114 collegiate matches … She has also raised her collegiate total to 11 matches with 20+ kills, including a 20/20 effort Nov. 5, 2022, with 23 kills and 25 digs versus Siena Heights.

• Noelle VanOort has been just as solid on defense through the first 10 weeks, earning double-digit digs seven times, including a season-high 23 vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 18) … The effort has raised her career total to 97 matches with double-digit digs, including her 90 at Indiana Tech … It also helped her raise her collegiate kill/dig double-double total to 74, including six with Ball State and 68 with the Warriors.

• Noelle VanOort reached a career milestone in Tuesday’s win over Miami, smashing the 2,000th kill of her collegiate career … The moment came midway through the second set when her third blast of the match gave BSU a 12-6 edge … Prior to arriving at Ball State, VanOort finished her four-year playing career at Indiana Tech (2021-24) as a two-time NAIA Third Team All-American and ranked second in program history with 1,724 kills … Add 280 kills so far at Ball State and her career total stands at 2,004 … She has also collected 1,830 digs and served up 294 aces over her collegiate career.

• With 20 kills each in the Aug. 31 match versus Cal Poly, Noelle VanOort and Carson Tyler became the first Ball State duo to record 20-or-more kills in the same match since the 2007 season … Brittany May and Julie Breivogel were the last players to do so with 21 and 20 kills, respectively, in an Oct. 5, 2027 match versus Western Michigan.

• Sophomore libero Sophie Ledbetter paces the Ball State defense with 373 digs and a 3.89 digs-per-set average this season … Her total ranks third among all MAC defenders, while her average is fourth … Ledbetter has recorded double-digit digs in 21 of BSU’s 24 matches, upping her career total to 44 … The effort includes a career-high tying 27 digs versus Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 20) and 26 digs in the season-opener versus St. Thomas (Aug. 29).

• Sophie Ledbetter earned her first collegiate double-double versus Cal Poly (Aug. 31), handing out 10 assists to go along with her 14 digs.

• Junior Lindsey Green and freshman Reese Axness have combined to lead the Ball State offense to a .254 attack percentage this season which is first in the MAC and 46th nationally … The mark includes a .263 rate of success over the team’s 12 MAC matches … Green, who dished out a career-high 51 assists twice this season, currently ranks ninth in the MAC with a 7.32 assists-per-set average, with her 695 total assists ranking 96th nationally … She also leads the squad with 30 service aces … Axness, meanwhile, enters the weekend with a 4.42 assists-per-set average and has served up 12 aces.

• Junior middle Gwen Crull has turned up the offensive heat over the last seven weeks, reaching double-digit kills for the first eight times in her collegiate career … Her best match came at Miami (Oct. 7), when she smashed a career-high 13 kills and hit .522 (13-1-23) … She has also collected 12 kills on two occasions; vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 18) and at Akron (Sept. 26) … Since the start of MAC play, Crull is second on the squad with a .413 (97-16-196) attack percentage, which ranks third in the MAC during the span … She also leads the squad with a 0.84 blocks-per-set average this season, including a team-high 13 solo blocks.

• Junior middle Camryn Wise enters the week leading the Mid-American Conference with a .381 attack percentage … She has hit .300-or-better in 18 of the team’s 24 matches, paced by a .579 (12-1-19) rate of success at Marquette (Sept. 12) … Looking at just league matches, Wise’s mark jumps up to .418 with just 13 errors on 177 swings, to go along with 87 kills … Wise has hit at least .385 in nine MAC outings, starting with a .545 (6-0-11) effort at Buffalo (Sept. 25).

• Sophomore Tiffany Snook is starting to find her grove on the right side, ranking fourth on the squad in league play with 89 kills and a 2.02 kills-per-set average … The effort includes a career-high 17 kills and a .433 (17-4-30) attack percentage versus Toledo (Oct. 10) … She also secured 11 kills at Akron (Sept. 26) and has registered at least six kills in eight of Ball State’s 12 league matches.

• Roster Update: Senior opposite Madison Buckley and redshirt junior outside attacker Aniya Kennedy will both miss the 2025 season as medical redshirts … Buckley was a 2024 First Team All-MAC selection after ranking second on the team in total blocks (90.0) and third in total kills (276) last season … Kennedy, the 2023 MAC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MAC selection, ranked second on the squad with 279 kills last season and chipped in 43 total blocks.

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+++++++++++INDIANA STATE CROSS COUNTRY+++++++++

SYCAMORES HEAD SOUTH FOR MVC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State cross country aims to add to its conference championship haul Friday, as the Sycamores take part in the 2025 MVC Cross Country Championships in Evansville, Indiana.

The women’s 6k race will start at 11:30 a.m., with the men’s 8k to follow at 12:30 p.m.

All tickets for the 2025 MVC Cross Country Championships will be sold at the gates on Friday. Tickets are $5 per person, cash only, with children aged 2 and under receiving free admission.

Who’s In The Field?

Indiana State will compete against Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Murray State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, UIC and Valparaiso in Friday’s MVC Championships.

Evansville is the host institution for this year’s championships.

Last Time Out

Indiana State cross country faced its toughest competition to date at the Pre-National Invitational, with multiple Sycamores running career-best times at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course.

Competing against a plethora of mainstays in the regional and national rankings, the Trees placed 29th on the men’s side and 30th on the women’s side. Indiana State placed ahead of the likes of Kansas and Purdue on the women’s side, while also finishing ahead of Iowa on the men’s side.

Ryan York led the way for the Sycamores on the men’s side for the second straight meet, crossing the line in 24:59.6, while freshmen Chris Angeles and Mason Nobles followed behind with career-best times of 25:17.0 and 25:22.6, respectively. Brittney Burak paced the Blue and White on the women’s side with a 6k time of 21:12.3, an improvement by more than 30 seconds from her time at the John McNichols Invitational four weeks ago. Sawyer DeWitt ran a career-best 6k time of 21:32.3 and Peyton Smith crossed the line in 21:42.9 to round out the Trees’ top three.

Pre-Championship Expectations

Indiana State was picked to finish second on the women’s side in the MVC Pre-Championship Poll, with the Sycamores also predicted to earn a top-half finish on the men’s side.

The Trees placed second on the women’s side at the 2024 MVC Championships, the program’s highest finish since 1997. Indiana State earned a top-half finish for the third straight year on the men’s side last year with a fifth-place finish.

Bradley was tabbed the unanimous favorite on both the men’s and women’s side this season, with the Braves seeking to sweep the conference titles for a second straight season.

Championship Desires

Indiana State will look to build off a strong 2024 MVC Championships performance, which included Emma Gresham winning the MVC Cross Country Championship on the women’s side. Gresham was the first Sycamore since 2003 to win the women’s individual title.

Gresham and Erica Barker both earned All-MVC honors after recording top-five performances last year at Northern Iowa, with Gresham later earning All-Great Lakes Region accolades at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. The Sycamores’ last top-15 finish by an individual on the men’s side was Cael Light in 2022, when Indiana State last hosted the MVC Championships.

Trees In The Polls

Indiana State held steady at No. 12 on the women’s side in the USTFCCCA Great Lakes region rankings following the Sycamores’ performance at the Pre-National Invitational. The Trees placed ahead of the likes of Purdue and Kansas while competing against many of the top-ranked teams in the nation.

The Sycamores have been ranked as high as No. 8 in the region this season on the women’s side and have been inside the top 15 in every region ranking since the first meet of the 2024 season. The Trees will look to continue their success in the rankings after picking up a pair of top-five team finishes on both the men’s and women’s side to start the 2025 campaign.

Postseason Feeling

Indiana State’s 2025 postseason all meets will all be contested at courses the Sycamores are or will be familiar with. The MVC Championships and NCAA Great Lakes Regional will both take place at Angel Mounds Cross Country Course in Evansville.

The 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be contested at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri. Indiana State competed in the Pre-National Invitational at Gans Creek earlier this month.

Youth Movement

Indiana State features one of the youngest rosters in the MVC this season, with just one senior – Jocqael Thorpe – among the Sycamores’ 28 cross country athletes. Freshmen and sophomores account for more than 60 percent of Indiana State’s roster this season, with head cross country coach Brad Butler building a team to contend for titles both now and down the line.

Underclassmen have been mainstays within the Sycamores’ top five this season. Brittney Burak, Peyton Smith and Sawyer DeWitt have been among the Trees’ top four in every meet this season on the women’s side, while Mason Nobles and Chris Angeles have been among the Sycamores’ scoring contingent in nearly every meet on the men’s side.

Up Next

Indiana State heads back to Evansville for the 2025 NCAA Great Lakes Regional, set for November 14.

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++++++++++INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER+++++++++

SYCAMORES FALL 2-0 AGAINST MURRAY STATE

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State put together a determined defensive effort on Thursday afternoon but fell 2-0 to Murray State at Memorial Stadium in the last regular-season Missouri Valley Conference play.

