THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

“THE SCOREBOARD”

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 5 SCHEDULE

ALL TIMES EASTERN

ADAMS CENTRAL AT HERITAGE 7:00 PM

ALEXANDRIA AT OAK HILL 7:00 PM

ANDERSON AT KOKOMO 7:00 PM

ANDREAN AT HOBART 8:00 PM

AVON AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL 7:00 PM

BATESVILLE AT EAST CENTRAL 7:30 PM

BELLMONT AT HUNTINGTON NORTH 7:00 PM

BEN DAVIS AT WARREN CENTRAL 7:00 PM

BLACKFORD AT MISSISSINEWA 7:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 7:00 PM

BOWMAN ACADEMY AT ILLINOIS HOMESCHOOL 8:00 PM

BREMEN AT JIMTOWN 7:00 PM

BROWN COUNTY AT SOUTH DECATUR 7:00 PM

BROWNSBURG AT FISHERS 7:00 PM

BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL AT NORTH HARRISON 7:00 PM

CALUMET CHRISTIAN AT HAMMOND NOLL 8:00 PM

CARMEL AT LAWRENCE NORTH 7:00 PM

CASTLE AT BOONVILLE 8:00 PM

CENTERVILLE AT NORTHEASTERN 7:00 PM

CENTRAL NOBLE AT LAKELAND 7:00 PM

CHARLESTOWN AT PROVIDENCE 7:00 PM

CHESTERTON AT VALPARAISO 8:00 PM

CHURUBUSCO AT ANGOLA 7:00 PM

CLOVERDALE AT NORTH DAVIESS 7:00 PM

COLUMBIA CITY AT DEKALB 7:00 PM

COLUMBUS EAST AT NEW ALBANY 7:00 PM

CONCORD AT NORTHRIDGE 7:00 PM

CORYDON CENTRAL AT CLARKSVILLE 7:00 PM

COVINGTON AT SOUTH VERMILLION 7:00 PM

CRAWFORD COUNTY AT MITCHELL 7:00 PM

CULVER ACADEMY AT HAMMOND CENTRAL 7:30 PM

DANVILLE AT LEBANON 7:00 PM

DELPHI AT TRI-CENTRAL 7:00 PM

EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL AT MUNSTER 8:00 PM

EAST NOBLE AT LEO 7:00 PM

EASTERN (GREENTOWN) AT CARROLL (FLORA) 7:00 PM

EASTERN GREENE AT EASTERN (PEKIN) 7:30 PM

EASTERN HANCOCK AT KNIGHTSTOWN 7:00 PM

EASTSIDE AT FAIRFIELD 7:00 PM

EDINBURGH AT MILAN 7:00 PM

ELWOOD AT EASTBROOK 7:00 PM

EVANSVILLE CENTRAL AT EVANSVILLE REITZ 7:30 PM

EVANSVILLE MATER DEI AT JASPER 7:30 PM

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON 7:30 PM

EVANSVILLE NORTH AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE 7:30 PM

FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK AT SOUTH ADAMS 7:00 PM

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 7:00 PM

FORT WAYNE DWENGER AT HOMESTEAD 7:00 PM

FORT WAYNE LUERS AT FORT WAYNE NORTH 7:00 PM

FORT WAYNE SNIDER AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) 7:00 PM

FORT WAYNE WAYNE AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH 7:00 PM

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL AT ATTICA 7:00 PM

FRANKFORT AT CASCADE 7:00 PM

FREMONT AT WEST NOBLE 7:00 PM

FRONTIER AT RENSSELAER CENTRAL 8:00 PM

GARY WEST AT CALUMET 8:00 PM

GREENCASTLE AT NORTH PUTNAM 7:00 PM

GREENSBURG AT SOUTH DEARBORN 7:00 PM

GREENWOOD AT BEECH GROVE 7:00 PM

GRIFFITH AT RIVER FOREST 8:00 PM

GUERIN CATHOLIC AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 7:00 PM

HAGERSTOWN AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 7:00 PM

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN AT WESTFIELD 7:00 PM

HANOVER CENTRAL AT KANKAKEE VALLEY 8:00 PM

HERITAGE HILLS AT WASHINGTON 7:30 PM

INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 7:00 PM

INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS AT PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 7:00 PM

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL AT SOUTHPORT 7:00 PM

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD AT BREBEUF JESUIT 7:00 PM

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 7:00 PM

INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA AT COVENANT CHRISTIAN 7:00 PM

INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 7:00 PM

JAY COUNTY AT BLUFFTON 7:00 PM

JEFFERSONVILLE AT FLOYD CENTRAL 7:00 PM

JENNINGS COUNTY AT SPRINGS VALLEY 7:30 PM

JOHN GLENN AT KNOX 7:30 PM

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT TWIN LAKES 7:00 PM

LAPORTE AT LAKE CENTRAL 8:00 PM

LAWRENCEBURG AT FRANKLIN COUNTY 7:00 PM

LINTON AT VINCENNES LINCOLN 7:00 PM

LOGANSPORT AT WEST LAFAYETTE 7:30 PM

LOWELL AT HIGHLAND 8:00 PM

MACONAQUAH AT PERU 7:00 PM

MADISON-GRANT AT FRANKTON 7:00 PM

MANCHESTER AT NORTHFIELD 7:00 PM

MARION AT MUNCIE CENTRAL 7:00 PM

MARTINSVILLE AT FRANKLIN 7:00 PM

MCCUTCHEON AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) 7:00 PM

MICHIGAN CITY AT MERRILLVILLE 8:00 PM

MISHAWAKA MARIAN AT PENN 7:00 PM

MOORESVILLE AT DECATUR CENTRAL 7:00 PM

MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) AT DELTA 7:30 PM

NEW CASTLE AT LAPEL 7:00 PM

NEW HAVEN AT NORWELL 7:00 PM

NEW PALESTINE AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS 7:00 PM

NEW PRAIRIE AT ELKHART 7:30 PM

NOBLESVILLE AT ZIONSVILLE 7:00 PM

NOBLESVILLE HOMESCHOOL AT CHRISTEL HOUSE 7:00 PM

NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) AT CENTER GROVE 7:00 PM

NORTH JUDSON AT CULVER 7:30 PM

NORTH KNOX AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) 7:00 PM

NORTH MIAMI AT PIONEER 7:00 PM

NORTH MONTGOMERY AT WESTERN BOONE 7:00 PM

NORTH NEWTON AT WEST CENTRAL 7:30 PM

NORTH VERMILLION AT RIVERTON PARKE 7:00 PM

NORTH WHITE AT FAITH CHRISTIAN 7:00 PM

NORTHVIEW AT OWEN VALLEY 7:00 PM

NORTHWOOD AT MISHAWAKA 7:00 PM

PAOLI AT WEST WASHINGTON 7:00 PM

PARK TUDOR AT UNION CITY 7:00 PM

PARKE HERITAGE AT SEEGER 7:00 PM

PERRY MERIDIAN AT WHITELAND 7:00 PM

PIKE AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL 7:00 PM

PIKE CENTRAL AT NORTH POSEY 7:30 PM

PLAINFIELD AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH 7:00 PM

PLYMOUTH AT GOSHEN 7:00 PM

PORTAGE AT CROWN POINT 8:00 PM

PRAIRIE HEIGHTS AT GARRETT 7:00 PM

PRINCETON AT MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) 8:00 PM

RICHMOND AT LAFAYETTE JEFF 7:00 PM

ROCHESTER AT LEWIS CASS 7:00 PM

RUSHVILLE AT CONNERSVILLE 7:00 PM

SALEM AT MADISON 7:00 PM

SCOTTSBURG AT SILVER CREEK 7:00 PM

SEYMOUR AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 7:00 PM

SHERIDAN AT CLINTON PRAIRIE 7:00 PM

SOUTH BEND ADAMS AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 7:00 PM

SOUTH BEND RILEY AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 7:00 PM

SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) AT CASTON 7:30 PM

SOUTH PUTNAM AT SULLIVAN 7:00 PM

SOUTH SPENCER AT FOREST PARK 7:30 PM

SOUTHERN WELLS AT WOODLAN 7:00 PM

SOUTHMONT AT CRAWFORDSVILLE 7:00 PM

SOUTHRIDGE AT GIBSON SOUTHERN 7:30 PM

SPEEDWAY AT MONROVIA 7:00 PM

SWITZERLAND COUNTY AT NORTH DECATUR 7:00 PM

TAYLOR AT CLINTON CENTRAL 7:00 PM

TECUMSEH AT PERRY CENTRAL 8:00 PM

TELL CITY AT HANCOCK COUNTY (KY.) 8:00 PM

TERRE HAUTE NORTH AT TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 7:00 PM

TIPPECANOE VALLEY AT LAVILLE 7:00 PM

TIPTON AT BENTON CENTRAL 7:00 PM

TRI AT SHENANDOAH 7:00 PM

TRITON AT WINAMAC 7:00 PM

TRITON CENTRAL AT SHELBYVILLE 7:00 PM

TRI-WEST AT INDIAN CREEK 7:00 PM

UNION COUNTY AT WINCHESTER 7:00 PM

WABASH AT SOUTHWOOD 7:00 PM

WARSAW AT WAWASEE 7:00 PM

WES-DEL AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7:00 PM

WEST VIGO AT EDGEWOOD 7:00 PM

WESTERN AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS 7:00 PM

WHEELER AT BOONE GROVE 8:00 PM

WHITING AT LAKE STATION 8:00 PM

WHITKO AT NORTHWESTERN 7:00 PM

YORKTOWN AT COLUMBUS NORTH 7:00 PM

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

THURSDAY SCORES: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/volleyball/scores/?date=9/17/2026

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER

THURSDAY SCORES: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/scores/?date=9/17/2026

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER

THURSDAY SCORES: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/soccer/girls/scores/?date=9/17/2026

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/boys/cross-country

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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/girls/cross-country

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INDIANA BOYS TENNIS

https://www.ihsaa.org/sports/boys/tennis

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INDIANA GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

THURSDAY SCORES: https://www.maxpreps.com/in/flag-football/girls/scores/?date=9/17/2026

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD

DODGERS 8, REDS 2

WHITE SOX 3, TIGERS 1

PIRATES 7, BREWERS 4

PADRES 9, ROCKIES 2

PHILLIES 3, METS 0

RAYS 10, ATHLETICS 1

ASTROS 6, ROYALS 2

RED SOX 4, RANGERS 3

ANGELS 5, TWINS 4 (10 INNINGS)

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MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD

INDIANAPOLIS 15 GWINNETT 0

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WNBA SCOREBOARD

DREAM 103 SUN 59

MYSTICS 110 SKY 80

WINGS 97 SPARKS 77

MERCURY 94 FIRE 91

ACES 114 STORM 77

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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCOREBOARD

NO GAMES SCHEDULED

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 3

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17

PITTSBURGH 27 SYRACUSE 13

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FRIDAY, SEPT. 18

MIAMI (FLA.) AT WAKE FOREST | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN

HOUSTON AT TEXAS TECH | 8 P.M. | FOX

PORTLAND STATE AT OREGON | 10:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19

COASTAL CAROLINA AT DELAWARE | 11:30 A.M. | CBSSN

KENT STATE AT OHIO STATE | 12 P.M. | FOX

GEORGIA AT ARKANSAS | 12 P.M. | ABC

BUFFALO AT PENN STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK

TULANE AT KANSAS STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPN2

BOWLING GREEN AT IOWA STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPNU

ARIZONA STATE AT KANSAS | 12 P.M. | FS1

MERCER AT GEORGIA TECH | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK

NORTH CAROLINA AT CLEMSON | 12 P.M. | ESPN/DISNEY+

AKRON AT MINNESOTA | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK

NORTH TEXAS AT TEXAS STATE | 12 P.M. | USA NETWORK

EASTERN MICHIGAN AT WISCONSIN | 12:30 P.M. | PEACOCK

NC STATE AT VANDERBILT | 12:45 P.M. | SEC NETWORK

WYOMING AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 1 P.M. | ESPN+

MAINE AT BOSTON COLLEGE | 2 P.M. | ACCNX

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT ILLINOIS | 2 P.M. | PEACOCK

TEMPLE AT TOLEDO | 3 P.M. | CBSSN

KENTUCKY AT TEXAS A&M | 3:30 P.M.

FLORIDA STATE AT ALABAMA | 3:30 P.M. | ABC

USC AT RUTGERS | 3:30 P.M. | CBS

SMU AT LOUISVILLE | 3:30 P.M.

UTAH STATE AT UTAH | 3:30 P.M. | FOX

MIAMI (OHIO) AT CINCINNATI | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

WAGNER AT CAL | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK

UTEP AT MICHIGAN | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK

DUQUESNE AT WASHINGTON STATE | 3:30 P.M. | USA NETWORK

STONEHILL AT UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+

WESTERN KENTUCKY AT INDIANA | 4 P.M. | PEACOCK

UNI AT IOWA | 4 P.M. | FS1

STANFORD AT DUKE | 4 P.M. | CW

BALL STATE AT LIBERTY | 4 P.M. | ESPN+

LOUISIANA TECH AT BAYLOR | 4 P.M. | ESPNU

MISSISSIPPI STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA | 4:15 P.M. | SEC NETWORK

SE LOUISIANA AT UL MONROE | 4:30 P.M. | ESPN+

EAST CAROLINA AT OLD DOMINION | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

CHARLOTTE AT APPALACHIAN STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+

MARSHALL AT MISSOURI STATE | 6:30 P.M. | CBSSN

TROY AT MISSOURI | 7 P.M. | SECN+

FLORIDA AT AUBURN | 7 P.M. | ESPN

GEORGIA STATE AT UCF | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

MURRAY STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

UCONN AT SOUTHERN MISS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

UT MARTIN AT MEMPHIS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

WESTERN MICHIGAN AT RICE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

DELAWARE STATE AT SOUTH FLORIDA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

NEVADA AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

OHIO AT SOUTH ALABAMA | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

NICHOLLS AT SAM HOUSTON | 7 P.M. | ESPN+

EASTERN WASHINGTON AT WASHINGTON | 7:15 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK

MICHIGAN STATE AT NOTRE DAME | 7:30 P.M. | NBC

LSU AT OLE MISS | 7:30 P.M. | ABC

NEW MEXICO AT OKLAHOMA | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN2

BYU AT COLORADO STATE | 7:30 P.M. | CBS

WEST VIRGINIA VS. VIRGINIA (IN CHARLOTTE, N.C.) | 7:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK

VIRGINIA TECH AT MARYLAND | 7:30 P.M. | FOX/FS1

KENNESAW STATE AT TENNESSEE | 7:45 P.M. | SEC NETWORK

UTSA AT TEXAS | 8 P.M. | SECN+

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

EAST TEXAS A&M AT TULSA | 8 P.M. | ESPN+

UAB AT LOUISIANA | 8 P.M. | ESPN+

SOUTH DAKOTA AT BOISE STATE | 10 P.M. | CBSSN

JAMES MADISON AT SAN DIEGO STATE | 10 P.M. | CW

NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT ARIZONA | 10:30 P.M. | TNT

NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT SACRAMENTO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN

PURDUE AT UCLA | 11 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK

MONTANA AT OREGON STATE | 11 P.M. | USA NETWORK

FRESNO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE | 11 P.M. | FS1

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NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE/SCORES

WEEK 2 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

BUFFALO 41 DETROIT 31

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 (EARLY AFTERNOON, 1:00 PM ET)

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS – FOX, MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM, ATLANTA, GA

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS – CBS, M&T BANK STADIUM, BALTIMORE, MD

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CHICAGO BEARS – FOX, SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO, IL

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT HOUSTON TEXANS – CBS, NRG STADIUM, HOUSTON, TX

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – CBS, GILLETTE STADIUM, FOXBOROUGH, MA

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT NEW YORK JETS – FOX, METLIFE STADIUM, EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – CBS, RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA, FL

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT TENNESSEE TITANS – FOX, NISSAN STADIUM, NASHVILLE, TN

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 (LATE AFTERNOON)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT DENVER BRONCOS – 4:05 PM ET, CBS, EMPOWER FIELD AT MILE HIGH, DENVER, CO

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – 4:05 PM ET, CBS, SOFI STADIUM, INGLEWOOD, CA

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS – 4:25 PM ET, FOX, STATE FARM STADIUM, GLENDALE, AZ

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS – 4:25 PM ET, FOX, AT&T STADIUM, ARLINGTON, TX

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – 4:25 PM ET, FOX, LEVI’S STADIUM, SANTA CLARA, CA

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SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – 8:20 PM ET, NBC AND PEACOCK, GEHA FIELD AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM, KANSAS CITY, MO

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026

NEW YORK GIANTS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS – 8:15 PM ET, ESPN AND ABC, SOFI STADIUM, INGLEWOOD, CA

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2026 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SCHEDULE

2026 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

2 SUN, SEPT 20 @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 8:20 PM NBC

3 SUN, SEPT 27 VS. HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 PM CBS

4 SUN, OCT 4 @ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 9:30 AM NFL NET

5 SUN, OCT 11 @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00 PM CBS

6 SUN, OCT 18 VS. TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM FOX

7 SUN, OCT 25 @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS 1:00 PM CBS

8 SUN, NOV 1 @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1:00 PM CBS

9 SUN, NOV 8 VS. DALLAS COWBOYS 1:00 PM FOX

10 SUN, NOV 15 VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS 1:00 PM CBS

11 THU, NOV 19 @ HOUSTON TEXANS 8:15 PM PRIME VIDEO

12 SUN, NOV 29 VS. NEW YORK GIANTS 1:00 PM FOX

13 BYE WEEK

14 SUN, DEC 13 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 1:00 PM FOX

15 SUN, DEC 20 @ TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM CBS

16 TBD – FLEX VS. CINCINNATI BENGALS TBD TBD

17 SUN, JAN 3 @ CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00 PM FOX

18 TBD – FLEX GAME VS. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TBD TBD

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TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES

NFL NEWS

JOSH ALLEN (5 TDS), BILLS PARTY IN NEW HOME, WHIP LIONS, 41-31

Josh Allen made himself at home in Buffalo’s sparkling new stadium and the Bills tore apart the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday night.

Allen completed 20 of 31 passes for 248 yards with three touchdowns and ran for two scores to carry the Bills to a weeknight party in their first game at Highmark Stadium.

Bills running back James Cook had 20 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Dalton Kincaid had a team-high seven receptions for 95 yards and a score.

Allen had 14 carries for 69 yards as the Bills improved to 2-0 and outgained the Lions 446-355.

Jared Goff connected on 26 of 38 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns for the Lions (1-1).

The Lions chased the Bills for the entire game and refused to concede when Allen put Buffalo ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter.

Goff, who was sacked four times, connected with tight end Sam LaPorta for a 1-yard score to pull Detroit within 34-24 early in the fourth quarter. The Lions forced the Bills to punt for only the second time all night and had the ball back with 8:25 left in the game.

Only 49 seconds later, the Lions had to punt, and Allen didn’t miss the opportunity to put the game away.

With Bills head coach Joe Brady keeping his foot on the gas, Allen hit Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman for first-down completions, and Cook sealed it with a 1-yard TD run for a 41-24 lead with 2:50 to go. It was the fifth touchdown in five red-zone trips for the Bills.

Goff whipped his fourth TD pass with 1:42 left in the game, hitting Amon-Ra St. Brown for the receiver’s second score of the night. St. Brown caught nine passes for 142 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs had six catches for 61 yards and a TD, and he added 16 carries for 52 yards.

Allen had four touchdowns (one rushing) before the two-minute warning in the first half, and the Bills scored five touchdowns on their first six possessions.

Detroit dug its way out of a 27-7 hole with a field goal before halftime and added Goff’s second TD pass of the game on the opening drive of the second half, a 2-yard bullet to St. Brown to make it a 10-point game.

Then the Lions’ defense returned to the field.

Allen marched Buffalo 75 yards in 15 plays and beat the cadre of Lions to the right pylon to add another seven points for a 34-17 advantage as the third quarter wound down.

Buffalo sprinted to a 14-0 lead on Allen’s 1-yard run and a 43-yard scoring pass to Josh Palmer. Allen’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox capped a nine-play, 57-yard drive with 11:48 to play in the second quarter and the Bills led 21-zip.

The Lions finally got on the board with Gibbs’ 11-yard reception from Goff with 5:03 remaining in the second quarter. The Bills answered with Allen’s third TD toss. Kincaid made a 16-yard touchdown reception before the two-minute warning. One play earlier, the Bills lost lead wide receiver DJ Moore to a shoulder injury.

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BAKER MAYFIELD DOESN’T NEED EXTRA MOTIVATION FACING THE BROWNS

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield doesn’t need extra motivation after a turnover-filled performance in Week 1.

His former team provides it anyway.

Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in their home opener after starting the season with a 33-27 loss at Cincinnati.

“I think anytime – as I’ve mentioned to you guys, (when) there’s history between a franchise, a coaching staff, anybody – there’s always (that feeling of) you want to come out on the winning side of that no matter what,” Mayfield said Wednesday. “Obviously, it’s very different there staff-wise and everybody. Yeah, I spent four years there. I’m going into year four here. … I started my career there — (there were) a lot of ups and downs. But yeah, for me this week, (it’s about) doing the little things right, continuing to try and just place the ball where it needs to go, and then obviously making the corrections I need to in ball security.”

Mayfield lost three fumbles against the Bengals that led to 17 points, including one that was returned for a score.

He was drafted No. 1 overall by the Browns in 2018 and had an inconsistent tenure in Cleveland. He led the Browns to a playoff victory against Pittsburgh in 2020 but was traded after an injury-plagued 2022 season.

The Browns dealt Mayfield to Carolina after making a blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson that has been a disaster for the organization. Watson could be starting his last game for the Browns this week if he plays poorly again.

Mayfield is the only quarterback to lead the Browns to a playoff win in the 2000s.

“I think, for me, it goes back to the faith, you know, looking up and knowing that, no matter what happens, if I control what I can control and (am) doing things the right way, obviously, I want to win,” Mayfield said. “As an ultra-competitor, that’s what you want to do at all times. So (it’s about) having trust in that, having faith in that and, yeah, taking it one day at a time.”

Browns first-year coach Todd Monken was Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2019 when Mayfield regressed after a promising rookie season. He threw 22 touchdowns passes and 21 interceptions in a 6-10 season.

Monken on Mayfield:

“Well, first off, he’s highly intelligent,” Monken said. “You could just get the beginning of a call out of your mouth and he’s already got it down. He wants the game plan early so he can look at it at home. He comes in the building prepared. On the field, he’s just highly, highly competitive and he holds himself to a high standard and he holds others to a high standard, which is everything you’re looking for in a player, I guess just in a human being in general.”

Mayfield already played against the Browns and lost in 2022 during a tumultuous season with the Panthers. He ended up being released that season, rebounded with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams and joined the Buccaneers in 2023 after Tom Brady retired.

He’s become a franchise QB in Tampa Bay, making two Pro Bowls and leading the Bucs to a pair of NFC South titles. Last week, he got a $165 million, three-year contract extension.

“Yeah, I’m sure it still motivates him,” Browns cornerback Denzel Ward said about Mayfield’s time in Cleveland. “Baker’s a guy that feeds off of motivation, a lot of things, and I know he’s competitive and any game he’s going to want to come in and do his best, but I’m sure he’s definitely motivated for the game.”

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PACKERS ON A 6-GAME SKID GOING BACK TO LAST SEASON AND FACE A JETS SQUAD LOOKING FOR A 2-0 START

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — It has been quite a while since Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers walked off the field with a victory.

A promising start last Sunday turned into an embarrassing fourth-quarter collapse in a 39-22 loss at Minnesota. And now they’re mired in the type of skid the franchise hasn’t seen in 35 years.

The Packers have dropped their past six games, counting their 31-27 NFC wild-card playoff loss at Chicago. It’s the first time Green Bay has lost that many in a row since it closed the 1990 season with a five-game losing streak and lost its first two games in 1991.

“During the season, there’s going to be so much adversity that comes up, and I think losing Week 1, that’s what it is,” Love said. “Everybody knows what it is, and now it’s just moving on. We’re here in Week 2.”

Next up for the Packers (0-1) is the New York Jets (1-0), who are coming off a dominant 23-10 victory at Tennessee and will try to be 2-0 for the first time since 2015.

It was a nice start for the Jets, who lost their first seven games last season in Aaron Glenn’s debut as coach. They’re trying to snap a skid of 10 consecutive losing seasons and end a 15-year playoff drought.

“I think each week, we’re trying to make a statement,” Glenn said. “It doesn’t matter who it is. I mean, I think we all know our history and we’re trying to change that history.”

The Jets’ defense stifled the Titans while quarterback Geno Smith ran an efficient and effective offense. New York will certainly look to do the same against Green Bay, which struggled all game to protect Love.

Penalties on defense and some questionable coaching decisions — such as Matt LaFleur’s doomed decision to forgo a field goal and try for a first down — all added up to an ugly finish for the Packers, whose most recent win was Dec. 7, 2025, against Chicago.

“Nobody’s finger-pointing because everybody had a hand in it,” Green Bay linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “Let’s just get back to work. There’s no better medicine for a bad loss than the next game. So let’s just get back, focus on the Jets and get a win on Sunday.”

Need to know

Green Bay (0-1) at New York Jets (1-0)

When/where to watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Fox.

Latest odds: Packers by 3 1/2.

Against the spread: Packers 0-1; Jets 1-0.

Last week: Packers lost to the Vikings 39-22; Jets beat the Titans 23-10.

Last meeting: Jets won 27-10 on Oct. 16, 2022, in Green Bay, Wis.

Series record: Jets lead 9-5.

Matchup to watch

Packers’ O-line vs. Jets’ pass rush. Green Bay’s shuffled and inexperienced line struggled against constant pressure from Minnesota’s defense as Love was sacked four times. New York harassed Tennessee’s Cam Ward, sacking him three times and pressuring him often. No. 2 overall pick David Bailey and Will McDonald, who each had a sack, could be in for a big afternoon off the edge.

Stats and stuff

— The game marks the home opener for the Jets, who are debuting new white helmets with their fifth current uniform combination and encouraging fans — who packed the stands in Tennessee — to wear white for a stadium-wide “White Out.” “We want to make this place a place where it’s hard to play,” Glenn said.

— The Packers last started 0-2 in 2006, their first season under coach Mike McCarthy.

— During their six straight losses, the Packers have been outscored 90-15 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

— Green Bay has lost five games, including the playoffs, in which it led by at least nine points in the second half since the start of the 2025 season.

— Packers WR Christian Watson had six catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota. Those marks either set or matched his second-highest career totals in all three categories.

— Love’s 387 yards passing against Minnesota was the second-highest total of his career. It also was the highest season-opening total for a Packers quarterback in franchise history.

— Love has thrown 24 touchdown passes in September games since 2023. No NFL quarterback has as many TD throws during the month of September in that stretch.

— Packers K Trey Smack’s 59-yard field goal against Minnesota was the longest in NFL history by a player making his debut, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

— The Jets are looking to start 2-0 for just the 12th time in franchise history and first since 2015.

— The game marks the first home start for Smith with the Jets since Oct. 23, 2016, his final start of his first stint with the team.

— The Jets opened the first and second halves last week with touchdown drives on their opening possession of each, the first time they’ve done that since Week 17 of the 2021 season against Tampa Bay.

— New York had a 19-play scoring drive that bridged the first and second quarters and lasted 11:48 — the team’s longest drive by time in any game since 1994, according to Stats Perform.

— RB Breece Hall has 3,500 yards rushing and needs 90 to pass Bill Mathis for ninth on the Jets’ career list.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: 

OLE MISS VS. LSU

(OLE MISS NOTES)

LSU holds a 66-44-4 series lead on the field … When played in Oxford, the series is tied at 11-11-1. • Since the rivals started playing for the Magnolia Bowl trophy in 2008, LSU holds an 11-6 edge. • This is the 13th ranked meeting between Ole Miss and LSU, with the Tigers leading ranked matchups 8-5 … It’s the first time since 1962 that both the Rebels and Tigers are ranked inside the top-10 in the AP poll. • Ole Miss has eight all-time wins against a top-10 LSU team: 1960 (No. 3), 1962 (No. 4), 1965 (No. 5), 1969 (No. 6, 1997 (No. 8), 2009 (No. 8), 2013 (No. 6) and 2025 (No. 4). • Since 2012, the home team has won 12 of the last 14 games in the series (.857 winning percentage). • Ole Miss enters the week ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 9 in the Coaches poll … The Rebels are on their second-longest AP poll streak ever at 53 straight since 2023, trailing only 73 from 1957-63. • Ole Miss is 315-116-8 (.727) all-time at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium before vacated wins (293-113-8), including a 37-3 stretch since the start of the 2021 season. • Pete Golding has faced a ranked opponent in five of his first six career games as head coach at Ole Miss … Three of those have been top-10 opponents (#3 UGA, #10 Miami, #7 LSU). • RB Kewan Lacy has 27 career rushing TDs, which is tied with Brandon Bolden for third all-time in program history. • QB Trinidad Chambliss has registered a passing touchdown in 15 straight games, which is the fourth-longest streak in program history. • Twelve Rebels (Chambliss, Cedrick Beavers, Lucas Carneiro, Raymond Collins, Troy Everett, Horatio Fields, George Hamsley, Izaiah Hartrup, Patrick Kutas, Jehiem Oatis, Jordan Renaud and Brycen Sanders) have earned their degrees and are eligible for the 2026 season. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS LSU enters the matchup with a 2-0 record after opening the season with wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech. The Tigers are averaging 48.0 points and 586.0 yards per game while allowing just 12.0 points and 221.5 yards per contest. LSU has been particularly effective on the ground, rushing for 456 yards and eight touchdowns through two games, while the defense has recorded 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Quarterback Sam Leavitt leads the Tigers’ offense with 574 passing yards and nine total touchdowns. 