The Sycamores started strong during the first half with three corner kicks in the first five minutes, and goalkeeper Delaney Timmons turned away a shot to keep the Racers off the board. However, Murray State broke through in the 9th minute after converting a penalty kick to the top center of the net. After a close effort from Kaitlynn Long, the Racers scored again during the 38th minute when Robertson found the bottom right of the net to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Sycamores continued to put pressure on Murray State, outshooting them 7-2. ISU earned a key team save in the 76th minute to finish with five on the day and battled until the final whistle with attempts from Brooklyn Woods, Addyson Warner, and Autumn Fairfax.

How They Scored

8:26 – Murray State 1–0: Megan Wilson scored from a penalty kick to the top center of the net.

73:35 – Murray State 2–0: Ava Robertson scored to the bottom right of the net off her left foot, assisted by Kate Donoghue.

News & Notes

Goalkeeper Delaney Timmons recorded five saves, just two saves away from her season high of seven.

Indiana State finishes 4-2-3 in MVC play.

Up Next

Indiana State returns to Memorial Stadium on Sunday, November 2nd, to host the UIC Flames to start the Championship play. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.

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++++++++++PURDUE FT. WAYNE CROSS COUNTRY++++++++++

‘DONS HOST #HLXC CHAMPIONSHIPS

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne cross country program will host the Horizon League Cross Country Championships on Saturday (Nov. 1) at the Mastodon Cross Country Course.

Meet: Horizon League Cross Country Championships
When: Saturday, November 1 | 11 AM – Men’s (8K) | Noon – Women’s (6K)
Live Results:Link
Meet Info:Link
Parking:Link
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Mastodon Cross Country Course
Schools Entered: Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Green Bay, IU Indy, Milwaukee, Northern Kentucky, Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, Robert Morris, Wright State and Youngstown State

Men’s Entrees

Sam Dunnett, Harrison Niswander, Jack Strong, Colten Gasson, Marcus Ridge, Boden Genovese, Kale Seymour, Colin Gasson, Andrew Arnos, Jackson Marshall, Joshua Roper, Tyler Godwin, Braydn Livingston and Jack Mills.

Women’s Entrees

Riley Tate, Ava Genovese, Lydia Carrell, Haylee Hile, Faith Norris, Faith Allen, Kynzlei Bassett, Amanda Williams, Violet Francisco, Ava Milligan and Nori Silva.

Last Time Out (Women)

Riley Tate continued to lead the Mastodons on meet day at the Bradley Pink Classic (Oct. 17), earning 37th (21:26.33). Ava Genovese wasn’t too far behind Tate, running a 21:37.37 for 48th. Lydia Carrell (22:17.39) and Haylee Hile (22:30.97) were the next two ‘Dons to finish, finishing 99th and 111th respectively. Faith Norris rounded out the Purdue Fort Wayne top-five finishers, running a personal record time of 22:44.72 for 125th. The ‘Dons finished 14th as a team.

Last Time Out (Men)

Three of the Mastodons’ top-five finishers set personal records at the Bradley Pink Classic (Oct. 17), starting with the first ‘Don to cross the finish line, Jack Strong. The freshman ran a 25:07.27 8k for 55th, the time now serves as the seventh fastest 8k time in program history. Colten Gasson earned 93rd (25:36.21) and Harrison Niswander placed 106th (25:43.30). Both Marcus Ridge (25:50.78) and Colin Gasson (26:13.78) ran personal records on their way to rounding out the Purdue Fort Wayne first-five, finishing 117th and 144th respectively. The Purdue Fort Wayne men finished 19th as a team.

Strong Performance

Jack Strong was named #HLXC Freshman Runner of the Week (Sept. 9) after the Mastodons’ first meet of the season. The Indiana native began his collegiate career with a third place finish at the Mastodon Alumni Open (Sept. 6). Strong’s 5K time of 15:41.7 is the sixth fastest time in program history. The freshman aided the ‘Dons to a first place finish at the site of the 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Championships.

Preseason Poll

The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s team placed fourth and the men earned fifth in the 2025 Horizon League Preseason Polls.

Women’s Season Preview

The Mastodons return their top-five finishers from the 2024 #HLXC Championships, where they took third at the meet. Riley Tate earned a spot on the First Team All-Horizon League team after finishing sixth. Ava Genovese earned a spot on the Second Team All-Horizon League squad, placing ninth at the meet. Lydia Carrell and Haylee Hile finished in 20th and 21st, and Faith Norris rounded out the Don’s finish in 31st.

Men’s Season Preview

The Mastodons placed sixth at the 2024 #HLXC Championships. The ‘Dons return their top-two finishers from last season, seniors Harrison Niswander (17th) and Austin Hall (24th).

Up Next

Purdue Fort Wayne will travel to Evansville on November 14 for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.

________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

BOO! MASTODONS AND TITANS SET FOR HALLOWEEN EVENING

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne is tied for second place in the Horizon League with 11 points. The Mastodons have two games remaining, first up is a trip to Detroit to play the Titans on Halloween. The Titans have seven points.

Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (6-2-5, 3-2-2 Horizon League) at Detroit Mercy 5-9-2 (2-4-1 Horizon League)
When: Friday, Oct. 31 | 6 p.m. ET
Where: Detroit, Mich. | Titan Field
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
All-Time Series: Detroit-Mercy leads 14-5-6. The Mastodons have a tie, victory and a tie in the last three meetings. This includes a win in Detroit in the 2023 Horizon League postseason.

About the Titans

Detroit Mercy fell at Michigan 4-0 in non-league play on Tuesday. The Titans lost 2-0 to Cleveland State and 2-1 to IU Indy in their last two league matches. Drew Pierson leads the team with five goals and 12 points. He had a goal in the IU Indy contest.

Hefner is Home

The Mastodons are 11-3-6 at the Hefner Soccer Complex since the start of the 2023 season.

RPI

The NCAA’s updated RPI rankings that came out on Thursday have the ‘Dons at 150.

Double-Digit ‘Dons

Shane Anderson (18) and Iann Topete (16) are first and second in the league in points. Anderson is tied for ninth with Romain Lopez (2018) for most points in a season during the program’s Division I era.

Nice Start

The Mastodons opened the season 6-0-5. It was the longest undefeated stretch to start a season in program history. At 11 games, it was also the longest undefeated streak in the program’s Division I era history. The last time a Mastodon team put a streak together like this was the 1999 NCAA Division II Tournament bound ‘Dons that had a 14-match unbeaten streak which included a 10-match win-streak.

OPOTW

Iann Topete had a debut weekend to remember for the Mastodons. He scored twice vs. DePaul to help the ‘Dons earn a 3-3 tie against the Blue Demons. His play helped him earn the Horizon League’s Offensive Player of the Week honor on Aug. 25.

OPOTW X2

Shane Anderson earned his first career Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 22. He picked up the honor after a pair of goals at Wright State, including the game winner in the 85th minute.

DPOTW

Sep Habibi picked up his first career Defensive Player of the Week accolade on October 13 after a shutout win over IU Indy the Saturday prior.

‘Dons & Ends

– Iann Topete leads the league in goals with seven. Shane Anderson is second with six.

– Sep Habibi has a 0.960 goals against average on the season, second best in the league. He has five shutouts, and one combined shutout this season.

– Shane Anderson has six assists on the year, tied for 35th in the nation.

– Shane Anderson leads the league in shots with 53.

– At 6.23, the Mastodons are 30th in the nation in shots on goal per game.

– 12 different Mastodons have either a goal or an assist on the season.

New Challenge

The Purdue Fort Wayne or Indiana Fort Wayne student who attends the most Mastodon home athletics events this year will win an iPad at the end of the 2025-26 school year! Make sure to check in and get your QR code scanned at the game to start tracking your attendance.

All Eyes on ‘Dons

The department’s sixth annual Party at the Pitch on September 10 drew a record crowd of 1,062. It is the third time the ‘Dons have drawn over 1,000 for the event.

Coming Up

The ‘Dons close the regular season on Tuesday (Nov. 4) against Northern Kentucky. It is a 2 PM start at the Hefner Soccer Complex.

_________________________________________________________________

++++++++++EVANSVILLE VOLLEYBALL++++++++++

ACES RETURN HOME TO FACE UIC AND VALPARAISO

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following a stretch of five out of six matches taking place on the road the University of Evansville volleyball team is back home this weekend to face UIC and Valparaiso. The Purple Aces welcome the Flames on Friday at 6 p.m. before facing the Beacons on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Recapping the Weekend

– Last weekend, UE fell in road matches at Belmont and Murray State

– The Bruins finished with a 3-0 win while the Racers battled to a 5-set win over UE

– Josdarilee Caraballo and Brooke Herdes set career kills marks with 19 and 18 kills, respectively against the Racers

Hitting Her Stride

– Josdarilee Caraballo put together her top collegiate match at Murray State finishing with career marks in kills (19) and aces (6)

– Her 19 kills passed her previous mark of 13, which game against Georgia State

– She added eight digs in the contest and is averaging 2.26 per set

Top Ten

– Ainoah Cruz moved into the top ten in two different lists last weekend

– Averaging 5.15 digs per set in 2025, Cruz is second in the MVC and 8th in the nation

– She moved into the top ten in another list as her 1,280 career kills is ninth in Aces program history

Scouting the Opposition

– UIC opens the weekend with a 13-7 mark and sit at 7-3 in the MVC

– Antonie Kelnarova paces the Flames with her average of 2.79 kills per set

– Valparaiso sits at 17-6 overall and 8-2 in league play

– Ava Helming leads the way with her mark of 3.40 kills

_____________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++EVANSVILLE CROSS COUNTRY++++++++++

CROSS COUNTRY TO HOST MVC CHAMPIONSHIP ON FRIDAY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s and women’s cross country teams return to the course on Friday morning for the MVC Championship, hosted by UE at Angel Mounds Cross Country Course in Evansville.