OLE MISS-LSU SERIES HISTORY • This game marks the 115th all-time meeting between the Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers dating back to 1894. • LSU holds a 66-44-4 advantage in the field, 66-43-4 after vacated wins. • When the game is played in Oxford, the series is tied 11-11-1. • LSU is Ole Miss’ second-most played opponent behind Mississippi State, which will reach 122 meetings on Nov. 27. • Since the rivals started playing for the Magnolia Bowl trophy in 2008, LSU holds an 11-6 edge … Ole Miss’ win in 2013 was vacated due to NCAA ruling. • The home team has won 12 of the last 14 meetings on the field. • This will be the 13th all-time meeting with both the Rebels and Tigers simultaneously ranked, the fourth in a row … LSU leads 8-5 in such games. • It’s the first time since 1962 that both the Rebels and Tigers are ranked inside the top-10 in the AP poll. • Ole Miss has eight all-time wins against a top-10 LSU team: 1960 (No. 3), 1962 (No. 4), 1965 (No. 5), 1969 (No. 6, 1997 (No. 8), 2009 (No. 8), 2013 (No. 6) and 2025 (No. 4). 

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(LSU NOTES)

LSU And Ole Miss To Meet As Top 10 Teams For First Time Since 1962 LSU (2-0, 0-0 SEC) opens SEC play on Saturday when the Tigers travel to face Ole Miss (2-0, 0-0 SEC) in the much-anticipated return to Oxford for Lane Kiffin. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on ABC with Chris Fowler (pxp), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline) and Laura Rutledge (sideline) on the call. College GameDay will also be on hand for the weekend’s premier national game. LSU enters the game ranked No. 7 in both polls, while Ole Miss is ranked No. 8 (AP) and No. 9 (Coaches). It’s the first time LSU and Ole Miss meet a Top 10 teams since 1962 when the Tigers were No. 4 and Ole Miss No. 6 (Ole Miss won, 15-7, in Tiger Stadium). Kiffin, 2-0 at LSU, coached the Rebels for six years (2020-25) before taking over as the Tigers’ head coach on Nov. 30, 2025. LSU improved to 2-0 with a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech last week, while Ole Miss defeated Charlotte, 41-9. Last year, Ole Miss beat the Tigers, 24-19, in Oxford. It’s the first time in the 114-game series that LSU will travel to Oxford in consecutive seasons. LSU goes into the Ole Miss game averaging 48.0 points and 586.0 total yards per game (228.0 rushing, 358.0 passing). Defensively, the Tigers lead the nation in total defense (142.0) and sacks (12), while ranking No. 2 in rush defense (18.0) and No. 12 in pass defense (124.0). QB Sam Leavitt has accounted for 7 TDs (5 rushing, 2 passing) and ranks No. 2 in the SEC in total offense (354.5). Leavitt has rushed for 135 yards and completed 41-of-66 passes for 574 yards, 2 TDs and 4 interceptions. Dilin Jones leads LSU in rushing with 179 yards and 2 TDs, while Winnie Watkins leads team in receiving (12-153-1 TD). LBs TJ Dottery (14 tackles) and Whit Weeks (13) lead LSU in tackles, while Edge Princewill Umanmielen leads the nation sacks (5) and tackles for loss (6.5). LSU Coach Lane Kiffin Lane Kiffin, who guided Ole Miss to four 10-win seasons and 55 total victories during a 6-year stretch from 2020-2025, is in his first season at LSU. Kiffin, now in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, is 118-53 and includes head coaching stops at Tennessee (2009), Southern Cal (2010-2013), Florida Atlantic (2017- 19), and Ole Miss (2020-2025). His 55 wins at Ole Miss were the most over a 6-year period at the school since 1957-62 when the Rebels won 57 games. His 52 victories since the 2021 season rank behind Georgia (67) and Alabama (58) in the SEC during that span. At Ole Miss, Kiffin directed the Rebels to an 11-1 regular season mark and a berth in the College Football Playoffs in 2025. The 11 wins were the most during the regular season in Ole Miss history and it also marked the first time in program history the Rebels reached double-digit wins in three consecutive seasons. Since arriving at LSU, Kiffin assembled the nation’s No. 1 transfer portal class, a group that includes the No. 1 quarterback (Sam Leavitt), No. 1 offensive tackle (Jordan Seaton) and the No. 1 edge rusher (Princewill Umanmielen). Kiffin won national titles as an assistant coach at Southern Cal (twice) and Alabama (once) and he was part of offensive staffs that have produced four Heisman Trophy winners – QB Carson Palmer (USC, 2002), QB Matt Leinert (USC, 2004), RB Reggie Bush (USC, 2005) and RB Derrick Henry (Alabama, 2015). 

• LSU’s offense has racked up 1,172 yards (456 rushing, 716 passing) in 2 games. It’s the most yards of offense for an LSU team over first 2 games of season dating back to 1937. • LSU’s defense has given up only 285 total yards (37 rushing, 247 passing), the fourth-fewest on record dating back to 1937. Others: 97 in 1937, 244 in 1958, 245 in 1979. • LSU leads the nation in total defense (142.0), sacks (12) and opponent first downs (16) and ranks No. 2 in rushing yards (18.0) and third-down conversion rate (4-of-27 for 14.8 pct.). • Offensively, LSU ranks No. 3 in total offense (586.0) and No. 4 in passing offense (358.0). • On 28 possessions by the opposition, LSU has forced 13 3-and-outs, had the opponent punt 16 times. LSU has allowed possessions of 5 or more plays only 6 times with 22 of the 28 possessions being 4 plays or fewer (11 by Clemson, 11 by Louisiana Tech). • The Tiger defense has allowed the opponent to penetrate LSU territory just 3 times in 26 possessions that started on the minus-50. Of the 103 offensive snaps by the opposition, only 14 have come in LSU territory (6 by Clemson, 8 by Louisiana Tech). Six of the 14 snaps came on drives that started on LSU’s side of the field due to a turnover. • For just the 6th time in school history, LSU’s offense accounted for 300-plus rushing yards (309) and passing yards (335) in a game against Clemson in the season-opener. The last time it happened came in the win over Florida in 2023 (329 rushing, 372 passing). • C Braelin Moore was awarded No. 18 for the Tigers becoming only the second offensive lineman (C Lloyd Cushenberry in 2019) in school history to be presented with the jersey since the tradition started in 2003. Moore will continue to wear No. 61 on gamedays and will have a No. 18 patch on his jersey. • LB Whit Weeks and TE Trey’Dez Green will wear No. 7 for LSU this year. It’s only the second time since the tradition started in 2008 with Patrick Peterson that two players have been awarded the No. 7 jersey (OT Will Campbell and LB Harold Perkins in 2024). • LSU climbed to No. 7 in both national polls this week following the win over Louisiana Tech. LSU has broken into the Top 10 of the national polls in eight of the last nine seasons. 

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DOMINANT GROUND GAME PROPELS UNDEFEATED PITT OVER SYRACUSE

Damon Ferguson Jr. rushed for a career-high 102 yards and a touchdown for the third straight game as Pittsburgh dominated on the ground and earned a 27-13 ACC victory over visiting Syracuse on Thursday night.

Filling in for Ja’Kyrian Turner for the second straight week, Ferguson had his first career 100-yard rushing game after the freshman had 59 yards in last week’s win over UCF.

The Panthers earned their 12th straight home victory over Syracuse and beat the Orange for the 21st time in the past 25 meetings.

Ferguson needed 10 attempts in the first big game of his collegiate career and highlighted things with a 32-yard run down the right sideline with 12:38 left in the second quarter that gave the Panthers (3-0, 2-0 ACC) a 14-0 lead two plays after Syracuse was called for pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Ferguson also had a 33-yard run in the third quarter that set up quarterback Mason Heintschel’s 9-yard TD that gave the Panthers a 24-10 lead after the extra point.

La’Vell Wright added 81 yards on the ground and his 2-yard TD opened the scoring with 3:16 left in the first quarter shortly after a holding penalty kept the drive alive.

Heintschel completed 10-of-23 passes for 123 yards and contributed 41 rushing yards while Antonio Chadha had a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 34-yarder in the fourth.

The Panthers totaled 245 yards on the ground as coach Pat Narduzzi was on the sidelines for his 144th game, surpassing Jock Sutherland (1924-1938) for the most in school history.Sports Coaching & Training

Syracuse (1-2, 0-2) allowed the game’s first 17 points and committed ten penalties for 94 yards after committing 14 penalties in last week’s loss to California.

Steve Angeli completed 13-of-25 passes for 161 yards but threw two interceptions and faded after completing nine of his first 11 attempts. He was replaced by Amari Odom with 8:09 left and the Kennesaw State transfer completed all seven of his passes for 44 yards.

Ahmad Miller led the Orange with 78 rushing yards, including a 2-yard TD with 3:28 left in the second quarter. Shay Barker made a 42-yard field goal and a 30-yard field goal for his first two career field goals after Tripp Woody’s 29-yard try sailed well wide with 10 1/2 minutes left in the second.

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LSU QB SAM LEAVITT UPGRADED TO QUESTIONABLE VS. OLE MISS

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was upgraded from doubtful to questionable on Thursday for the No. 7 Tigers’ rivalry showdown Saturday against No. 8 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss.

The nature of the injury is not disclosed on the Southeastern Conference’s availability report, which also has the Tigers’ leading tackler, linebacker TJ Dottery, listed as questionable, or a 50% chance of playing per SEC injury report policy.

Though he did not appear to suffer an injury in last Saturday’s win over Louisiana Tech, Leavitt was listed as doubtful on Wednesday.

According to LouisianaSports.net, Leavitt missed Wednesday’s workout due to back spasms but returned to practice Thursday.

The Arizona State transfer spoke to reporters after the 45-14 home victory and did not appear to be dealing with an ailment.

“I’m just focusing on tonight, getting better, getting the body healthy,” Leavitt said when asked whether he was looking forward to facing Ole Miss. “But no, it’s going to be an incredible opportunity.”

Leavitt was slated to speak with the media Tuesday about the key SEC clash against Ole Miss, according to an LSU spokesperson, but he was not present at the session.

At a Monday news conference, LSU coach Lane Kiffin did not mention any information about Leavitt’s health. He also didn’t speak on the matter during his weekly radio show on Thursday night.

Under the SEC’s availability policy, a player designated as doubtful has a 25% chance to play and is “unlikely to play due to significant concerns.”

SEC football teams face penalties that range from $25,000 to $100,000 for late or inaccurate availability reports. It is at the discretion of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey whether to impose those penalties.

A two-year starter and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year at Arizona State, Leavitt transferred to LSU after the school hired Kiffin.

After throwing for a touchdown and rushing for two more in a blowout season-opening win over Clemson, Leavitt threw for a score and ran for three more in the victory over Louisiana Tech, but he tossed three interceptions.

In two games with LSU, Leavitt has completed 41 of 66 passes for 574 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for 135 yards and five scores.

If Leavitt isn’t available to play, either freshman Husan Longstreet or sophomore Landen Clark will start. In two games, Clark has completed 7 of 10 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Longstreet has attempted one pass, a 33-yard completion.

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UNC DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE BELICHICK RESIGNS, PROBE INTO CONDUCT IN FOOTBALL PROGRAM CONCLUDES

North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the son of head coach Bill Belichick, has resigned from his position as the school concludes a probe into its football program.

The school released a statement Thursday morning saying Steve Belichick’s resignation would be effective in late October at the conclusion of a medical leave, which was announced early in preseason camp.

That comes after the school’s investigation “determined that certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct,” according to the statement. The school didn’t reveal specifics of those actions found by the review, nor had it discussed details of the investigation launched in late July.

“The investigation also found that these actions were isolated in scope and not a systemic failure,” the school said.

The school had previously announced the resignation of general manager Michael Lombardi amid the probe. Lombardi was an immediate hire of Bill Belichick in his NFL-to-college transition as a six-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots.

In Bill Belichick’s first news conference after Lombardi’s Sept. 3 resignation, he faced questions that largely dealt nothing with football. Belichick said he believes his program “totally” has an atmosphere of following rules, saying: “Obviously everybody’s responsible, including me, for doing things properly. And we intend to do that.”

That same day, UNC vice chancellor for communications Dean Stoyer — who released Thursday’s statement — said the school “continues to support Bill Belichick and the Carolina football program.”

The school announced its probe in late July in the days after putting Lombardi on paid administrative leave. The same day Lombardi resigned, WRAL of Raleigh cited anonymous sources in reporting the type of questions asked of some interviewees, with some focusing on Steve Belichick.

Additionally, Lombardi attorney Tom Mars told The Athletic that the school’s probe now included questions into potential “inappropriate” relationships that didn’t involve his client. Mars didn’t return a call or email from The Associated Press regarding that comment at the time.

The school on Thursday declined to comment on individuals in the probe, citing university policy on personnel matters. UNC said that “all necessary corrective actions are now underway” and that it considers the investigation to be “resolved.”

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NO. 6 OHIO STATE SHIFTS FOCUS TO KENT STATE AFTER DEVASTATING LOSS AT TEXAS

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State is on to Saturday’s game against Kent State, even though most fans of the sixth-ranked Buckeyes are still fuming about last Saturday’s 24-23 loss to No. 1 Texas.

“A lot of people’s days are made or break on a three-hour game, and we don’t want that anymore than they do,” offensive guard Luke Montgomery said. “We definitely let the people down. We let ourselves down with that one. We’ve got a great group of guys and a great bunch of leaders here who have a lot of experience in games like that and it’s time now. Adversity’s hit, and we’ve got a great foundation.”

The Buckeyes are 52 1/2 point favorites over the Golden Flashes and have won the past three meetings by a combined score of 165-20, including 66-0 in the last meeting in 2014.

The defense will be looking to bounce back after allowing Texas to score on three fourth-quarter drives. Quarterback Julian Sayin will try to rebound after completing just 5 of 16 passes with an interception in the second half.

“It’s about how we move forward to correct our mistakes, see what we did wrong and try to improve those and make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Sayin said. “I think we have a good group of guys on our team. I think we can use this as fuel.”