The day begins at 10:30 AM with the women’s 6k, followed by the men’s 8k at 11:30 AM. Live results can be found here.

Last Time Out

Evansville sophomore Chase Hayes (Noblesville, Ind./Western) had a career day at the Angel Mounds Invitational, posting the fourth-best 6k time in women’s program history at 21:53.4, while junior Samuel Lea (Worcester, United Kingdom/Worcester Sixth Form College) recorded the sixth-best 8k time in men’s program history at 24:34.5. As a team, the Purple Aces’ men’s squad finished seventh of 17 teams, while the women placed tenth of 19.

Lea paced the Aces once again, finishing 12th of 209 runners. James Cruse (Melbourne, Australia) placed 43rd overall and 38th in the collegiate race, while Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain/Colegio Claret) and Woody Burrell (Cedarburg, Wis. Cedarburg) landed in the top 60 overall finishers at 55th and 57th, respectively. Five Aces, Tommaso Losma (Lombardia, Italy/Liceo Scientifico David Maria Turoldo, Zogno (Bg)), Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind./Vincennes University), Nathan Campbell (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North), Oliver Wilgocki (Chesterton, Ind./Chesteron) and Alejandro Navarrete (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore), notched personal bests. Evansville’s seventh place finish as a team was the best of three MVC teams competing in the meet.

On the women’s side, Hayes led the way for the Aces, finishing 18th in the 163-runner field. Kyleigh Wolf (Columbus, Ind. Columbus North) also finished in the top 50, placing 45th, while Avery Stephens (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) placed 53rd overall. Seven Aces, Hayes, Wolf, Stephens, Lauren Bradley (Russiaville, Ind./Western), Kyndall Anthis (Patoka, Ind./Princeton Community), Rebekah Sachs (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee School of Languages), and Veronica Wilgocki (Chesterton, Ind. Chesterton HS), notched personal bests.

Meet Information

Friday’s meet will be hosted at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course (8215 Pollack Avenue, Evansville, IN 47715) with a cash-only admission fee of $5.

Located on the banks of the Ohio River in southwest Indiana, Angel Mounds is on the site of a historic Mississippian Native American village. Within its nearly 600 acres, Angel Mounds is home to an interpretive center, nature preserve, hiking and biking trails, an 18-hole disk golf course, and a top-tier cross country course. Angel Mounds State Historic Site is home to the cross country programs at both the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana.

The flat and fast course is divided into 2k and 3k loops to accommodate 5k, 6k, 8k, and 10k courses. 15-20 feet of elevation change per loop. The course has hosted events such as the NCAA DII Cross Country Midwest Regional, NCAA DII Cross Country National Championship, NCAA DI Cross Country Great Lakes Regional, Great Lakes Valley Conference Cross Country Championship, and Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship. Later this fall, the course will host the NCAA DI Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Great Lakes Regional (November 14).

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+++++++++++EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

ACES’ SEASON ENDS IN LOSS TO VALPO

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On the final day of the regular season, the University of Evansville women’s soccer team fell to Valpo 3-0, falling just short of an MVC Tournament appearance. With the Aces’ loss and a win by UIC, the Flames claimed the final tournament spot. Evansville ends the season with seven wins, the program’s highest win total since 2021.

Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) notched the first shot on goal of the day in the ninth minute, as Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn./St. Benedict at Auburndale) delivered a long ball from the Aces’ defensive half down to the box for Johnson, but her shot was saved. In the 22nd minute, Valpo nearly got on the board on a free kick at the top of the box, but the Evansville defense blocked two shots to keep it 0-0.

Just before halftime, the Beacons capitalized on a UE defensive mistake, coming up with the first goal of the match in the 45th minute.

Kathryn Tyler (Dallas, Texas/Liberty Christian) manufactured another look for the Aces in the 51st minute, testing the Valpo keeper, but the shot was saved.

Three minutes later, Valparaiso extended their lead, converting on a penalty to make it 2-0.

Valparaiso found their third goal of the day in the 78th minute and that was where the match would end, with the Beacons taking a 3-0 win.

Evansville finishes the season with a 7-7-2 record and a 3-5-1 record in MVC play. The Purple Aces notched their highest win total since 2021 with seven and highest win total in MVC play since 2016.

________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++SOUTHERN INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY+++++++++

USI’S HALL, NOLAN, YOUNG EARN TOP OVC HONORS AHEAD OF LEAGUE MEET

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Cross Country juniors Alex Nolan and Ellie Hall were respectively named the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s and Women’s Athletes of the Year in an announcement by the league office Thursday. Freshman Kraedyn Young also was named the OVC Men’s Freshman of the Year.

Nolan is collecting his first-career OVC Athlete of the Year award after an outstanding regular season that saw him earn OVC Runner of the Week honors three times.

The Evansville native has four top 20 finishes this season, including three top 15 placements and a pair of top 10 finishes. He earned his most recent OVC Runner of the Week honor following an 18th-place finish in the Gans Creek Classic Black Invite last month. His career-best eight-kilometer time of 24 minutes, 1.5 seconds, ranks sixth all-time at USI and is the fastest time in the OVC this season by nearly 30 seconds.

This marks the second straight season that the Screaming Eagles’ men have had a runner earn OVC Athlete of the Year honors and the second time in four years that USI’s women have had a student-athlete earn the award.

Brady Terry was the OVC Men’s Athlete of the Year in 2024, while Lauren Greiwe was the OVC Women’s Athlete of the Year in 2022. Additionally, USI’s men also saw Noah Hufnagel earn OVC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year honors in 2023.

Hall also is being awarded with her first-career OVC Runner of the Year award after leading the Screaming Eagles at the 6k distance this season. She has twice been named the OVC Runner of the Week, with the most recent award coming following her sixth-place finish at the Angel Mounds Invitational.

The Ferdinand, Indiana, native owns the fastest 6k time in the conference after posting a time of 20:58.5 at the Gans Creek Classic last month. Her mark ranks eighth all-time at USI.

Young is the second USI men’s runner to earn OVC Freshman of the Year honors as he joins Nolan, who earned the same distinction in 2023.

The North Vernon, Indiana, native has consistently been in the Screaming Eagles’ top five this season and has been USI’s No. 3 runner in the last two meets. His season-best time of 24:44.1 at the Gans Creek Classic last month ranks seventh in the OVC and leads all OVC freshmen this season.

USI looks to defend its men’s and women’s conference titles Friday when it competes at the OVC Championships in Charleston, Illinois. The men’s 8k begins at 9 a.m., while the women’s 6k is slated for a 10 a.m. start.

The Screaming Eagles’ men have been dominating amongst OVC competition this season as they have gone 9-0 against conference schools. They won the OVC title by one point over Eastern Illinois University a year ago and will be toeing the starting line against the Panthers for the first time this season on Friday.

Senior Dominick Beine boosts the Screaming Eagles’ lineup after a 15th-place finish at the Angel Mounds Invitational. Beine has been USI’s No. 2 runner in each of the races he has started in 2025.

USI’s women are looking for their second straight OVC title and are buoyed by the top two runners in the conference in Hall and sophomore Hadessah Austin. Neither runner has lost to another OVC competitor this season.

The Screaming Eagles have faced stiff competition from OVC schools this season, most notably being a Tennessee Tech University team that has gone 2-0 against USI this year.

Getting back junior Zoe Seward from an early season injury and sophomore Abrielle Richard from a health scare that sidelined her for the Angel Mounds Invitational gives USI the depth it will need to make a run at its second straight OVC crown.

Admission to the OVC Championships is free of charge.

_________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

MEN’S SOCCER KEEPS POSTSEASON HOPES ALIVE WITH 2-2 DRAW

SAN ANTONIO, Texas- University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer earns a 2-2 draw following a tough battle with the University of the Incarnate Word.

The Screaming Eagles keep their Ohio Valley Conference tournament hopes alive with tonight’s result. The team currently sits in seventh place. USI can jump into sixth with a win and a Western Illinois University loss on Sunday.

USI opened the match on its back foot. Incarnate Word scored in the 19th minute, taking an early 1-0 lead. The Eagles battled back late in the first half. Freshman Oliver Church scored the first goal of his collegiate career at 35:26. He was assisted by freshman Tony Murphy and junior Will Kirchhofer.

The Eagles entered that half even at one, despite USI getting outshot 4-2 and 2-1 on goal. Outside of Church’s goal, sophomore Pablo Juan recorded the second shot for USI.

USI came out of the break strong, taking a 2-1 lead at 58:44 as freshman Ian Graham put one past the goalkeeper off a pass from freshman Edin Cvorovic. The lead did not last long, as the Cardinals evened the match again in the 66th minute.

For the game, the Eagles were outshot 14-4 and 7-4 on goal. USI had five individual players record a shot, with three tallying shots on goal. The Cardinals forced three corner kicks compared to the Eagles’ two, but the Cardinals were called for offsides four times to the Eagles’ zero. Freshman Jacob English nabbed a game-high five saves on the day.

In the regular season finale, the Eagles travel to Houston, Texas, for a rematch against Houston Christian University on Sunday afternoon. When the two teams met earlier this season, the Eagles came out on top 4-1, earning their first OVC victory on the season.

_____________________________________________________________

++++++++++++SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

USI WOMEN’S SOCCER EARNS FIRST OVC TOURNAMENT WIN, ADVANCES TO FACE EASTERN ILLINOIS

CHARLESTON, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer made program history on Thursday afternoon by earning its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Tournament win with a 2-0 first-round triumph over Southeast Missouri State University.

The fifth-seeded Screaming Eagles (8-7-4, 4-2-3 OVC) are making their fourth consecutive OVC Tournament appearance but were still searching for the first postseason win of the D-I era entering Thursday’s contest. The first-round clash against the eighth-seeded Redhawks (2-15-2, 2-5-2 OVC) was a rematch from USI’s Senior Day game back on September 28, which USI won 2-1.

After a 0-0 match past the 75-minute mark, the Screaming Eagles struck twice inside the final 15 minutes. Senior defender Charli Grafton scored the first and, ultimately, the game-winning goal in the 79th minute. Sophomore defender Emma Schut netted the Eagles’ second goal with under six minutes left to play.

Despite a scoreless first half on Thursday, the game ultimately became a tale of two halves, statistically. After SEMO had the shooting advantage, 7-2, at halftime, USI controlled the shooting numbers in the second stanza, 11-4. Overall, USI outshot Southeast Missouri, 13-11, including a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal. Schut led USI with three shots. Redshirt sophomore forward Eva Boer, sophomore forward Josie Pochocki, and redshirt junior forward Emma Thurston each had two shots.

In net, redshirt junior goalkeeper Anna Markland, who missed USI’s regular-season finale at Western Illinois University due to injury, returned to action Thursday with a strong presence. Markland collected five saves, including a crucial penalty-kick save in the second half. Thursday was Markland’s seventh clean sheet and the team’s eighth shutout of the season.

Neither side could find a lot of quality opportunities in the first half, as both defenses were strong. Pochocki registered the only shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes for USI, charging forward in a one-on-one situation that was saved by SEMO’s goalkeeper. Markland made a pair of saves later in the first half, as the game went into halftime deadlocked.

In the second half, a few minutes passed before the momentum swayed heavily in USI’s favor. Around the 60-minute mark of the second half, Boer had a couple of shooting chances within a minute of action. However, just a few minutes later, Southeast Missouri was awarded a penalty kick, looking to claim the lead from the spot. That is when Markland delivered and denied the penalty shot with a diving save to swing the energy and momentum heavily toward the Screaming Eagles.

In the minutes that followed Markland’s penalty save, USI put the pressure on in the attacking half and fired away a handful of shots. With under 12 minutes to play in regulation, the Eagles earned a corner kick. Thurston served the corner into the box, where a header by senior forward Peyton Murphy was directed and put away into the net by Grafton to give USI the 1-0 lead. The goal was Grafton’s first of the season, becoming the 13th different Screaming Eagle to net a goal this season.

Nearly six minutes later, USI was awarded a free kick from 30-plus yards out in the 85th minute. Schut booted a strong kick toward the right side of the goal. The ball found its way into the netting after a short-hop and misplay by the Redhawks’ goalkeeper. The late insurance goal by Schut sealed the historic team win for the Screaming Eagles.

With Thursday’s victory, USI Women’s Soccer advanced to Sunday’s quarterfinals, where the Screaming Eagles will take on the site host and No. 4 seed Eastern Illinois University (8-7-3, 5-3-1 OVC). The Panthers earned a first-round bye and the right to host as the fourth seed. Kickoff on Sunday from Lakeside Field in Charleston, Illinois, is set for 11:30 a.m. The winner will advance to next Thursday’s semifinal round and face top-seeded Tennessee Tech University, which gets to host the semifinals and championship rounds next week as the OVC’s regular season champions.

All games of the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Additional coverage for USI can be found on usiscreamingeagles.com with full tournament coverage on the OVC website at ovcsports.com.

_____________________________________________________________________

++++++++++++VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

MEN’S BASKETBALL TO TIP OFF 2025-2026 SEASON ON TUESDAY

Valparaiso (0-0, 0-0 MVC)

vs. Eastern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 OVC)

Game No. 1 – Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. CT

Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: A new season of Valparaiso University men’s basketball will tip off on Tuesday night as Eastern Illinois comes to the Athletics-Recreation Center as part of a season-opening multi-team event including Valpo, EIU, Kentucky and Nicholls known as the BBN United Tipoff Classic. After posting its highest win total in the last five years, over doubling its win total from the previous season and becoming the first No. 11 seed to reach the semifinal round at Arch Madness, the Beacons will look to continue the program’s forward trajectory with a reloaded roster as the 2025-2026 campaign gets underway on Tuesday.

Last Time Out: After a 93-84 win against a Division-I opponent that won nearly 20 games last season in a closed scrimmage, the Beacons downed Brescia 104-62 in a preseason exhibition game in front of fans at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Glancing Ahead: Valpo will continue the multi-team event by traveling to one of the blue bloods of college basketball on Friday at SEC foe Kentucky, ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press Preseason poll, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.

Following the Beacons: Streaming – ESPN+ – Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Jamie Stangel (analyst)

Radio – WVUR 95.1 FM Valparaiso, TuneIn Radio App, ValpoAthletics.com –

X updates – @ValpoBasketball

Links for video, audio and live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Roger Powell Jr.: Roger Powell Jr. (22-44) is in his third season as the head coach of the Valpo men’s basketball program. After helping guide Gonzaga to a 121-13 record during his four seasons as an assistant coach, Powell returned to Valpo, where he was part of head coach Bryce Drew’s staff from 2011-2016 and led the team to 124 wins in five seasons, including a program-record 30 victories and a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) title game appearance in 2015-16. He was part of head coach Mark Few’s Gonzaga staff as the Bulldogs reached the 2021 national championship game after winning their first 31 games of the season. During Powell’s first season on staff in 2019-20, Gonzaga was 31-2 at the time the NCAA college basketball season was halted due to COVID-19. The Bulldogs reached the Sweet Sixteen in each of his final three seasons on staff, including two Elite Eight appearances and the aforementioned trip to the 2021 national title game. Prior to his arrival at Gonzaga, Powell served as the associate head coach at Vanderbilt University under Bryce Drew from 2016-2019. During his stint as an assistant at Valpo, he was part of four Horizon League regular-season championships in a five-year period while also leading the 2012-13 and 2014-15 squads to Horizon League tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. A product of Joliet West High School and a native of Joliet, Ill., Powell capped a prolific collegiate playing career at Illinois with a national title game appearance in 2005 before going on to a successful professional playing career. In the second season of the Powell Era in 2024-2025, Valpo over doubled its overall win total from the previous season and doubled its conference win output before earning a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal berth. The Beacons finished with 15 wins, the team’s highest total since 2019-20.

Series Notes: These two teams have met 37 times – with Eastern Illinois leading 20-17 – but this will represent just the second matchup between the two programs since EIU left the Mid-Continent Conference to join the Ohio Valley Conference back in 1996. The two schools shared conference affiliation from 1982-1996. Before last year, the most recent encounter was a 78-65 Valpo victory in the 1996 Mid-Continent Conference Tournament semifinals in Moline, Ill. Bryce Drew hit an 80-foot heave to close the first half. Valpo owns a nine-game head-to-head winning streak that dates back to Feb. 27, 1993, including an 81-53 victory on Nov. 24 of last season at the ARC.

Scouting the Panthers

Picked to finish 10th of 11 in the OVC preseason poll.

Went 12-19 overall and 8-12 in the OVC last season.

Brought back starters Kooper Jacobi and Zion Fruster along with top reserve guard Malik Olafioye.

Jacobi and Fruster were both named OVC Players to Watch this season. Jacobi averaged 11.8 points and a league-best 8.9 rebounds per game last season, while Fruster turned in 11.6 ppg and knocked down 35 percent from 3-point range.

Under the direction of head coach Marty Simmons, who has experience in the Missouri Valley Conference as the head coach at his alma mater Evansville from 2007-2018.

Will host Nicholls on Friday, Nov. 7 before road games at Notre Dame (Nov. 11) and Kentucky (Nov. 14).

Valpo in Season Openers

Valpo holds a 9-4 record in season openers over the last baker’s dozen years.

In 2023-24, Valpo snapped a three-game opening night skid by beating Trinity Christian 100-61 in Roger Powell Jr.’s head coaching debut, but dropped last year’s season opener on a neutral floor against Liberty.