With both teams at 1-1, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is more concerned about his team than his opponent.

“What is our standard? We have to redefine it because we didn’t finish it good enough in that game, so it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, it’s gotta be about us,” Day said. “If we’re executing, it shouldn’t matter who the opponent is. So we’re looking for a high level of execution.”

Mr. Smith goes for the yardage record

Jeremiah Smith needs 26 yards to surpass Michael Jenkins for the most receiving yards in Ohio State history. Jenkins had 2,898 yards from 2000-03.

The junior has consecutive games of at least 150 yards for the first time in his career, with 16 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns over the first two games. Over his past four games, he is averaging 7.8 catches for 154 yards with four touchdowns.

Under pressure

Ohio State’s kicking game is once again under the spotlight after Baylor transfer Connor Hawkins missed wide left on a 45-yard field goal attempt during the fourth quarter that would have put the Buckeyes up by two scores. Instead, Texas drove 73 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown.

Hawkins is 3 of 4 on field goals, but the Buckeyes are 8 of 14 on field goals in seven prior losses. Hawkins replaced Jayden Fielding as kicker this season.

“We’re confident in Connor. I don’t think we can group Connor in with anything that’s happened in the past. That’s not Connor’s issue,” Day said. “That being said, we count on him to make that kick, and he’s beat himself up over that kick. Also on offense we’ve gotta put him in a better situation.”

About the Flashes …

Kent State lost to South Carolina 57-0 in its opener before defeating FCS opponent Wofford 36-15 last Saturday.

The Golden Flashes have 57 players from Ohio on their roster, including wide receiver and kick returner Da’Realyst Clark. The senior led the nation with two kick return touchdowns last year and averaged 28.3 yards per return, which was fourth nationally

“You sell it in recruiting, right? The opportunity to go play the best in the country in one of the greatest venues in all of college football and do it in front of your home fans,” coach Mark Carney said about Kent State’s chance to play the Buckeyes. “A lot of us grew up in this state and get a chance to put ourselves on tape against the best of the best in this state. And guys choose this place because of that. So we’re excited for the opportunity.”

Injury report

Ohio State defensive lineman Zion Grady and offensive tackle Philip Daniels are doubtful for the game. Grady suffered a knee injury during the first half at Texas and Daniels injured his leg.

Gabe VanSickle will likely start at right guard with Austin Siereveld shifting over to right tackle. Freshman Khary Wilder could see extended action after recording four quarterback pressures and three QB hits in limited snaps the first two games.

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TEXAS ASSISTANT COACH ARRESTED ON DWI CHARGE IN LATEST DISTRACTION FOR NO. 1 LONGHORNS

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas defensive assistant coach Johnny Nansen was arrested on a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge and his status for a return to the sideline with the No. 1 Longhorns has not yet been determined, head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Thursday.

Austin police said Nansen, 52, was arrested Wednesday night after officers responded to a three-vehicle wreck about 9 p.m. Nansen was one of the drivers and officers observed “multiple clues of impairment” in standard field sobriety tests, police said, without providing details.

The short description of the arrest did not mention whether Nansen submitted to a breath test. It also not detail whether Nansen or another driver was at fault in the crash.

Sarkisian said Nansen was not at practice Thursday ahead of Saturday night’s home game against UTSA. Nansen coaches inside linebackers and is co-defensive coordinator. He has been on the Texas staff since 2024.

“We’re obviously disappointed, but that’s all I really have on it at this time,” Sarkisian said.

The arrest is the latest problem for Texas after its big come-from-behind 24-23 win over the Buckeyes that boosted Texas from No. 4 to No. 1.

Star quarterback Arch Manning was forced to apologize after publicly joking about an AI-generated video that depicted Sarkisian slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. That video, and other fake clips, have surfaced after a brief and testy exchange between Sarkisian and Rowe after the game.

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

MLB ROUNDUP: DODGERS DUMP REDS, CLAIM ANOTHER NL WEST TITLE

Kyle Tucker hit a home run, went 4-for-5, drove in three runs and fell a triple shy of the cycle as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 13th National League West title in 14 seasons with an 8-2 road victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.

Los Angeles’ Landon Knack (1-0), who was recalled earlier Thursday from Triple-A Oklahoma City, pitched four innings of scoreless relief.

Miguel Rojas homered and singled for the Dodgers, who won for the third time in four games. Max Muncy produced two hits and two RBIs, and Freddie Freeman added two hits and an RBI.

Sal Stewart went deep for the Reds, who lost six of the seven games against the Dodgers this season. Cincinnati has dropped eight of its past 10 games. Brady Singer (6-15) was charged with seven runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.

White Sox 3, Tigers 1

Munetaka Murakami went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer while three pitchers delivered 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief as Chicago defeated visiting Detroit to move into a tie with the Cleveland Guardians atop the American League Central.

Brenton Doyle singled twice for the White Sox, who were outhit 8-5. Chicago went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position compared to 0-for-9 for the Tigers.

Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez (10-11) gave up three runs and three hits in five innings.

Pirates 7, Brewers 4

Henry Davis hit a two-run home run, Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin each drove in two runs during a five-run second inning and Pittsburgh took down visiting Milwaukee.

Pirates right-hander Khristian Curtis (2-0) worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit during a bullpen game. Mason Montgomery went 1 1/3 innings to earn his 14th save.

Bo Naylor homered and Sal Frelick had two hits for the Brewers, who fell short in a bid for a three-game series sweep. Kyle Harrison (10-5) was tagged for five runs, four earned, on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Padres 9, Rockies 2

Xander Bogaerts homered and tripled in a seven-run second inning and finished a single shy of the cycle as surging San Diego beat Colorado in Denver.

Ty France and Dustin Harris also had three hits apiece and Jake Cronenworth and Samad Taylor each had two hits. The Padres have won 10 of 11 to increase their lead to four games over idle Arizona for the third NL wild-card berth. Michael King (12-9) allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings.

Mickey Moniak and Brett Sullivan had two hits each for the Rockies, who have dropped 10 of 11. Tanner Gordon (1-5) allowed seven runs on 10 hits in three innings.

Phillies 3, Mets 0

Aaron Nola allowed three hits over seven innings and visiting Philadelphia opened a four-game series against New York with a win.

Nola (7-10) walked three, struck out four and lowered his ERA to 2.10 over his past 10 starts. Bryce Harper had three hits for the Phillies, who are tied with the Chicago Cubs for the top NL wild-card spot.

New York was limited to four singles and lost its fifth straight game. Mets first baseman Jared Young was briefly unconscious before being taken off the field on a stretcher after being kneed in the head by Nolan McLean on a play at first base in the sixth inning. Young was later diagnosed with concussion symptoms.

Rays 10, Athletics 1

Chandler Simpson and Richie Palacios drove in two runs apiece in Tampa Bay’s six-run fourth-inning eruption as the Rays beat the Athletics in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Rays improved to 6-0 on their nine-game homestand to extend the AL East lead over the idle New York Yankees to five games. Drew Rasmussen (15-5) delivered five innings of four-hit, shutout ball.

Lawrence Butler homered and singled for the A’s, who have lost four of their past five. Jeffrey Springs (4-14) surrendered six runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Astros 6, Royals 2

Yordan Alvarez slugged his 40th home run while Jeremy Pena added his sixth leadoff blast of the season as Houston hit a season-high five homers en route to beating visiting Kansas City in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Daulton Varsho, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Taylor Trammell also homered for the Astros. Bryan King (3-5) tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings to log the win.

Royals starter Seth Lugo (7-9) allowed four runs on eight hits — including four solo homers — over five innings. Carter Jensen had two of Kansas City’s three hits.

Red Sox 4, Rangers 3

Trevor Story hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning as Boston overcame a three-run deficit to defeat Texas in Arlington, Texas, and avert a three-game series sweep.

Story’s blast came against Texas closer Jacob Latz (3-3) and erased a 3-1 deficit. Sonny Gray allowed three runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. Willson Contreras left the game after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand in the eighth inning.

Josh Jung hit a solo home run for the Rangers, who fell a game behind the Astros at the top of the American League West. Danny Jansen had two of Texas’ four hits, including an RBI single.

Angels 5, Twins 4 (10 innings)

Wade Meckler singled to drive in Zach Neto with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as Los Angeles rallied to defeat Minnesota in Anaheim, Calif.

Meckler lined the first pitch by Twins reliever Kody Funderburk into right field for his first career walk-off hit. Los Angeles tied it one batter earlier on an RBI single by Mike Trout off Yoendrys Gomez (2-4). Oswald Peraza and Meckler each had two hits and an RBI for the Angels, who won for the third time in four games.

Minnesota’s Walker Jenkins ended a 1-for-34 slump with three hits, including a two-run game-tying home run in the ninth. Brooks Lee had two hits and two RBIs for the Twins, who have lost four out of five.

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METS 1B JARED YOUNG (HEAD) TAKEN OFF FIELD ON STRETCHER

Mets first baseman Jared Young was taken off the field on a stretcher after being kneed in the head by teammate Nolan McLean on a play at first base during New York’s game against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.

The team soon posted on social media, “Jared Young is being taken to hospital for further examination. He has feeling in his extremities. Additional updates will be provided when possible.”

The play occurred with two outs in the sixth inning when McLean, the Mets’ starting pitcher, moved toward first base to cover the bag on a dribbler hit by Justin Crawford. McLean was attempting to step over a nearly prone Young when the collision occurred.

Young was down on the field for a long time before being loaded on a stretcher. He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was carted off the field.

Crawford was safe on an infield single. McLean stayed in the game and struck out the next batter to end the inning. He was replaced ahead of the following inning, having allowed one run in six innings.

Young went 0-for-2 in the game, leaving him with a .266 average, nine homers and 39 RBIs in 103 games this year.

The 31-year-old veteran played for the Chicago Cubs in 2022 and ’23 before playing for the Mets the past two seasons. In 147 career games, he has a .249 career average with 15 homers and 53 RBIs.

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GOLF NEWS

MAX GREYSERMAN, ERIC COLE SHARE LEAD AT FALL SERIES OPENER IN ASHEVILLE

Co-leaders Max Greyserman and Eric Cole shot 7-under-par rounds of 64 to kick off the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville on Thursday in Asheville, N.C.

They are one shot ahead of a cluster of six players as the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series began at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.

Chris Kirk, Ben Kohles, Jackson Suber, Peter Malnati, Neal Shipley and Canadian Mackenzie Hughes are tied at 6-under 65. Another eight players are tied at 5-under 66, including Jacob Bridgeman and Ireland’s Seamus Power.

In Greyserman and Cole, the event has a pair of leaders ranked inside the top 100 in the world who nevertheless have yet to win a PGA Tour event. They’ve come close plenty of times, with Greyserman owning five career second-place finishes and Cole collecting five top-threes. Both have also lost in tournament playoffs.

Greyserman, 31, made eight birdies in his round, including four in a row at Nos. 7-10. His day included birdie putts of 18 and 16 1/2 feet at the par-3 seventh and 14th holes.

Greyserman hasn’t played and has barely practiced since the end of the regular season six weeks ago. He took his wife on vacation, spent time with their infant son and attended a good friend’s wedding.

“Maybe that’s key: Don’t practice and just have a good time and just show up here,” Greyserman quipped.

Cole, 38, carded eight birdies as well but his only bogey came on his finishing hole, No. 9. He made 109 feet of putts, including a 21-footer for birdie at No. 1.

“I worked a lot, really hard and a lot of years to get to the PGA Tour, so any chance I have to play and compete out here is something that means a lot to me, something I don’t take for granted,” he said.

“I’m going to play a decent amount in the fall and just see where my game is at, and hopefully get in contention a little bit and maybe give me something to show me what I need to work on over the offseason.”

Cole finished inside the top 50 of the FedEx Cup points race this season, meaning he is secure for next season and has access to all signature events. But Greyserman entered the week a mere 103rd in points and would rocket to 51st place with a win.

The top 100 players at the end of the FedEx Cup Fall keep their tour cards. Finishing in the 51-to-60 range grants access to the first two signature events of 2027.

Kirk, a six-time PGA Tour winner, is way back at 128th in the standings entering the fall. His exempt status as a past tournament winner expires after 2026. But he is looking at the fall series as a blessing rather than a source of pressure.

“It’s a position I haven’t been in in a little while, but, yeah, I’m excited about it,” Kirk said. “These fall events we go to such cool places. You know, so if I look at my schedule of, obviously, it’s beautiful here in Asheville; St. George, Utah, is one of the prettiest places in the country, and then Bermuda, Mexico, Sea Island (Georgia). It’s just like, yeah, how can you not enjoy it?”

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AARON RAI CO-LEADER AT BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, RORY MCILROY 3 BACK

Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren shot rounds of 6-under-par 66 to share the first-day lead of the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, England, on Thursday.

The players faced questionable weather to start the day, with rain and wind, but Rai said it wasn’t a factor when his group of 2026 major champions – Rai (PGA Championship), Rory McIlroy (Masters Tournament) and Ryan Fox (The Open) – teed off.

Rai, a crowd favorite in his native England, and Lagergren, of Sweden, lead a packed leaderboard. They stand a stroke ahead of Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, Australian Adam Scott, Nacho Elvira of Spain and American Ryan Gerard.

At 4-under is a group of 12 players that includes Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, Fox, Viktor Hovland of Denmark and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.

“Really pleased overall. Conditions were pretty tricky. We had a lot of rain during that warm up. But by the time it started, the wind had stopped, so that helped to start really well,” said Rai, who had seven birdies and a bogey on the day.

“I felt like I got into the round fast and got a couple of birdies early on and continued to just play well throughout the round and keep the momentum going when I was out of position.

“So, yeah, really good. Really good start.”

Lagergren had an eagle, five birdies and a bogey on his way to 6-under but wasn’t fully happy with his performance.

“Scored really well today so I’m happy with that,” Lagergren said. “I feel like I wasn’t at my best today, if that’s OK to say after a minus-six, but I feel like I have still work to do.”

McIlroy, who is chasing Reed in the Race to Dubai, is well within striking distance of the leaders. He stands three strokes off the lead, one of 15 players to card a 69.

The native of Northern Ireland was 5-under through the first 11 holes, then struggled a bit as he said he had a few “loose” drives on the way in.

“It started to get a little tricky there at the end. Wind was gusty. But I played well,” McIlroy said. “I certainly saw some improvements on the greens compared to last week. So, yeah, it’s an encouraging start.”

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NASCAR NEWS

CHASE GETTING TIGHTER ENTERING BRISTOL NIGHT RACE

Look out, Denny Hamlin, you have company.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ leading active winner at Bristol Motor Speedway with four victories, Hamlin has been the points leader since Sonoma in late June and still has the 15 other competitors in this year’s chase behind him as they try to pass the 45-year-old Saturday night in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in Bristol, Tenn.