The program is 19-1 in its last 20 home openers with 17 of those home-opening victories coming by double-figure margins.

The team is 2-0 in home openers in the Roger Powell Jr. Era, a 100-61 win over Trinity Christian in 2023-24 and a 111-46 win over Concordia Ann Arbor last season.

Growth Spurt

Valpo’s roster has gotten noticeably larger in terms of height this season, as the squad boasts its highest average height of the Roger Powell Jr. head coaching era.

The Beacons have seven players on the roster listed at 6-foot-8 or taller – Jayden Watson (6-8), JT Pettigrew (6-8), Owen Dease (6-8), Tucker Tornatta (6-8), Kobe Walker (6-9), Shon Tupuola (6-10) and Carter Hopoi (6-11).

This marks the first time during the program’s long Division-I history that the team has had seven players listed at 6-foot-8 or taller.

The 1999-00, 2000-01, 2013-14 and 2022-23 teams each had six players listed at 6-8 or taller.

One of Four

Only four programs in the nation have had their league’s Freshman of the Year in each of the last two seasons – UConn, Baylor, Valpo and Harvard.

All Wright was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2024-2025, becoming the second straight Valpo player to earn the award after Cooper Schwieger did so in 2023-24.

This marked just the third time since the award began in 1986 that a school has had back-to-back MVC Freshmen of the Year. Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie (2016) and Landry Shamet (2017) were the most recent duo to go back-to-back. Before that, it was Southern Illinois’ Tony Harvey (1989) and Ashraf Amaya (1990).

Wright became just the fifth Valpo freshman to win a league Newcomer/Freshman of the Year Award, joining Schwieger (2023-24), Lubos Barton (1998-99), Bryce Drew (1994-95) and Lance Barker (1991-92).

A Look at the Schedule

The 11-game nonconference slate will feature seven home dates and four road contests.

Valpo will play at Preseason AP No. 9 Kentucky, a Sweet 16 team from last season, on Nov. 7.

Nicholls, the Nov. 12 opponent, was a 20-win team last season.

Bryant, which will be at the ARC on Nov. 16, went 14-2 in the American East and totaled 23 wins on the way to a conference tournament crown and NCAA Tournament appearance last season.

Cleveland State, which will host Valpo on Nov. 19, went 23-13 overall last year en route to an appearance in the Purple College Basketball Invitational.

Big East foe Marquette, the Dec. 2 opponent in Milwaukee, reached the NCAA Tournament and accrued 23 wins last season.

UNC Wilmington, the Dec. 13 opponent at the ARC, won the Coastal Athletic Association championship and totaled 27 wins on the way to an NCAA Tournament berth last season.

The nonconference portion of the season concludes on Dec. 16 at Big Ten adversary Northwestern.

Valpo has three road nonconference games against teams in the top 60 in the KenPom preseason ratings, including Kentucky, rated No. 4 by KenPom.

________________________________________________________________

++++++++++VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

SOCCER CLOSES SEASON WITH WIN AT EVANSVILLE

When the day started, Valpo soccer freshman Lauren Hill (Austin, Texas/St. Michael’s Catholic Academy) had played just 46 minutes over four matches this season and hadn’t stepped on the park for over a month. But Hill was ready for her storybook moment when head coach John Marovich called her name Thursday at Evansville, as the rookie came on and stuck with a ball in the box to score her first career goal in the final minute of the first half. One of the first to greet her? Sister Kennedy Hill (Austin, Texas/St. Michael’s Catholic Academy), playing in her final career match and on the field alongside her younger sister when Lauren scored.

The day just got sweeter from there for the Beacons, as Kate Jeffery (Southampton, England/Barton Peveril Sixth Form College) and Kiara Desiderio (St. John, Ind./Hanover Central) found the back of the net in the second half to give Valpo a 3-0 victory over the Purple Aces in its 2025 finale.

How It Happened

In a back and forth first half which featured solid chances both ways, Lauren Hill’s goal came out of a somewhat innocuous setup. Jeffery sent a speculative ball from just inside midfield towards the top of the 18-yard box, where an Evansville center back tried to head it back to her goalkeeper. But the goalie was not in position to corral it, and Hill smothered the Purple Aces’ other center back’s effort to clear the ball, perfectly positioned for the clearance effort to ricochet into the back of the net to give the Beacons the lead in the final minute of the first half.

Valpo carried the 1-0 advantage into the second half, where it doubled its advantage in the 54th minute. A shot attempt from the top of the box from Brylie Walos (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) was blocked by an Evansville back and careened loose near the top of the six. Molly O’Rear (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) was first to the deflection and took a touch with her left knee before being wiped out by a knee-to-knee collision with Purple Aces’ keeper Allie Lammers. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and it was Jeffery nominated to take the penalty for the first time in her collegiate career. While Lammers guessed correctly, Jeffery’s right-footed effort was perfectly tucked inside the left-hand post to make it a 2-0 lead.

Desiderio put the match away in the 78th minute. The move started with Martha Goddard (London, England/Alleyns School) intercepting an Evansville pass in the Beacons’ attacking third. Goddard turned, took one touch and slid a pass to Desiderio, who ran onto it at the top of the box with a back on her back shoulder. Lammers came out to try to cut down the angle, but Desiderio deftly went to her right to get around the keeper, and nearing the end line slid the ball into the empty net inside the far post to close the scoring.

With the match secured, Marovich was able to have his squad’s four seniors – O’Rear, Sheridan, Kennedy Hill and Hannah Gabriel (Northville, Mich./Northville) — on the field together as the clock struck 0:00.

Inside the Game

The win matched Valpo’s largest margin of victory over Evansville in program history, as the 2006 and 2022 sides also beat the Purple Aces by a 3-0 final.

The three-goal margin was the largest for the Beacons in a conference match since closing the 2022 regular season with a 4-1 win over Indiana State, and it was the largest in a road conference match since the 2015 team won 6-0 at Youngstown State in Horizon League play.

The goals for Lauren Hill and Jeffery were the first of their respective collegiate careers — Hill’s came in her fifth career match and Jeffery’s in her 31st match.

Desiderio found the back of the net for the seventh time this season, while Goddard’s assist on her classmate’s goal was her team-high fifth of the year.

Kate Sheridan (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) made four saves to earn her fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

Evansville held a 19-13 advantage in shots, but each side put four on goal.

Inside the Season

Valpo’s 2025 side was much improved from the previous season. The team’s winning percentage was 162 points this season as compared to last, while in MVC play, the Beacons earned eight more points this year despite there being one fewer conference match.

That improvement came with youngsters playing big roles all over the field. Over 80% of the minutes played by field players this year came from players in one of their first two seasons of eligibility, including north of 40% from freshmen.

The Beacons closed the 2025 season with a 2-1-1 record over their final four matches.

Goddard tied Valpo’s record for assists by a freshman, finishing the year with five helpers to match Rachel Hoaglin’s 2009 rookie season. Overall, Goddard’s five assists are tied for fourth in a single season in program history and tied for second among MVC players this year.

Desiderio paced the Beacons with seven goals this season, tied with Hoaglin’s aforementioned 2009 campaign and Lisa Springs in 1998 for the third-most goals by a freshman in program history. She also ranks third among Valley players in goals this year.

Inside the Careers

As mentioned, the quartet of Gabriel, Kennedy Hill, O’Rear and Sheridan were on the pitch together to close out their time in a Valpo uniform together at the end of Thursday’s win.

Gabriel made four appearances for the Brown and Gold, starting last Sunday against Murray State on Senior Day.

Hill saw the field 28 times over her four seasons, starting on two occasions.

O’Rear counted 66 starts among her 73 appearances over her four-year career, playing a total of 4,764 minutes. She tallied nine goals and seven assists — five goals and three assists of which came this season.

Sheridan ended with two clean sheets in her final three appearances to give her four career clean sheets — tied for ninth in program history. She made 28 total appearances in goal and recorded a .726 save percentage.

Thoughts From Coach Marovich

“This win is big, because it’s the continuation of the process and building with this group. As you’ve seen our team play over the last month, you’ve seen them really start to formulate that rhythm. It’s a young group that’s trying to improve, and they have ups and downs, but ultimately they just kept forging through and today was a culmination of that upward trajectory we’ve had in this last month.”

“The sad part of it is that we don’t get to keep going forward with games this fall, but I think today solidifies the fact that we’re progressing well as we continue to do the work. We’re excited about the spring and next fall, because I think we’re doing the right things and the players are showing that.”

“I’m really excited that Lauren and Kennedy were on the field together when Lauren scored her goal —that’s a big moment for them as sisters, and then Kennedy being her final collegiate game.”

“To get that penalty, and then Kate being able to put that away for Molly since Molly had to come out of the match, that was a huge moment as well. Then Kiara finishes it off with her seventh goal of the year in another big moment.”

“I felt like we did really great work today. Our wingers did a good job on the flanks, getting crosses into the box and becoming dangerous. Getting a shutout today as well was another performance where you look over our last few games with this group, they’ve done a really good job in the defending end, so what a special way for Kate to end her collegiate career.”