That group of 15 championship chasers has done everything but pass the Joe Gibbs Racing driver since the playoffs opened with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway two weeks ago.

In the regular-season finale at Daytona, where Hamlin had nothing to gain before NASCAR reset the points for the Chase, Hamlin finished 11th and carried no momentum into the postseason.

Back in mid-June, the 64-time race winner said it was important to at least reach No. 65 by the conclusion of the regular season because he did not want to be burdened with a 10-race winless skid rolling into the playoffs.

Yet here he is. And that streak is actually a dozen now, with his points lead now trimmed to single digits.

Following 18th- and ninth-place showings in the Chase, Hamlin said he felt fortunate as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the half-mile track in the border town of Bristol for a grinding 500 laps at a true bullring.

“For sure, a blessing,” Hamlin said after last week’s race at Gateway when asked if he was relieved to be sitting atop the standings. “(At Darlington), we had (a) good performance … but just circumstances. This week, we weren’t very good, tough day on pit road at the end. Being able to come out of it with something (was good), and the competition also helped.

“Got to be happy with it. I’m gonna be upset about it, but this is another blessing.”

Apparently, “it” means a nine-point lead over Kyle Larson, who broke a 51-race winless streak last week outside St. Louis. Christopher Bell is 18 points back in third place.

There could be more problems ahead for Hamlin, too.

Bell, who owns seven second-place finishes this season, showed he still knew how to seal the deal when he won his first race of the season in the Chase opener in South Carolina.

And who happens to be the defending Bristol Night Race champion?

That would be Bell, who fended off Brad Keselowski in a banner night for JGR. Teammate Ty Gibbs, the winner of the Spring Bristol race, led a race-high 201 laps one year ago under the lights in Thunder Valley, while stablemate Chase Briscoe topped 127 circuits.

As for Larson, if he is truly back to his winning ways, we may be changing “two-time Cup champ” to Mr. Three-Time. Plus, he has won two of the past four Bristol races and three overall.

His stretch of 51 consecutive races without a win almost seemed unfathomable for a title-winning driver strapping into a top-shelf Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, but NASCAR, like all  sports, is full of players and teams fraught with funks.

When Larson heats up and is reaching skyward to the flag stand for checkered flags, he has often dramatically gapped the competition and made events at exciting racetracks pretty dull.

Larson’s No. 5 and Bell’s No. 20 are objects in the rearview mirror of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.

And it’s crystal clear they’re much larger than they appear.

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TOP INDIANA PRESS RELEASES/HEADLINES

GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL SECTIONAL

18. Indianapolis Cathedral (11) | Maple Creek Golf Course

Thurs, 8 am ET | Results  

21. Northview (13) | Forest Park Golf Course

Thurs, 9 am ET | Results  

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Calvary Christian Eagles Join IndianaSRN Family of Networks for Sports Coverage

Indianapolis, Indiana — September 2026 — IndianaSRN is excited to welcome Calvary Christian School and the Eagles to the IndianaSRN family of networks. The partnership will provide Calvary Christian with expanded sports coverage and an opportunity to showcase its student-athletes, coaches, teams, and school community throughout Central Indiana and beyond.

IndianaSRN has been webcasting high school and college athletics for 20 seasons, covering more than 300 sporting events each year. Through its growing network of broadcasts and media partnerships, IndianaSRN continues to provide schools with professional sports coverage while helping communities celebrate their student-athletes.

“We are excited to welcome Calvary Christian and the Eagles to our family,” said Keith Meyers, Vice President of Operations for IndianaSRN. “This is a great opportunity for Calvary Christian. Their athletes and teams deserve the opportunity to be seen, heard, and celebrated by their school community, families, alumni, and fans. We are thankful to the athletic director and administration for their willingness to work with IndianaSRN and explore broadcasting select games.”

The partnership will give Calvary Christian the opportunity to have select games broadcast by IndianaSRN, featuring experienced announcers, production crews, and cameras bringing the action to viewers.

The broadcasts will provide more than just game coverage. They will create opportunities for Calvary Christian student-athletes to have their accomplishments highlighted while giving parents, grandparents, alumni, and supporters who cannot attend games a chance to follow the Eagles.

IndianaSRN expanding family of networks also creates opportunities for select games to reach audiences across Central Indiana and potentially viewers around the world.

“We believe great schools deserve great coverage,” Meyers added. “Great announcers, great teams, and great opportunities come together when we partner with schools like Calvary Christian. We are looking forward to telling the story of the Eagles and being part of their athletic community.”

IndianaSRN welcomes Calvary Christian and the Eagles and looks forward to working with the school’s athletic department, administration, coaches, athletes, families, and fans throughout the season.

Welcome to the IndianaSRN family, Calvary Christian Eagles!

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COLTS FOOTBALL

The Colts released their second injury report of the week on Thursday leading into a primetime matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night.

Three players who were limited or not participating Wednesday were back in a full capacity Thursday: linebacker Austin Ajiake, wide receiver Keenan Allen and quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr..

Similar to Wednesday, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee) were full participants.

Alec Pierce (heel) did not participate, after being listed as a full participant Wednesday. Wide receiver Ashton Dulin (ankle), running back D.J. Giddens (knee) and defensive tackle Grover Stewart (personal matter) also did not participate.

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner believes the Colts have responded well in practice to adjustments made on the heels of a 41-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens: https://www.colts.com/video/indianapolis-colts-jonathan-taylor-deforest-buckner-colts-vs-kansas-city-chiefs-week-2-media-availability-press-conference

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INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Connor Wietgrefe tossed 6.0 hitless innings and Nick Cimillo capped the scoring with a grand slam as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the Gwinnett Stripers, 15-0, on Thursday night at Gwinnett Field. Cimillo, Mitch Jebb and Enmanuel Valdez each logged three-hit performances.

Jhostynxon Garcia started off with an exclamation point in the first inning with a 412-foot three-run home run for a 3-0 Indianapolis (43-29, 74-73) lead. An RBI double from Valdez in the third frame extended it to 4-0 and Duce Gourson had a run-scoring knock in the fourth for a 5-0 advantage. Mike Jarvis made it 6-0 with a double in the fifth and Tyler Callihan followed him with a two-run homer for the seventh and eighth runs in the contest.

A seven-run sixth inning put away Gwinnett (36-36, 74-72). Gourson drew a one-out walk as the next five batters would reach base, capped by Cimillo’s slam.

Wietgrefe (W, 6-5) shined, striking out seven before giving way to CD Pelham (2.0ip) and Derek Diamond (1.0ip) to conclude the game. Drue Hackenberg (L, 2-3) allowed the first eight Indy runs across 5.0 frames and Ricky Vanasco gave up the remaining seven, pitching just 0.1 innings.

The six-game series between Indianapolis and Gwinnett continues on Friday night at 7:05 PM ET. LHP Nick Dombkowski (5-5, 6.04) is set to take the mound for Indy with RHP Cedric De Grandpre (1-3, 4.03) scheduled to start for the Stripers.

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INDIANA FOOTBALL

NO. 4 INDIANA WANTS TO FINETUNE OFFENSE, DEFENSE IN FINAL NON-CONFERENCE TUNEUP VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti won last year’s national championship by demanding his players keep finding ways to improve.

That may never change.

As the fourth-ranked Hoosiers chase a second straight title, the two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year looks at the two 50-plus point games his offense has strung together and the two routs his defense authored and Cignetti expects even better results Saturday when they close out the non-conference schedule against Western Kentucky (0-2).

“The goal is to continue to make ’em struggle defensively,” Cignetti said of the winless Hilltoppers. “They’ve given up some points, 280 yards rushing a game. But it’s always about preparation for the opponent. It’s still this week more about us and tightening some things up, and in some ways we’re learning still about what we can do best before we go to Big Ten play.”

The Hoosiers (2-0) have left little to the imagination.

They have the FBS’ longest active winning streak (18), the longest active home winning streak (17), another top 10 scoring offense at 53.5 points per game, and another suffocating defense that has allowed only 16 points in two games with one shutout.

Quarterback Josh Hoover has thrown for as many touchdowns (eight) as he has incompletions, and he still has no turnovers, cleaning up the one glaring flaw from his three seasons at TCU. Charlie Becker has just seven catches but five have gone for TDs, putting him in a tie for the Football Bowl Subdivision lead. Meanwhile, running backs Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. have the ground game in sync even with the loss of injured Khobie Martin.

Just keeping pace with all of it will be a daunting task for Western Kentucky.

“We’ve had two losses that were really, points wise, we were out of it, and I’d like to be in it,” coach Tyson Helton said. “No matter what the outcome is, I’d like to be in it and I’d like to be in it in the second half and saying ‘Hey, we’ve got a chance here. That’s a tremendous challenge against the defending national champions, but you play to win and I want to be in the second half competing to see if we can go win.”

Just keeping pace with all of it will be a daunting task for Western Kentucky.

“We’ve had two losses that were really, points wise, we were out of it, and I’d like to be in it,” coach Tyson Helton said. “No matter what the outcome is, I’d like to be in it and I’d like to be in it in the second half and saying ‘Hey, we’ve got a chance here. That’s a tremendous challenge against the defending national champions, but you play to win and I want to be in the second half competing to see if we can go win.”

Since 2024, Indiana has scored 50 or more points 13 times and they have seven victory margins by 50 or more — three more than any other FBS team. But Cignetti, the perfectionist, still believes his team can do more.

“We still have nine or 10 plays that are negatives, negative plays, that we need to eliminate before we start Big Ten play,” Cignetti said, referring to last week’s victory over Howard.

Helton doesn’t expect anything less.

“If I’m them, I’m trying to squash the heck out of us,” he said. “But our goal is to be in it — if we can be in it.”

Tough start

Western Kentucky has posted five straight eight-win seasons and owns eight bowl wins during the College Football Playoff era. But this year has not started well. They struggled at Nevada in the opener and after facing No. 2 Georgia last week now face the defending champs.

“Their head coach is one of the best in the business,” Helton said. “He knows what he wants, he knows what the blueprint to winning is. He knows the personnel he needs to win. His coordinators have been with him for a while. They get their players to play at a high level, they don’t make mistakes, they don’t make mental errors, they play really good situational football and they’re always in the right places, doing the right things.”

Using both quarterbacks against Indiana

Quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. started each of Western Kentucky’s first two games but was relieved in the first half against Georgia by Brock Glenn after the Bulldogs took a 49-0 lead. Glenn ran for two scores and threw for another in the 70-20 loss. Who will play?

“Both will probably play, we’ve done that the first two games,” Helton said. “Both guys got dinged up a little bit, not bad at all. Both of them will be ready to play. Rodney should be fine. He’ll be 100% ready to go, Brock will be 100% ready to go.”

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INDIANA ATHLETICS

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana — Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson announced today that IU Athletics will welcome six new members to its Athletics Hall of Fame. The six individuals comprise the 41st class, bringing the roster of inductees to 267. 

Terry Cole (Football, 1965-67), Jared Jeffries (Men’s Basketball, 2001-02), Irina Kharun (Women’s Track and Field, 2001-03; Women’s Tennis, 2001), Bev Ramser (Women’s Tennis, 1979-82), Kyle Schwarber (Baseball, 2012-14), and Ken Snow (Men’s Soccer, 1987-90) will be officially inducted at the annual Hall of Fame dinner on Nov. 13, and will be recognized at halftime of the Indiana-USC football game at Memorial Stadium the following day.

“We are thrilled to welcome these six remarkable individuals and congratulate them and their families on this prestigious honor,” Dolson said. “What makes this particular group so extraordinary is that beyond their immense individual accomplishments, every single member of this class played an integral role in winning championships—whether that was capturing national team titles or Big Ten team crowns. That legacy of team success is something that we are extremely proud of at Indiana University.”

The IU Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1982 by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in conjunction with the Varsity Club and the I-Association, recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the prestige of IU both on and off the field of competition. 

Terry Cole (Football, 1965-67)

A championship player at IU and in the NFL, Terry Cole played for legendary IU Coach John Pont from 1965-67. He led the Hoosiers in rushing as a sophomore in 1965 and was a critical part of a Hall of Fame IU backfield during each of the next two seasons. He’s best remembered by IU fans for his final regular-season game in 1967, when he rushed for 157 yards on 15 carries to help IU to a 19-14 win over Purdue and the program’s first-ever Rose Bowl appearance as the Big Ten co-champion. Cole’s performance against Purdue included a 63-yard touchdown run and another 42-yard burst that set up a crucial score. After completing his collegiate career, Cole was drafted and played in the NFL for six seasons from 1968 to 1973 with the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Miami Dolphins. He finished as the runner-up for the NFL Rookie of the Year award in 1968 and appeared in three Super Bowls, including two victories with Baltimore in 1969 and Miami in 1972. Cole passed away in 2005.

Jared Jeffries (Men’s Basketball, 2001-02)

Jared Jeffries is one of the most dynamic players in IU Men’s Basketball history. In his first season with IU under first-year coach Mike Davis, the Bloomington, Ind., native earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 13.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while leading IU to a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. As a sophomore, Jeffries was even better, winning Big Ten Most Valuable Player recognition and second-team All-America honors after averaging 15.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He led the 2002 Hoosiers to a Big Ten co-championship and a memorable run to the 2002 NCAA Tournament national championship game. Following that NCAA runner-up season, Jeffries entered the NBA Draft and was selected 11th overall by the Washington Wizards. He went on to enjoy an 11-year career in the NBA across four different franchises, compiling career averages of 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds before officially retiring from professional basketball in 2013.

Irina Kharun (Women’s Track and Field, 2001-03; Women’s Tennis, 2001)

Irina Kharun started her IU career as a member of both the Track and Field and Women’s Tennis programs, but the native of Kharkiv, Ukraine, quickly turned her attention to track, where she remains one of the most decorated athletes in program history. She captured the NCAA title in the javelin in 2003 with an NCAA and collegiate record throw of 61.82m (202-10), a mark that stood for 17 years. She also remains one of only two IU female student-athletes to win an NCAA Outdoor Championship title alongside fellow Hall of Famer Katrin Koch. Kharun had three top-10 NCAA finishes in the javelin and secured Big Ten titles in the event in 2001 and 2003. Her successes extended to the international stage as well, as she earned a silver medal as the runner-up at the European U-23 Championships in the javelin in 2003.

Bev Ramser (Women’s Tennis, 1979-82)

Bev Ramser is one of the most accomplished players in IU Women’s Tennis history. A member of Hall of Fame coach Lin Loring’s historic first recruiting class alongside Tina McCall and Kelly Ferguson, Ramser immediately starred on the national stage, earning All-America honors in both singles and doubles as a freshman and advancing to the AIAW doubles semifinals in 1979 with Ferguson. She continued her dominance during her next three years and earned All-Big Ten recognition in 1981 and 1982. Ramser compiled phenomenal career records of 102-31 in singles and 109-25 in doubles. Her storied collegiate career included Big Ten team titles in 1980, 1981, and 1982, and culminated with the ultimate team achievement when she helped lead the Hoosiers to the 1982 AIAW National Championship.

Kyle Schwarber (Baseball, 2012-14)

The most accomplished college and professional baseball player in IU history, Kyle Schwarber was a two-time First-Team All-American during his three years in Bloomington. He concluded his IU career among the program’s all-time leaders in slugging (.607), home runs (40), hits (238), and runs (182) while batting .341 in 180 games. He was the anchor of an IU program that won two Big Ten regular season and postseason tournament titles during his three seasons and advanced to the 2013 College World Series for the first time in program history. In 2014, Schwarber was drafted fourth overall in the MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs and has gone on to tremendous success during an 11-plus year career that has included stints with the Cubs (2015-20), Washington (2021), Boston (2021), and Philadelphia (2022-present). His teams have advanced to the playoffs 10 times, highlighted by the Cubs’ 2016 World Series Championship. He led the National League in home runs in both 2022 (46) and 2025 (56), and is a four-time All-Star (2021, 2022, 2025, and 2026).

Ken Snow (Men’s Soccer, 1987-90)

Ken Snow is the most decorated player in the history of Indiana University’s most historically successful program. Starring for Hall of Fame Coach Jerry Yeagley from 1987-90, Snow is the program’s only four-time first-team All-American and its only two-time national player of the year. As a freshman in 1987, he set a new program record with 28 goals, a mark that still stands 39 years later. As a sophomore, he scored 22 goals, won his first Hermann Trophy Award as the National Player of the Year, and led IU to the program’s third NCAA Championship. Snow scored 18 goals in 1989 and another 16 in 1990, a season that saw him claim his second Hermann Trophy award. Snow concluded his IU career with 84 goals in 87 career matches, and he remains the program’s all-time leader in goals and points (196). His 84 goals also rank sixth in NCAA soccer history. Over his four seasons, IU went 71-12-7 and advanced to two College Cups to go along with the 1988 NCAA Championship title. Ken passed away in 2020.

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INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The unbeaten, No. 2-ranked Indiana men’s soccer team hosts the No. 16 Washington Huskies Friday (Sept. 18) night in its Big Ten home opener.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and tickets are on sale here. IU staff, faculty and students get in free with a valid Crimson Card ID. Fans unable to attend can watch the match via the B1G+ digital platform.

The first 250 fans in attendance will receive an Indiana Soccer x Little 500 collaboration scarf. Additionally, guests who show their ticket for this weekend’s Indiana football game will receive a $5 ticket.

KICKING OFF

• At 6-0-1, the Hoosiers are off to their best start since 1997 (7-0-0).

• Three points are up for grabs between reigning national champion Washington and eight-time title-winner Indiana. Both teams won their Big Ten openers. The Hoosiers kicked off conference play with a gritty 1-0 victory at Michigan, highlighted by Stephane Njike’s winning goal and Michal Mroz’s tremendous save.

• The result marked Indiana’s fourth clean sheet in seven matches. The Hoosiers have held opponents to three goals (0.43 goals against average) – only one from open play – and have yet to allow multiple goals in a match.

• IU has dominated its home matches, winning its first five on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium. In those games, the Hoosiers have outscored opponents 12-2 and recorded three clean sheets.

ABOUT THE HUSKIES

• At 4-2-1, Washington’s highest ranking in the national polls comes from College Soccer News at No. 16. The Huskies also rank No. 24 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll but have not returned to the United Soccer Coaches Top 25.

• Washington ranks tied-for-sixth nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 3.1 goals per game, while allowing 1.7 goals per game.  

• Indiana’s back line will have its hands full between the nation’s leading goalscorer in Zach Ramsey (11 goals) and midfielder Alex Hall (2 goals, 4 assists).

• Head coach Jamie Clark leads Washington in his 16th season with the program, owning a 194-74-42 record during his time in Seattle. Clark has a 233-89-45 career record over 19 seasons as a head coach. He was the Top Drawer Soccer Coach of the Year last season.

• Washington won its first men’s soccer national title last year with a 3-2, overtime victory against NC State. The Huskies finished the 2025 season with a 16-6-2 record and finished second in the Big Ten with a 7-3-0 league mark.

SERIES HISTORY

• Friday’s match between Indiana and Washington marks the fifth time the teams have met in the regular season – the remaining four all took place in the NCAA Tournament.

• That includes the 1999 NCAA Tournament Second Round, when Jerry Yeagley’s Hoosiers defeated Washington 2-0 on the road to their second straight national title and No. 5 of eight overall.

• Current IU head coach Todd Yeagley participated in the first matchup in 1992, another 2-0 tournament second round victory for the Hoosiers.

• The series is so far a tale of two decades. Since IU won four straight to kick things off between 1992-2001, the Hoosiers have struck out in four meetings in the 2020’s. With Washington now a conference rival, the Hoosiers have plenty of opportunities to right that ship.

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PURDUE VOLLEYBALL

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers (6-2) opened up the 2026 Stacey Clark Classic with a 3-0 sweep over the UAlbany Great Danes (3-7) in Holloway Gymnasium (25-17, 25-11, 25-21). 

With the win, Purdue extended its winning streak to four straight matches without dropping a single set (12 straight).

The Boilermaker offense was rolling in the first set, hitting .400 as a team on only two attack errors. The squad finished the night hitting .353 which included 10 Boilermakers with one attack error or less and five with zero attack errors. 

Grace Heaney notched an errorless night with 11 kills on 18 total attacks and hitting .611, marking the eighth errorless offensive performance in her career, and the fifth while reaching at least 10 kills. Meanwhile, her performance was complimented by a career-high-tying three service aces, four block assists and five digs. 

Taylor Anderson eclipsed Mary Fischl (1977-80) and All-American Ashley Evans (2014-17) in Purdue’s career top-10 assists list. She now sits at No. 7 all-time in career assists for Purdue with 4,139 after recording 31 tonight. 

Kate Hansen added to the offensive power for the Boilers, hitting at a .429 clip with 7 kills. 

Freshman defensive specialists MaryKate Scheumann and Elle Schara combined for 20 total digs in the match, both with 10 each. 

The Boilermakers posted as high of a 91% sideout in set two. The squad held the Great Danes to a .127 hitting % – the fourth time this season Purdue’s held its opponent to under .185%.

UP NEXT

The No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers will look to extend their current four-match winning streak on Saturday against the UCF Knights at 1 p.m. ET on B1G+. This will be the final match of the 2026 Stacey Clark Classic that features the Purdue Boilermakers, UAlbany Great Danes, and the UCF Knights.

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PURDUE CROSS COUNTRY

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Cross Country is set for its first meet of the season on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the John McNicholas Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana. The women’s 6k starts at 8:30 a.m. ET, while the men’s 8k follows at 9:05 a.m. ET.

The Boilers were originally scheduled to begin the season on Sept. 4 at the Winrow Valparaiso Open but the meet was canceled due to the heat index.

Men’s Notes

• The men’s program consists of six returners and four newcomers, including three freshmen.

• Douglas Buckeridge leads the group as a three-time Great Lakes All-Region honoree and was First Team All-Big Ten last season after he finished seventh. Buckeridge is one year removed from his 2024 campaign that featured a runner-up finish in the Great Lakes Region and 43rd-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

• Nerius White returns after he ended last season 43rd in the Great Lakes Region. The finish was 35 places higher than the previous season in 2024.

• Hugh Jacobsmeyer will look to make an impact on the cross country course after he put together one of the best mid-distance campaigns in school history on the track last season. He set school records in both the indoor and outdoor 800m and added another record in the 1500m outdoors. The junior competed in his first cross country season as a Boilermaker last year and took part in four meets.

• Freshmen on the roster looking ahead to their collegiate debut are Thomas Czerwinski, Riley Simmonds and Jace Works.

Women’s Notes

• The women’s program consists of nine returners, one transfer and one freshman.

• Lauren Pegher is atop the group as Purdue’s Big Ten Cross Country Athlete to Watch. After she ended last season in the top 100 at the Great Lakes Regional, Pegher put together a strong indoor season with top five program marks in both the 3000m and 5000m.

• Julia Economou returns for her senior season after finishing in the top 100 last season at the Big Ten Championships.

• Purdue went into the transfer portal and added Sawyer DeWitt to the program from Indiana State. She finished 17th at the Missouri Valley Championships last season and was 73rd at the Great Lakes Regional.

• Nora Gerzema is the lone Boilermaker on the women’s side looking ahead to her collegiate debut.

Next Up

Purdue heads to Chicago for the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Friday, Sept. 25.

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PURDUE WOMEN’S GOLF

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After starting the 2026-27 season at home, Purdue Women’s Golf hits the road for the first time by traveling to Nashville for the Mason Rudolph Championship, hosted by Vanderbilt (Sept. 18-20). The Boilermakers join 14 other teams to play 54 holes over three days at the Vanderbilt Legends Club.  

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Sept. 18: Round 1 (Tee Times beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET)

Saturday, Sept. 19: Round 2 (Tee Times beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET)

Sunday, Sept. 20: Round 3 (Tee Times beginning at 9 a.m. ET)

THE LINEUP

Lauren Timpf – Jr.

B1G Preseason Player to Watch

Playing in her 27th tournament as a Boilermaker, holding a 74.36 career stroke average

Led Purdue at the season-opening Boilermaker Classic, making a field-best 16 birdies and placing ninth at 2-over (72-75-71—218) for her fourth career Top 10 performance; also ranked fourth in the field in par-4 scoring (-1)

Ended the 2025-26 season ranked No. 151 in the nation

Recorded a 73.00 stroke average a season ago, ranking second on the team

Named to the 2026 Big Ten All-Championships Team after tying for fifth 74-67-72—213); her 67 (-3) in the second round was a career low

Last season, led Purdue in pars (416), while ranking second in stroke average (73.00), team-low round (13), rounds in the 60s (3) and Top 20 finishes (7)

Her second-place performance at the Boilermaker Spring Classic (71-70-73—214) was a career best and the best finish by an individual Boilermaker throughout the 2025-26 season; played the par 5s 5-under, ranking third in the 94-player field

Two-time WGCA All-American Scholar and 2026 Academic All-Big Ten

Samantha Brown – Jr.

B1G Preseason Player to Watch

Playing in her team-leading 29th tournament, holding a career 74.25 stroke average

At the Boilermaker Classic, led the field in par-3 scoring (-2); recorded her team-leading 11th career individual Top 20 showing by tying for 16th (71-74-76—221)

Second Team All-Big Ten as a sophomore, ending the season at No. 130 in the national rankings

Paced Purdue with a 72.69 stroke average, as well as team-low rounds (17), birdies (108) and Top 10 finishes (5)

Tied the single-season school record with six rounds in the 60s

Nineteen of her 36 rounds were par-or-better, the third most by a Boilermaker in a single season

Became Big Ten Golfer of the week after guiding Purdue to a victory at the 2025 Coach Mo Classic; tied for third with a 3-under 213 (75-66-72) for her best finish as a Boilermaker and her lowest 54-hole total

Two-time WGCA All-American Scholar and 2026 Academic All-Big Ten

Olivia Hemmila – Sr.

Making her second appearance as a Boilermaker after spending the past three years at Oakland

In her Purdue debut, tied for 30th at the Boilermaker Classic (74-79-73—226)

2026 Horizon League All-League First Team

Played in all 11 tournaments a season ago, recording a 76.58 stroke average

Led Oakland to its third straight Horizon League Championships, tying for fourth individually (75-74-82—231) and earning a spot on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team

Claimed medalist honors and led the team to victory at the NKU Julie Invitational (70-74-77—221); named Horizon League Golfer of the Week

Fired a 3-under 68 in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Ann Arbor Regional

2026 WGCA All-American Scholar and Horizon League All-Academic Team

Ashley Kim – Sr.

B1G Preseason Player to Watch

Making her 15th appearance as a Boilermaker, all in the lineup

Her 74.13 career stroke average is the best among all active Boilermakers

Cracked the lineup for all 13 tournaments a season ago, recording a 73.89 stroke average to rank third on the team

Ranked second on the team in birdies (102) and third in Top 20 finishes (6)

Led Purdue at the 2025 Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, tying for 14th (71-73-71—215)

Tied for fifth at last year’s Wolverine Invitational with a 216 (75-70-71), which included a second round 70 (-1); ranked third in the field in par-5 scoring (-2)

Transferred to Purdue after spending two years at Arkansas State and becoming one of the best golfers in program history

2026 Academic All-Big Ten

Luana Valero – So.

Making her 15th appearance after cracking the lineup in all 13 tournaments as a freshman

2026 Big Ten All-Freshman and three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week

Her 74.00 stroke average was the fourth best by a freshman in program history

Recorded three rounds in the 60s and three Top 10 finishes, ranking third and fifth, respectively, by a freshman in Purdue history

Guided Purdue to a third-place finish, while placing fourth (personal best) on the individual leaderboard, at the 2026 Big Ten Championships (67-69-74—210) to earn a spot on the all-championships team; paced the B1G field with 12 birdies, while ranking second in par-4 scoring (-1) throughout the week

Her three-day total of 210 (67-69-74) at the B1G Championships was the second-lowest 54-hole tally by a Boilermaker competing in the conference tournament, as well as the lowest of her career; the opening round 67 (-3) was a personal best

Led the team with four eagles a season ago

Michaela Headlee – Jr.

Playing in her 18th tournament as a Boilermaker, second of the season

Recorded a 76.19 stroke average a season ago, appearing in 10 tournaments that included five in the lineup

Placed ninth at the Boilermaker Spring Classic with a career-low 218 (73-72-73) for her first career Top 10 performance; played the par 5s 5-under to rank third in the field, while ranking fourth in the field with 10 birdies throughout the tournament

Competing as an individual, fired a season-low 72 (E) in the final round of the 2026 Coach Mo Classic

Competed as an individual at the 2026 Purdue Puerto Rico Classic and carded a 6-over 222 (76-73-73)

Featuring in the lineup for the first time in her career, tied for 42nd (75-79-74—228) at the 2025 Boilermaker Classic

2026 Academic All-Big Ten

THE FIELD

Arizona State

College of Charleston

Clemson

Florida

FAU

Georgia Southern

Long Beach State

Louisville

Middle Tennessee

Mississippi State

North Carolina

Northwestern

Purdue 

Vanderbilt (Host)

Western Kentucky

THE COURSE

The Vanderbilt Legends Club, designed by Bob Cupp and Tom Kite, has two 36-hole courses and opened in 1992.