“It was great to be able to get Hannah onto the park for the final few minutes, to let her close out her career playing alongside her teammates. And then Molly, with the work she’s put in and the things she’s done for our program over the last four years, the way she earned the PK today really encapsulates the work she’s put in. Today was a great way for us to say goodbye to these seniors and have their last memory be a win on the road.”

__________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++UINDY FOOTBALL+++++++++

HOUNDS RESUME CONFERENCE PLAY THIS WEEKEND AT QUINCY

GAME 9

at Quincy Hawks (5-3, 3-2 GLVC)

Saturday // November 1

2 p.m. ET // Quincy, Ill.

Coming off a bye week, the No. 12 UIndy football team travels to Western Illinois this Saturday to take on the Hawks of Quincy University. The Greyhounds have won 11 of the 12 all-time meetings with Quincy, including each of the last eight. Last October, UIndy earned a 47-10 home win against QU, holding the visiting Hawks to just a field goal over the final 56-plus minutes of game time.

Under the guidance of second-year head man Jason Killday, the Hawks are looking to notch back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2007 and ’08. Quincy sports the top red zone defense in the GLVC (.690), while individually junior linebacker Brock Wiley ranks second in the league in tackles per game (9.9) and rookie QB Bradyn Little ranks 10th in Division II in completion per game (22.5) and 16th in completion percentage (.662).

The season’s first set of NCAA Division II regional rankings dropped on Monday. The Greyhounds were one of 10 Super Region 3 teams on the initial alphabetical list. An actual top 10 will be released next week. Selection Sunday comes on Nov. 16 when the 32-team NCAA DII Championship field—eight from each super region—will be announced on NCAA.com. Seeds 1-4 will host a first-round contest on Saturday, Nov. 22.

___________________________________________________________________

+++++++SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES+++++++

UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/

MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

_______________________________________________________________________

++++++++SPORTS EXTRA+++++++++

+++++++++TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY++++++++++

Oct. 31

1948 — Sammy Baugh of Washington passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns and Dan Sandifer has four interceptions including two for touchdowns as the Redskins beat the Boston Yanks 56-21.

1950 — Earl Lloyd of the Washington Capitols becomes the first African-American to play in an NBA game. Washington loses 78-70 on the road to the Rochester Royals.

1964 — Kelso, running in what is billed as his final race in New York, wins his fifth consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup, surpassing Round Table as the all-time money-winning thoroughbred. Kelso runs the 2-mile distance in 3:19 1/5, breaking the world record he set as a 3-year-old, four years earlier, by 1/5 of a second.

1969 — Lenny Wilkens, the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, gets his first coaching victory as the Seattle SuperSonics beats Cincinnati Royals 129-121.

1972 — Gaylord Perry wins the AL Cy Young Award.

1981 — Florida State freshman Greg Allen rushes for 322 yards in a 56-31 victory over Western Carolina.

1987 — Eric Dickerson, the NFL’s single-season rushing champion, signs a three-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts to complete a three-way trade that nets the Los Angeles Rams two running backs and six top draft choices over the next two years. The third part of the deal sends linebacker Cornelius Bennett to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for three of the draft picks that went to the Rams.

1987 — Jockey Chris Antley becomes the first rider to win nine races in a single day. He has four winners in six mounts at Aqueduct and five winners from eight tries during The Meadowlands’ evening program.

1988 — The first Monday Night NFL game was played in Indianapolis; Colts beat the Broncos 55-23.

1998 — Tee Martin of Tennessee, sets NCAA records with 23 straight completions and 24 over two games in the No. 3 Volunteers’ 49-14 victory over South Carolina. Martin is 23-for-24, with a record completion percentage of 95.8, for 315 yards and four touchdowns.

1999 — Tim Couch completes a desperation 56-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Johnson with no time on the clock to give the expansion Cleveland Browns their first victory, a 21-16 win over New Orleans.

2004 — The New England Patriots lose for the first time in more than a year, falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-20. The Patriots had won 21 straight games, including the playoffs, and a league-record 18 in a row in the regular season.

2006 — Miami’s season-opening 108-66 loss to Chicago is the worst loss in NBA history for a defending champion on opening night.

2008 — The North Carolina Tar Heels are No. 1 in The Associated Press’ preseason Top 25, the first unanimous No. 1 since the preseason poll began in 1981-82.

2012 — Jamal Crawford scores 29 points in 30 minutes in his first official game with his new team, and the Los Angeles Clippers convert 21 turnovers into 29 points in a 101-92 victory that extends the Memphis Grizzlies’ NBA-record streak of opening-night losses to 12. The Grizzlies are 0-12 on opening night since the franchise shifted from Vancouver to Memphis in 2001.

2015 — Triple Crown champion American Pharoah wins the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 6 1/2 lengths in his final race before retirement.

2020 — Endland beats Italy 34-5 in Rome to win the 29th Six-Nations Rugby Championship.

_____

Nov. 1

1913 — Notre Dame meets Army for the first time and comes away with a 35-13 win behind Gus Dorias’ 14-of-17 passing for 243 yards.

1938 — George Woolf, riding for regular jockey Red Pollard, leads Seabiscuit to a four-length victory over the heavily favored U.S. Triple Crown champion, War Admiral, in the Pimlico Special match race at Baltimore. A crowd of 40,000 spectators turn out for the winner-take-all match race with a purse of $15,000.

1946 — The first NBA game (known as the Basketball Association of America), the New York Knickerbocker beat the Toronto Huskies 68-66 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

1959 — Montreal goaltender Jacques Plante revolutionizes his position — and the sport of hockey — by donning a facemask. Plante is struck in the face with a shot by New York Rangers forward Andy Bathgate at 3:06 of the first period. After receiving stitches to close a gash from the corner of his mouth all the way up through his nostril, Plante returns to the ice wearing a mask. The Canadiens win 3-1.

1964 — Cleveland’s Jim Brown rushes for 149 yards and becomes the first player to rush for more than 10,000 yards in a career as the Browns post a 30-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown with 10,135 yards had 47 games of 100-or-more yards rushing.

1966 — The NFL awards a franchise to New Orleans on All Saints Day.

1968 — Detroit pitcher Denny McLain wins the AL Cy Young award after finishing the MLB season 31-6.

1970 — Mercury Morris of the Miami Dolphins gains 302 combined yards (89 rushing, 68 receiving and 145 on kickoff returns) in a 35-0 loss to the Baltimore Colts.

1987 — Ibrahin Hussein of Kenya and Priscilla Welch of Britain win the men’s and women’s divisions of the New York Marathon, finishing the 26.2 miles in 2:11:01 and 2:30:17, respectively.

1996 — Shaquille O’Neil makes his Hollywood debut as Los Angeles Lakers beat Phoenix Suns, 96-82 at the Forum, Inglewood; O’Neil scores 23 points and pulls down 14 rebounds in 35 minutes.

1997 — Tom Osborne reaches 250 wins faster than any coach in college football history as Nebraska beats Oklahoma 69-7, the worst loss in Sooners’ history.

1998 — Steve Young and Jerry Rice hook up for their 80th career touchdown in Niners’ 36-22 loss to GB Packers at Lambeau Field; eclipse previous NFL mark held by Miami Dolphins tandem Dan Marino & Mark Clayton.

2000 — Pat Riley earns his 1,000th career coaching victory as Miami posts its most lopsided win in an opener with a 105-79 rout of Orlando. Riley reaches the plateau in 1,434 games — fewer than any coach or manager in any sport.

2003 — DeCori Birmingham rushes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning score in the seventh overtime, in Arkansas’ 71-63 victory over Kentucky. The seven overtimes match the longest game in NCAA history. The Razorbacks also won that game in 2001, beating Mississippi 58-56.

2008 — Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree catches the winning 28-yard touchdown pass with 1 second to play, as the seventh-ranked Red Raiders beat No. 1 Texas 39-33.

2008 — Michigan’s 48-42 loss at Purdue drops the Wolverines to 2-7, ending Michigan’s string of 33 straight bowl appearances. Michigan, assured of its first losing season since 1967, also sets a school record for losses.

2008 — Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses sets single-game NCAA records with 57 completions and 85 pass attempts in a 34-31 double-overtime loss to Sam Houston State. Moses passes for 501 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, completing passes to 11 different receivers. The sophomore breaks the previous single-game attempts record of 83 set by Drew Brees at Purdue in 1998. The former record for completions was 56, set by Jarrod DeGeorgia at then-Division II Wayne State in 1996.

2009 — Meb Keflezighi, becomes the first U.S. man in 27 years to win the New York City Marathon. Keflezighi, who moved from his native Eritrea to San Diego when he was in the sixth grade, finishes with a time of 2:09:15 for a personal best.

2015 — Simone Biles picks up gold medals number nine and 10 on balance beam and floor exercise as the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships come to a close. Biles breaks the career record for most World Championships gold medals by a female gymnast.

2015 — Drew Brees passes for 505 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns, and Kai Forbath kicks a 50-yard field goal as time ran out, to give the New Orleans Saints a 52-49 victory over the New York Giants. New York’s Eli Manning connects on a career-high six touchdown passes.

2017 — The Houston Astros, led by George Springer, beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 for first World Series title in franchise history.

2023 — MLB World Series: Texas Rangers win 1st title in franchise history; beat Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 at Chase Field, Phoenix for 4-1 series victory; MVP: Rangers SS Corey Seager; manager Bruce Bochy’s 4th World Series win.

_____

Nov. 2

1895 — Belmar, ridden by Fred Taral, wins in the Belmont Stakes by a head over favorite Counter Tenor. The race is run under the jurisdiction of the Westchester Racing Association, because the New York Jockey Club had closed out its affairs.

1958 — Chicago and Los Angeles establish an NFL attendance record when 90,833 fill the L.A. Coliseum to see the Rams beat the Bears 41-35.

1960 — New York Yankees outfield Roger Maris wins the American League MVP.

1974 — Atlanta Braves trade then MLB home run king Hank Aaron to Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Dave May.

1985 — Gordon Brown has 214 yards and quarterback Steve Gage has 206 to become the first teammates to each rush for more than 200 yards as Tulsa beats Wichita State 42-26.

1986 — Minnesota’s Tommy Kramer passes for 490 yards and four touchdowns but the Vikings still lose to the Washington Redskins in overtime, 44-38.

1990 — The Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets 162-158 at McNichols Arena. The 320 points set an NBA record for the most points scored by two teams in a non-overtime game.

1991 — Nevada makes the biggest comeback in NCAA football history, overcoming a 35-point deficit in the third quarter and rallying to beat Weber State 55-49.

1996 — A.J. Pitorino of Hartwick rushes for an NCAA all-divisions record 443 yards on 45 carries in a 42-14 win over Waynesburg.

2006 — Minnesota’s Niklas Backstrom becomes the first goalie in the modern era, which began in 1943, to win twice without starting. Backstom replaces an ill Manny Fernandez and stops all 19 shots he faces over the final two periods as the Wild rally for a 5-2 victory over Vancouver. Backstrom relieved Fernandez after a three-goal first period against Nashville on Oct. 7 before Minnesota came back for a 6-5 victory.

2007 — Washington misses all 16 of its 3-point shots, an NBA record for most attempts without making one, in a 103-83 loss at Boston.

2013 — Quinn Epperly of Princeton sets an NCAA record by opening with 29 straight completions, and accounts for 401 total yards and six TDs in a 53-20 win over Cornell.

2014 — Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger throws for six touchdowns for the second consecutive week, setting an NFL mark in a 43-23 win over Baltimore. Roethlisberger’s 12 touchdown passes over the last two games breaks the mark of 11 set by Tom Flores for Oakland in 1963 and matched by New England’s Tom Brady in 2007.

2016 — The Chicago Cubs win their first World Series championship since 1908 when Ben Zobrist hits a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, beating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in a thrilling Game 7 delayed by rain early. Chicago is the first club to overcome a 3-1 Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals.

2021 — The Atlanta Braves win their 4th World Series title in franchise history beating the Houston Astros 7-0 in Game 6 for a 4-2 series victory.

_____

Nov. 3

1899 — Jim Jeffries beats Sailor Tom Sharkey to retain the world heavyweight title after referee George Siler stops the fight in the 25th round at the Greater New York Athletic Club.

1934 — Lou Gehrig wins the American League Triple Crown after hitting .363 with 49 HR, and 165 RBIs. Philadelphia catcher Mickey Cochrane named AL MVP.

1942 — Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams wins the American League Triple Crown (.356 average, 36 HRS, 137 RBI) but Yankees pitcher Joe Gordon is AL MVP.

1968 — Jim Turner of New York kicks six field goals to lead the Jets to a 25-21 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

1973 — Roosevelt Leaks rushes for 342 yards to lead Texas to a 42-14 victory over Southern Methodist.

1973 — Jay Miller sets an NCAA record with 22 catches for 263 yards as Brigham Young beats New Mexico 56-21.

1973 — Stan Mikita of Chicago scores his 1,000th NHL point with an assist in a 5-4 loss to Minnesota.

1987 — New York Rangers’ center Marcel Dione becomes the 2nd NHL player to score 1,700 career points.

1989 — Lou Piniella is named manager of the Cincinnati Reds, replacing Pete Rose who is banned for life for gambling on MLB games.

1990 — David Klingler tosses seven TD passes, offsetting the NCAA record of 690 passing yards by Texas Christian substitute quarterback Matt Vogler, to lead Houston to a 56-35 victory.

1990 — Atlanta Hawks’ center Moses Malone sets an NBA record for free throws made in a career by hitting 7-of-9 in a 121-120 win over Indiana Pacers at the Omni; passes Oscar Robinson’s record (7,694).

1995 — The Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies open their first NBA season with victories. The Raptors beat New Jersey 94-79 and the Grizzlies beat Portland 92-80.

1996 — Jerry Rice becomes the first player with 1,000 career NFL receptions in San Francisco’s 24-17 victory over New Orleans.

1996 — Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant becomes the then youngest player to make his NBA debut (18 years, 2 months, 11 days) in 91-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Great Western Forum.

1996 — Philadelphia kicker Gary Anderson becomes the fourth player in NFL history to crack the 1,500 point mark with his first-quarter extra-point kick in a 31-21 win over Dallas.

2001 — Arkansas beats Mississippi 58-56 in seven overtimes in the longest major college football game in history. The Razorbacks stop the Rebels’ 2-point conversion try in the seventh overtime for the win. After ending regulation tied at 17, the teams score touchdowns in every extra period but the second.

2007 — Navy snaps an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame with a 46-44 victory in triple overtime. It’s the first time Navy beat Notre Dame since a 35-14 win in 1963 when Roger Staubach was quarterback for the Midshipmen.

2007 — Al Arbour makes a one-night return to the bench and the New York Islanders rallies from a two-goal deficit to beat Pittsburgh 3-2. Arbour was behind the bench for the Islanders’ four Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s and was invited back to coach the team for the 1,500th time. He earns win No. 740.

2007 — Todd Reesing throws a school-record six touchdown passes as No. 8 Kansas batters Nebraska 76-39. The Jayhawks score touchdowns on 10 straight possessions and rolled up the most points ever scored against Nebraska in 117 years of Huskers’ football.

2012 — Kenjon Barner rushes for a school-record 321 yards and five touchdowns and No. 2 Oregon produces another landmark offensive performance in a 62-51 victory over No. 18 Southern California. Oregon’s 730 yards and 62 points are the most ever allowed by USC, which began playing football in 1888.

2012 — Brooklyn makes a winning return to major pro sports, with the Nets topping the Toronto Raptors 107-100 in the first regular-season NBA game at Barclays Center.

2013 — Nick Foles ties an NFL mark with seven touchdown passes and throws for 406 yards to revitalize the Philadelphia Eagles in a 49-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

2016 — Harvard University suspends its men’s soccer team for the rest of the season over sexual comments made about members of the women’s soccer team. The soccer team, currently ranked first in the Ivy League, forfeits its remaining games of the season.

Nov. 4

1934 — The Detroit Lions rush for an NFL-record 426 yards in a 40-7 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The only bright spot for the Pirates is scoring the first touchdown against Detroit this season, ending the Lions’ shutout streak at seven games.

1951 — The U.S. wins six of eight singles matches and ties another to win the Ryder Cup 9½-2½ over Britain at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

1959 — Ernie Banks, Cubs shortstop, wins his 2nd consecutive NL MVP.

1960 — Wilt Chamberlain of Philadelphia scores 44 points and sets an NBA record by missing all 10 of his free throws in the Warriors 136-121 victory the Detroit Pistons.

1976 — Baseball holds its first free agent draft with 24 players from 13 major league clubs participating. Reggie Jackson eventually signs the most lucrative contract of the group, $2.9 million over five years with the New York Yankees. Others free agents are Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor, Bobby Grich and Willie McCovey.

1984 — Seattle’s Dave Brown returns two interceptions for touchdowns in a 31-17 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs.

1987 — NBA announces 4 new franchises; Charlotte & Miami for 1988 & Minneapolis & Orlando for 1989.

1989 — Sunday Silence holds off the late charge by favorite Easy Goer to win the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by a neck at Gulfstream Park.

2000 — R.J. Bowers rushes for 128 yards to become the first player in NCAA history to gain 7,000 yards in his career, leading Grove City past Carnegie Mellon 14-10.

2000 — In the highest scoring Division I-AA game in NCAA history, Ricky Ray passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns and scores three more to lead Sacramento State over Cal State Northridge 64-61.

2001 — Luis Gonzalez’s RBI single caps a two-run rally off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth, and the Arizona Diamondbacks win their first championship by beating the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game 7.

2006 — Rod Brind’Amour of Carolina scores his 1,000th career point, assisting on a goal in the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win over Ottawa.

2007 — Adrian Peterson runs for an NFL-record 296 yards and three touchdowns in Minnesota’s 35-17 win over San Diego.

2009 — The New York Yankees win the World Series, beating the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 behind Hideki Matsui’s record-tying six RBIs.