The Mason Rudolph Championship will be contested on the South Course, a par-71 course that will measure 6,390 yards for the tournament.

Purdue finished runner-up in the 2010 event.

LAST TIME OUT

Purdue carded an 8-over 296 during the final round of the Boilermaker Classic to leapfrog Indiana and North Florida and finish in fourth place behind a trio of preseason Top 25 teams.

Lauren Timpf fired a 1-under 71 in the final round to soar into the Top 10 of the individual leaderboard. With the help of 16 birdies through 54 holes, more than anyone else in the 93-player field, the junior placed ninth at 2-over (72-75-71—218) for her fourth career Top 10 performance. She also ranked fourth in the field in par-4 scoring, playing those holes 1-under par.

Samantha Brown recorded her team-leading 11th career individual Top 20 showing, tying for 16th (+5). She paced Purdue through the first two rounds. Throughout the tournament, Brown went 2-under on the par 3s to lead the field in par-3 scoring.

Senior transfer Olivia Hemmila played her best golf as a Boilermaker by shooting a final round 73 (+1). The Troy, Michigan, native finished strong by going 2-under on her final five holes without committing a bogey. That included a birdie at the par-3 fifth, her last hole of the tournament.

THE SQUAD

Purdue returns a veteran squad for the 2026-27 campaign. Seven Boilermakers played in at least nine tournaments a season ago, including four that competed in all 13 events.

The returning cast includes All-Big Ten golfer Samantha Brown, who tied a school record with six rounds in the 60s last year, as well as a pair of Big Ten All-Championships Team honorees in Lauren Timpf and Luana Valero.

Valero was also Big Ten All-Freshman after one of the best freshman seasons in program history.     

Two newcomers join the team in senior Olivia Hemmila and freshman Ariana Urrea. Hemmila made the move to West Lafayette after three seasons at Oakland where she earned All-Horizon League First Team honors. Urrea is the lone freshman Boilermaker, playing high school golf in Florida and hailing from Peru.

WINNING WITH BYRD AND GUIAO

Purdue Women’s Golf is in its fifth season under the leadership of head coach Zack Byrd and assistant coach Lauren Guiao. Over the past four years, the dynamic duo has brought the winning tradition back to West Lafayette.

Purdue has won six tournaments under Byrd and Guiao, the most in a four-year span since winning six from 2011-14. The Boilermakers have won at least one tournament in four straight seasons for the first time since a streak of nine consecutive years from 2006-14.

The Boilermakers defended their title at the 2026 Coach Mo Classic, the 17th tournament that the program has won multiple times.

After starting off the 2024-25 season with a win at the Boilermaker Classic, a victory at the Coach Mo Classic gave the Boilermakers multiple tournament wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since a six-year stretch from the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2011.

Purdue has also claimed victories at the 2023 Boilermaker Classic, the 2023 Tulane Classic and the 2023 Mary Fossum Invitational with Byrd at the helm.

The Boilers collected just one tournament title in the five seasons prior to Byrd’s arrival.

NEXT ON THE TEE

Next weekend, the Boilermakers travel north for the Fighting Irish Classic in South Bend, Indiana (Sept. 26-27).

THE REST OF THE SCHEDULE

Kicking off the month of October, Purdue returns to the Windy City Collegiate Classic (Oct. 5-6) as three-time tournament champions (2008, 2009, 2010). The Boilermakers conclude the fall by going to Texas for the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate (Oct. 19-21), which will be broadcast live on Golf Channel.

Flipping the calendar to 2027, the Boilermakers serve as hosts of the Golf Reservation Center Dominican Republic Classic in Punta Cana (Jan. 31-Feb. 2). The tournament replaces the annual Purdue Puerto Rico Classic, as the Boilermakers welcome teams to Cocotal Country Club for the international event.

Purdue returns to two more tournaments that were on the schedule the past three seasons, both in the state of Florida. The Boilermakers tee it up at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational in Sarasota (Feb. 14-15) and the Coach Mo Classic in St. Augustine (March 29-30) as the reigning two-time defending champions. Nestled in between the two events is the Puerto Vallarta Invitational in Mexico (March 19-21).

Serving as the final tune-up before the conference championship, Purdue returns to West Lafayette for the Boilermaker Spring Classic. The spring tournament will take place on the other BBGC Pete Dye course, Ackerman-Allen (April 11-12).

After venturing more than 2,000 miles west for last year’s conference tournament, Purdue travels east for the 2026 Big Ten Championships at the prestigious Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania (April 23-25). Last year, the Boilermakers placed third at B1G Championships for their best conference finish since 2019.

Rounding out the schedule, the Boilermakers plan to hear their names called for postseason play in one of six NCAA Regionals (May 10-12) with sights set on a return to the NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, California (May 21-26).

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NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

NO. 3 NOTRE DAME AND MICHIGAN ST. READY TO REVIVE THEIR HISTORIC RIVALRY AFTER NEARLY A DECADE OFF

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — No. 3 Notre Dame and Michigan State have a storied rivalry without a recent chapter.

That changes Saturday.

For the first time since 2017, the Fighting Irish and Spartans (2-0) will square off in the Battle for the Megaphone — a rivalry that once was a featured annual attraction because of its national championship implications. New Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald would like to keep this game on future schedules, too.

“Not to play this game every year, it just stinks, I think for both fan bases and both teams,” he said. “It’s one of the great, storied traditions and rivalries in college football. Scheduling is a pain in the neck for everybody, but it’s always great to have your rivalry games on the schedule.”

Irish coach Marcus Freeman also has said publicly he prefers to keep rivalry games on the schedule, though Notre Dame’s five-game tie-in to the ACC has made it more difficult.

The result: Southern California fell off the docket this year for the first time in a non-COVID year since 1946; Notre Dame and Michigan haven’t met since 2019 after playing almost every year starting in 1978; and Purdue dropped in 2015 after playing the Irish annually from 1996-2014. The Boilermakers and Notre Dame resumed their in-state rivalry in 2021 and will meet next week for the third straight year following another three-year hiatus.

Notre Dame’s rivalry with the Spartans has included some dandies. The 1966 game between the nation’s top two teams ended in a 10-10 tie at East Lansing, Michigan, a game dubbed “The Game of the Century.”

While this game won’t come with that hype, Freeman understands the Irish (2-0) must play well to avoid another September loss at home.

“They’re physical, tough,” Freeman said. “They play hard. They don’t mess up. They don’t beat themselves. It’s obvious they have Pat Fitzgerald’s DNA written all over them. They’re going to be a good challenge for us.”

Notre Dame leads the rivalry 49-29-1, but Michigan State won 11 of the previous 19 meetings and won six straight road games in the series, a Notre Dame Stadium record for an opponent.

They will meet again in 2027, but Fitzgerald would like this game to be on the Spartans’ schedule every year.

“I’m honored to be a part of college football, I’m honored to be part of rivalries,” Fitzgerald said. “This is one of the storied rivalries in college football, one that dates back all the way to 1897. Notre Dame Stadium is one of the cathedrals of college football. It’s got a great pageantry, great atmosphere, so it’s great to always be a part of those types of games.”

Fond memories

Fitzgerald has special memories of playing and coaching at Notre Dame Stadium.

He played on the 1995 Northwestern team that upset No. 9 Notre Dame 17-15, a victory that propelled the Wildcats to end a 23-year streak of losing seasons by winning the Big Ten and going to the Rose Bowl. As the Northwestern coach in 2014, his team won 43-40 in overtime.

Tough D

NFL scouts are salivating over two Irish potential first-round draft picks, cornerback Leonard Moore and safety Adon Shuler. Fitzgerald, a former linebacker understands why.

“Their defense is physical and violent at each level. They’ve got a first-round corner, potentially the first pick overall, they’ve got talent everywhere,” Fitzgerald said. “I mean Moore’s going to be, he might be the first pick overall. It doesn’t take long for you to see Schuler (on tape).”

By the numbers

Notre Dame is averaging 46.5 points a game, led by quarterback CJ Carr, who is completing 71.4% of his throws and is within two games of matching Brady Quinn’s school record of 16 consecutive games with a TD pass. Defensively, the Irish limited Rice to 128 total yards, their lowest single-game total since 2008 when Washington had 124.

Michigan State running back Cam Edwards leads the Big Ten in rushing and is fifth in the nation, averaging 125 yards per game. He has run for three scores on 27 carries and is fourth among FBS active rushers with 2,940 yards in his career. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has thrown for 417 yards and three scores with no interceptions.

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NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The 2026-27 Notre Dame women’s basketball schedule is here, and there are numerous marquee matchups, including non-conference dates with UConn and Vanderbilt, and an ACC schedule with 10 games against nine opponents that made the 2026 NCAA Tournament, a conference record. 

After an Oct. 26 exhibition against Truman State, Notre Dame will travel to Rome for the Eternal City Tip-Off against Villanova. The first-of-its-kind double-header will feature both Irish basketball teams, and the women’s game will air on FS1 at noon ET following the men’s contest. 

Once back on American soil, Notre Dame will host first-time opponent Stonehill (Nov. 6) and former Midwest Collegiate Conference foe Detroit Mercy (Nov. 10). Another game will be announced for Nov. 14, and then the Irish will host first-time opponent Southern on Nov. 18 before for a Thanksgiving trip to Paradise Island, Bahamas. 

At the fifth annual Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, Notre Dame will play Davidson (Nov. 24) and West Virginia (Nov. 26). The Mountaineers have made four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and won the 2026 Big 12 Tournament. 

Up next, Notre Dame has a 2026 NCAA Tournament rematch, as the team heads to Nashville to play Vanderbilt as part of the 2026 SEC/ACC Challenge. Notre Dame won the contest against the Commodores in March, 67-64, to earn the program’s first Elite Eight berth under Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Women’s Basketball Coach Niele Ivey.

Notre Dame plays its first ACC game in early December, hosting Florida State on Dec. 6. The Irish also opened last year’s ACC slate against the Seminoles, winning in Tallahassee, 93-58. Notre Dame enters 2026-27 ACC play without any losing records to conference foes, including relative newcomers Cal, SMU and Stanford. 

A pair of home games follow, as Notre Dame hosts rival UConn on Dec. 9 and welcomes Bowling Green to Purcell Pavilion on Dec. 13. The Irish have won three of their last five games against the Huskies. 

After fall semester exams, Notre Dame will play in the 2026 Players Era Showcase in Las Vegas against Southern Cal (Dec. 19) and South Carolina (Dec. 20). It will be the third consecutive season that the Irish face the Trojans, and the matchup will pit two of women’s basketball top players — Hannah Hidalgo and JuJu Watkins — against each other for the second time in their careers. 

Following the Christmas holiday, Notre Dame will close out 2026 with a contest at Pitt on Dec. 28 and against Cal on Dec. 31.

The first two games of 2027 will be at Miami (Jan. 3) and at Virginia Tech (Jan. 7) before Duke (Jan. 10) and Georgia Tech (Jan. 14) return to South Bend. Three consecutive road games follow with Syracuse (Jan. 17) and Louisville (Jan. 21) before a bye week and a contest at North Carolina (Jan. 28). 

Notre Dame will close out January at home against Stanford (Jan. 31) and open February with SMU at home as well (Feb. 4). The Irish are a perfect 4-0 against the Cardinal and Mustangs since they joined the ACC in 2024-25.

A date at Clemson (Feb. 7) separates the Irish from another pair of home games, this time against Virginia (Feb. 11) and Wake Forest (Feb. 14). To date, Notre Dame has not lost to Wake Forest; the Irish are a perfect 14-0 against the Demon Deacons.

A final road swing for the regular season starts in Raleigh at NC State (Feb. 18) and ends in Chestnut Hill with Boston College (Feb. 21). The Irish have beaten Boston College seven consecutive times. 

Notre Dame will close out the regular season against its only two-time opponent of the ACC schedule, Louisville (Feb. 28). The Irish ended the regular season last year in opponent territory, downing No. 10 Louisville, 65-62. 

Series Records

*Indicates ACC opponent

Villanova — Irish lead 20-10 // Last Meeting: March 18, 2018

Stonehill — First Meeting

Detroit Mercy — Irish lead 22-2 // Last Meeting: Feb. 25, 1995

Southern — First Meeting

Davidson — Irish lead 1-0 // Last Meeting: Jan. 4, 1981

West Virginia — Irish lead 19-3 // Last Meeting: March 5, 2012

Vanderbilt — Irish lead 5-1 // Last Meeting: March 27, 2026

*Florida State — Irish lead 14-2 // Last Meeting: Dec. 7, 2025

Connecticut — Huskies lead 41-16 // Last Meeting: March 29, 2026

Bowling Green — Irish lead 4-0 // Last Meeting: Dec. 5, 2007

Southern Cal — Irish lead 10-2 // Last Meeting: Nov. 21, 2025

South Carolina — Series tied 3-3 // Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2023

*Pittsburgh — Irish lead 38-4 // Last Meeting: Dec. 29, 2025

*California — Irish lead 5-1 // Last Meeting: Jan. 29, 2026

*Miami — Irish lead 28-6 // Last Meeting: March 5, 2026

*Virginia Tech — Irish lead 19-2 // Last Meeting: Feb. 5, 2026

*Duke — Irish lead 19-7 // Last Meeting: March 7, 2026

*Georgia Tech — Irish lead 19-2 // Last Meeting: Jan. 1, 2026

*Syracuse — Irish lead 41-6 // Last Meeting: Feb. 26, 2026

*Louisville — Irish lead 23-15 // Last Meeting: March 1, 2026

*North Carolina — Irish lead 12-5 // Last Meeting: Jan. 11, 2026

*Stanford — Irish lead 4-4 // Last Meeting: Feb. 1, 2026

*SMU — Irish lead 4-1 // Feb. 22, 2026

*Clemson — Irish lead 10-4 // Last Meeting: Jan. 25, 2026

*Virginia — Irish lead 11-4 // Last Meeting: Feb. 8, 2026

*Wake Forest — Irish lead 14-0 // Last Meeting: Feb. 19, 2026

*NC State — Irish lead 12-6 // Last Meeting: March 6, 2026

*Boston College — Irish lead 32-9 // Last Meeting: Jan. 8, 2026

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NOTRE DAME XC

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame Cross Country team is hosting the 2026 National Catholic Invitational on Friday, September 18.

The National Catholic Invitational was previously called the National Catholic Championship. The first race took place in 1980 on the men’s side, while the first women’s race took place in 1984. The race takes place on the Burke Golf Course on the southwest side of campus.

Race Times:

11:00 a.m. ET – Women’s 5,000m Race

11:40 a.m. ET – Men’s 8,000m Race

Competing Teams: Bellarmine, Calumet-St. Joseph, Canisius, DePaul, Detroit Mercy, Duquesne, Lewis, Loras, Madonna, Mount Mercy, Mount St. Joseph, Niagara, Notre Dame, Spalding, St. Francis (Ill.), St. Norbert and Thomas More.