2012 — Andrew Luck breaks the NFL’s single-game rookie record by throwing for 433 yards in leading Indianapolis to a 23-20 win over Miami

2016 — Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Scott Hartnell and Josh Anderson score two goals apiece and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat Montreal 10-0, matching the biggest loss in the Canadiens’ storied history.

2017 — Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw rushes for a career-high 265 yards and Army ends Air Force’s 306-game scoring streak with a 21-0 victory.

2017 — With a 31-24 overtime victory over Nebraska, Northwestern becomes the first Football Bowl Subdivision program to win three consecutive overtime games.

_____

Nov. 5

1927 — Walter Hagen beats Joe Turnesa 1-up to capture the PGA Championship for the fourth consecutive year and fifth overall.

1955 — Montreal’s Jean Beliveau scores the second fastest hat trick in NHL history in a 4-2 win over Boston. Beliveau, who scores all four Canadien goals, gets three in 44 seconds against Bruins goaltender Terry Sawchuk on the same power play.

1961 — Bill Stacy of the St. Louis Cardinals returns two interceptions for touchdowns in a 31-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

1966 — Virgil Carter of Brigham Young passes for 513 yards and rushes for 86 to set an NCAA record for total yards with 599 in a 53-33 victory over Texas Western.

1977 — BYU sophomore Marc Wilson sets an NCAA record with 571 passing yards in a 38-8 rout of Utah.

1978 — Oakland coach John Madden becomes the 13th head coach to win 100 games in the NFL as the Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-10.

1988 — Alysheba becomes the richest racehorse when he beats Seeking the Gold by a half-length in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

1994 — George Foreman regains part of the heavyweight title he lost to Muhammad Ali in 1974, stopping Michael Moorer with a two-punch combination at 2:03 of the 10th round. Foreman, 45, captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.

1999 — Carolina’s Ron Francis becomes the sixth NHL player to reach 1,500 career points when he assisted on Sami Kapanen’s first-period goal for the Hurricanes in 3-2 loss at Detroit.

2008 — Tony Parker scores a career-high 55 points, including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime in San Antonio’s 129-125 victory over Minnesota.

2010 — Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano tussle at Churchill Downs just moments after tangling during the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon in an ugly, chaotic scene. Castellano’s horse Prince Will I Am runs into the path of Romp and Martin Garcia. Garcia is able to stay on top of his horse but also impedes Borel and A.U. Miner. After the race, an enraged Borel is restrained by security personnel and his older brother Cecil.

2010 — Mexico beats the United States in one of the biggest upsets in the history of women’s soccer. The Mexicans, on goals by Maribel Dominguez and Veronica Perez, post 2-1 victory and qualify for the 2011 World Cup.

2011 — Drew Alleman kicks a 25-yard field goal in overtime to give top-ranked LSU a 9-6 win over No. 2 Alabama.

2016 — Arrogate catches 4-5 favorite California Chrome in the final 100 yards to win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

2017 — Shalane Flanagan dethrones three-time winner Mary Keitany to become the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon since 1977.

2017 — Eli Manning of the Giants became the seventh NFL quarterback to reach the 50,000-mark with his completion to Sterling Shepard in the fourth quarter against the Rams.

2022 — Alex Ovechkin scores 787th career goal for the Washington Capitals surpassing Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings, for all-time NHL record for most goals scored for a single team, in 3-2 loss to Arizona Coyotes.

2022 — MLB World Series: Houston Astros win 2nd title in franchise history; beat Philadelphia Phillies, 4-1 iat Minute Maid Park, Houston for 4-2 series victory; MVP: Astros SS Jeremy Peña, Dusty Baker (73) becomes oldest manager to win championship, Phillies set ignominious record striking out 71 times.

_____

Nov. 6

1869 — First U.S. college football game played, Rutgers 6, Princeton 4.

1934 — Joe Carter scores four touchdowns and Swede Hanson rushes for 190 yards as the Philadelphia Eagles crush the Cincinnati Reds 64-0.

1966 — Philadelphia’s Timmy Brown returns kickoffs 93 yards and 90 yards for touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 24-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

1981 — Larry Holmes knocks out Renaldo Snipes in the 11th round to retain the world heavyweight title in Pittsburgh.

1983 — James Wilder of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushes for 219 yards and a touchdown in a 17-12 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

1988 — Britain’s Steve Jones win the New York City Marathon in 2:08:20, the fastest time in the world this year. His margin of victory, 3 minutes and 21 seconds over Salvatore Bettiol, is the largest in the history of the five-borough race. Grete Waitz wins an unprecedented ninth women’s title, finishing in 2:28:07 well ahead of Italy’s Laura Fogli (2:31:26).

1992 — Manon Rheaume of the Atlanta Knights becomes the first woman to suit up for a regular-season pro hockey game. The 20-year-old goalie doesn’t play in Atlanta’s 3-2 overtime loss to Cincinnati in the IHL game.

1993 — French-based Arcangues stages the biggest Breeders’ Cup upset, rallying to beat Bertrando by 2 lengths in the $3 million Classic at Santa Anita. Arcangues went off at 133-1 and returned $269.20 on a $2 bet.

1993 — Evander Holyfield regains the WBA and IBF heavyweight championships from Riddick Bowe in a fight disrupted by a parachutist. During the seventh round at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the chutist tumbles into the ringside seats and stops the fight for 21 minutes. Holyfield becomes the fourth man to become a heavyweight champion at least twice.

1995 — Art Modell officially announces Cleveland Browns are moving to Baltimore, Maryland.

1999 — Charles Roberts rushes for 409 yards and five touchdowns to lead Sacramento State past Idaho State 41-20, setting a new NCAA record for a single-game rushing performance.

2005 — Annika Sorenstam becomes the first player in LPGA Tour history to win a tournament five straight times, shooting an 8-under 64 for a three-stroke victory in the Mizuno Classic.

2010 — Michigan wins the highest scoring game in its 131-year history by stopping a 2-point conversion attempt in the third overtime for a 67-65 victory over Illinois.

2010 — Zenyatta comes within a head of finishing a perfect career. Horse racing’s biggest star closes from dead last, but Blame holds off the 6-year-old mare and wins the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic under the lights Churchill Downs. Zenyatta entered the race hoping to improve to 20-0 on her career.

____________________________________________________________________________

+++++++++TV SPORTS+++++++++

(ALL TIMES EASTERN)
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND/OR BLACKOUTS
Friday, Oct. 31

AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (WOMEN’S)

4 a.m.

FS2 — AFL: North Melbourne at Hawthorn

6 a.m.

FS2 — AFL: Carlton at West Coast

10 p.m.

FS2 — AFL: Port Adelaide at Greater Western Sydney

AUTO RACING

3:35 p.m.

FS2 — NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series: Qualifying, Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ari.

5:35 p.m.

TRUTV — NASCAR Cup Series: Practice, Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ari.

7:30 p.m.

FS1 — NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, Playoffs- Championship 4, Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ari.

COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY

9 a.m.

ACCN — Atlantic Coast Championships: From Louisville, Ky.

10 a.m.

SECN — Southeastern Championships: From Knoxville, Tenn.

10:30 a.m.

BTN — Big Ten Championships: From East Lansing, Mich.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — Memphis at Rice

ESPNU — Brown at Penn

7:30 p.m.

ESPN — North Carolina at Syracuse

8 p.m.

CBSSN — Sam Houston St. at Louisiana Tech

10:30 p.m.

ESPN2 — Idaho at N. Arizona

COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN’S)

8 p.m.

ACCN — Duke at North Carolina

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

6 p.m.

ACCN — SMU at North Carolina

6:30 p.m.

BTN — Penn St. at Michigan

7:30 a.m.

SECN — Texas at Texas A&M

9 p.m.

BTN — Nebraska at Wisconsin

11 p.m.

BTN — Oregon at Washington

GOLF

7 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A, Second Round, Club de Golf Alcanada, Port d’Alcúdia, Mallorca, Spain

9:30 p.m.

GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Maybank Championship, Third Round, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (West Course), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

HORSE RACING

1 p.m.

FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

4 p.m.

USA — Breeders’ Cup: World Championship, Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar, Calif.

4:30 p.m.

FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

12:30 a.m. (Saturday)

FS2 — Melbourne Cup Carnival: Derby Day, Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia

MLB BASEBALL

8 p.m.

FOX — World Series: L.A. Dodgers at Toronto, Game 6

NBA BASKETBALL

7 p.m.

PRIME VIDEO — Boston at Philadelphia

9:30 p.m.

PRIME VIDEO — L.A. Lakers at Memphis

NBL BASKETBALL

4:30 a.m.

NBATV — New Zealand at Illawarra

NHL HOCKEY

7 p.m.

NHLN — N.Y. Islanders at Washington

SOCCER (MEN’S)

10:35 a.m.

FS2 — Saudi Pro League: Al Shabab at Al-Hilal

TENNIS

6 a.m.

TENNIS — Paris-ATP, Jiujiang-WTA, Hong Kong-WTA & Chennai-WTA Quarterfinals

2 a.m. (Saturday)

TENNIS — Jiujiang-WTA Semifinals

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY OCTOBER 31, 2025

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