The Notre Dame Running Club will also be participating.

Live Results: https://live.enduranceracetiming.com/meets/77611 

Course Location – Burke Golf Course | 46 Dorr Road | Notre Dame, IN 46556

Course Maps

Parking – Dorr Road Parking Lots on the north side of Burke Golf Course

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NOTRE DAME BASEBALL

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball program will host Indiana in Downtown South Bend this fall in a special exhibition game at Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, on Friday, October 9th.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

General admission tickets are $10 plus ticketing fees, with proceeds benefiting Beacon Children’s Hospital. Tickets go on sale Monday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Concession stands will be open throughout the game, along with the Miller Lite Tiki Hut, Cubs Den Team Store, and CareSource Playground.

A limited number of suites are available for the event. Fans interested in purchasing a suite should contact the South Bend Cubs Box Office at (574) 235-9988 for pricing and availability.

“The University of Notre Dame has been a tremendous partner of ours for many years and the opportunity to welcome Indiana University to Downtown South Bend adds another level of excitement,” said South Bend Cubs Team President Joe Hart. “Bringing together two outstanding programs from our state creates a unique experience for fans while showcasing Four Winds Field as a destination for great baseball and community events. We look forward to welcoming alumni, students, and fans from both universities for what should be a memorable night in South Bend.”

“This is a great opportunity for us to connect with our friends at the South Bend Cubs,” said John P. and Catherine Murphy Head Baseball Coach Shawn Stiffler. “This will be a wonderful event for the South Bend community to connect with a great professional organization while bringing together two outstanding universities. We are excited to see everyone at Four Winds Field.”

Notre Dame has a long-standing relationship with Four Winds Field and the South Bend Cubs. The Fighting Irish and South Bend Cubs previously played preseason exhibition games in 2017 and 2019, while the 2018 matchup was rained out. In 2014, Notre Dame called Four Winds Field home while renovations were completed at Frank Eck Stadium.

Tickets can be purchased beginning Monday, September 21 by visiting SouthBendCubs.com, calling the South Bend Cubs Box Office at (574) 235-9988, or in person at the box office on the day of the game.

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NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER

#17 NOTRE DAME vs. BOSTON COLLEGE – Friday, September 18 at 7:00 PM

Location: South Bend, IN | Alumni Stadium

LIVE STATS | NOTES | WATCH ON ACCNX 

The No. 17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0-5, 1-0-0) are back at Alumni Stadium for another ACC matchup as they host the Boston College Eagles (8-0-0, 1-0-0) on Friday evening. The Irish lead the overall series 16-1-2 and are 10-0 when playing Boston College at home.

  BY THE NUMBERS

8

Eight goal scorers so far this season – Lily Joseph (4), Kate Kemmerley (4), Izzy Engle (3), Ellie Hodsden (3), Gabi Poretto (2), Charlie Codd (1), Reese Canada (1), and Bristol Kersh (1) have each scored for the Irish.

1

The Irish lead the ACC with 31 saves so far this season.

6

The Irish recorded a season-best 8 goals and 6 assists in the win over IU Indy.

8

Sonoma Kasica tied her career high of 8 saves at Michigan.

1

Kasica leads the ACC with 4.20 saves per game (21 total saves).

3

Engle had herself a day she recorded her first hat trick of the season, which is the third hat trick of her career. Chipping in an assist as well, she finished the day tying her career high of seven points. .

4

The Irish had the #4 incoming class in Top Drawer Soccer Women’s Division I Recruiting Class Ranking

4

Four Irish players have landed on Top Drawer Soccer’s 2026 Preseason Best XI Teams:  Izzy Engle (First Team), Annabelle Chukwu (Third Team), Reese Canada (Freshman Team), and Gracie Milam (Freshman Team).

88.6%

88.6% of Notre Dame’s total points returned this season (155/175).

12-0-1

when scoring first last season

43

of 60 ND goals were scored by sophomores in 2025

5

The Irish had 5 players named All-ACC last season: Izzy Engle (OPOTY, 1st Team), Annabelle Chukwu (1st Team), Leah Klenke (1st Team), Grace Restovich (3rd Team), Tessa Knapp (All-Freshman Team).

IRISH TAKE DOWN #24 CLEMSON TIGERS IN ACC OPENER

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0-5, 1-0-0) defeated the #24 Clemson Tigers (4-2-2, 0-1-0) in a 2-1 battle at Alumni Stadium on Friday night in the ACC opener.

Freshman Kate Kemmerley and sophomore Gabi Poretto each finished the night with one goal in the win.

Kemmerley is tied for a team-best four goals so far this season and Poretto is now a perfect 2-2 on penalty kicks for the Irish.

Junior goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica finished the night with four saves.

IRISH DOMINATE IN 8-0 WIN OVER IU INDY ON SENIOR DAY

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0-5) finished with a dominant 8-0 Senior Day win over the IU Indy Jaguars (2-3-1) on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

The Irish finished the day with five different goal scorers and a season-high six assists.

Izzy Engle had herself a day as the junior forward recorded her first hat trick of the season, which is the third hat trick of her career. Chipping in an assist as well, she finished the day tying her career high of seven points.

Ellie Hodsden finished the day with a brace, her first of the season and third of her career. Gabi Poretto, Bristol Kersh, and Kate Kemmerley each finished with a goal a piece in the win.

Marley Adams, Gracie Milam, Chayse Ying, Kemmerely, Kersh, and Engle each recorded an assist.

Goalkeeper Jackie Hollomon finished with a career-high six saves and was relieved by Madeleine Agee, who saw the pitch for the first time in her Irish career on Sunday afternoon.

IRISH DRAW AGAINST #4 MICHIGAN STATE 

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0-5) finished with a 2-2 draw against the #4 Michigan State Spartans (4-0-2) at Alumni Stadium on Thursday night.

Freshman Reese Canada recorded her first career goal and senior Charlie Codd scored her first goal of the season in the draw. Junior goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica finished with five saves on the night as she leads the ACC with 4.5 saves per match.

Despite trailing 1-0, the Irish scored a pair of goals to take a 2-1 lead. However, the Spartans would find a late equalizer as they scored on a header to tie it up at 2-all.

#25 IRISH TRAVEL TO MICHIGAN

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0-4) finished with a 1-1 draw in Ann Arbor on Thursday evening against the Michigan Wolverines (0-0-3).

Junior Lily Joseph has now scored in three of Notre Dame’s five matches so far this season as she scored the Irish’s sole goal of the evening.

Junior goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica finished the night tying her career-best with 8 saves.

#8 IRISH DEFEAT RACERS IN 3-0 VICTORY

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0-3) picked up their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Stadium as they defeated the Murray State Racers (0-3-0) in a 3-0 victory.

Freshman Kate Kemmerley had herself a day as she recorded her first collegiate goal and finished the day with a brace in the win. She led all players with a career-best two goals and four points on the day.

Junior Lily Joseph continues to lead the Irish in scoring this year as she put away goal number three of the season in Sunday’s win. Joseph is now a perfect 2-2 on penalty kicks this season.

Senior goalkeeper Jackie Hollomon finished with two saves and recorded her first career shutout in the win.

#8 IRISH FINISH WITH 1-1 DRAW AT NEBRASKA

The No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0-3) finished with a 1-1 draw in their first road match of the season against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0-2) on Thursday evening.

Ellie Hodsden scored her first goal of the season for the equalizer in Thursday night’s match. Senior goalkeeper Jackie Hollomon made her first career start as she tied her career-high with three saves on the night.

#2 IRISH DRAW AGAINST (RV) PENN STATE 

The #2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0-2, 0-0) concluded their second match of the season with a 2-2 draw against the (RV) Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0-1, 0-0).

With an even slate of 0-0 at halftime, both teams were hungry for their first goals of the season. Four total goals were scored in the second half with Penn State converting twice to take a 2-0 lead before the Irish were able to make a late comeback and respond with two goals of their own.

Junior Lily Joseph led the offensive charge for the Irish as she scored both goals for the Irish for a brace on the day. Her first goal was a penalty kick and the second was scored off of a pass from Ellie Hodsden.

SEASON OPENER VS. SAMFORD

The No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0-1, 0-0) finished with a draw in the season opener at Alumni Stadium against the Samford Bulldogs (0-0-1, 0-0) on Wednesday evening.

It was a strong defensive effort for both the Bulldogs and Irish with several chances for the Irish to put away the first goal of the 2026 season as they outshot Samford 21-5. Junior Annabelle Chukwu led all players with six shots on the night.

Notre Dame finished with 13 corner kicks, tying their game-high for corner kicks in single-game in the 2025 season.

Junior goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica recorded her 14th career shutout in Wednesday’s season opener.

BY THE NUMBERS – NCAA TOURNAMENT

For the 31st time over the last 33 years, the Notre Dame women’s soccer program qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the 2025 season.

Their postseason record is 78-27-4 and boasts an impressive record of 53-5-1 at home in the NCAA Tournament.

Doug and Lisa Jones Family Head Women’s Soccer Coach Nate Norman is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament. The past four seasons under Coach Norman: Sweet 16 in 2021, Elite Eight in 2022, 2nd Round in 2023 and an Elite Eight in 2024. Thus, two quarterfinal appearances over the last four years.

The Irish earned a one-seed in the 2025 season; this is the second time the Irish have earned a one-seed under Head Coach Nate Norman.

They have recorded 51 all-time clean sheets in the NCAA Tournament.

In 2024, the Irish made their 17th all-time appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals, where they fell to the Stanford Cardinal 2-0 and are 12-5 all-time in the quarterfinals. They are now 12-5 all-time in that round.

They’ve qualified for 12 College Cups with their last being in 2010. They are 8-4 in the Semifinal round.

The Irish boast three NCAA championships, which is tied for second most – 1995, 2004, 2010 – and five runner-up finishes (1994, 1996, 1999, 2006, 2008).

QUICK NOTES

Key returners: Izzy Engle, Annabelle Chukwu, Abby Mills, Morgan Roy, Lily Joseph, Sonoma Kasica, Grace Restovich, Charlie Codd, Ellie Hodsden, Clare Logan, Chayse Ying

Key losses: Leah Klenke, Laney Matriano, Carolyn Calzada

88.6% of Notre Dame’s total points are returning this season (155/175)

The Irish were selected as the #2 team in the country in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll this week

In the final United Soccer Coaches Poll last year, the Irish landed in the #11 position

Finished #4 in the final RPI rankings last year

The Irish were also selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2026 ACC women’s soccer championship

ACC Offensive Player of the Year, MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist, USC All-American First Team honoree, and Honda Sport Award for Soccer Finalist Izzy Engle returns for her junior season

Became the first Notre Dame striker to win ACC Offensive Player of the Year and just the fifth player in conference history to earn Freshman of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons

Finished the year with 19 goals, 6 assists, and 44 points

Led the ACC in goals per game and was second in the nation (1.00)

Led the ACC in points per game and was third in the nation (2.32)

USC All-Atlantic Region First Team honoree, First Team All-ACC honoree, and All-American Annabelle Chukwu is back for year three at Notre Dame

Second leading scorer on the team with 12 goals and 27 points

Scored team-best 6 game-winning goals this season

Amongst the top-10 in the conference in game-winning goals (2nd with 6 goals), in total goals (7th with 12 goals), and points per game (10th with 1.35 points per game)

Izzy Engle, Annabelle Chukwu, and Abby Mills were named to the All-ACC Preseason Team last week

This season the Irish welcome six freshmen: Kate Kemmerley, Bristol Kersh, Charlee Siria, Marley Adams, Gracie Milam, and Reese Canada

#4 in Top Drawer Soccer Women’s Division I Recruiting Class Ranking

SEC All-Freshman Team honoree, Gabi Poretto, joins the Irish this year from Kentucky

The Fighting Irish recorded a 4-0-1 mark against ranked opposition last regular season

They defeated #3 Duke, #5 Florida State, #22 North Carolina, and #23 Louisville

The Irish were 12-0-1 when scoring first last season.

Notre Dame’s season concluded in the NCAA Second Round, falling 0-1 to OSU in double overtime

PRESEASON PRAISE 

Coming off of another NCAA Tournament appearance last season, the Irish were selected as the no. 2 team in the country in this year’s United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll for the second year in a row. These were the highest preseason rankings since the 2011 season after the Irish won the National Championship in 2010.

The Irish were also selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2026 ACC women’s soccer championship with seven first place votes.

Izzy Engle, Annabelle Chukwu, and Abby Mills were named to the All-ACC Preseason Team last week.

Senior Morgan Roy (defender), junior Grace Restovich (midfielder), junior Izzy Engle (forward), and junior Annabelle Chukwu (forward) have been named to the United Soccer Coaches 2026 NCAA Players to Watch list this preseason.

HOME SWEET HOME

It is not easy for opposing teams to earn a victory inside Alumni Stadium. Since its creation in 2009, Notre Dame has gone 144-33-11.

Over the last five seasons in particular – an impressive 46-7-6 (.813) record inside Alumni.

The Irish also defeated #3 Duke, #5 Florida State, #22 North Carolina, and #23 Louisville at Alumni Stadium last season.

ALL-AMERICAN – IZZY ENGLE IS BACK FOR YEAR 3

Engle was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year, a MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist, a Honda Sport Award for Soccer finalist, First Team All-ACC, and USC All-Atlantic Region First Team.

Engle became the first Notre Dame striker to win ACC Offensive Player of the Year and just the fifth player in conference history to earn Freshman of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons.

She scored 44 points across 19 matches, which was the third-best in the nation in points per game (2.32).

She scored 19 goals last season, which ranked fifth nationally. She was also recognized as the ACC Offensive Player of the Week twice last season, was named to the ACC Championship All-Tournament Team, and received CSC Academic All-District honors this year.

In conference play, Engle scored 11 goals and was one of only two players to record double-figure goals in ACC matches last season. She was the only player to register a hat trick in league play, scoring three times in Notre Dame’s 5-0 win at Virginia Tech on October 23.

Engle has now scored an impressive 38 career goals in just 41 matches played through her sophomore season.

ACC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

Notre Dame (7), 239

Stanford (3), 233

Duke (3), 224

Florida State (3), 213

North Carolina (1), 207

Virginia, 191

Wake Forest, 167

Clemson, 148

Louisville, 125

California, 120

NC State, 99

Virginia Tech, 77

Pitt, 75

SMU, 70

Boston College, 61

Miami, 44

Syracuse, 19

2026 PRESEASON ALL-ACC TEAM

Mia Minestrella, Sr., F, Duke

Cameron Roller, Sr., D, Duke

Wrianna Hudson, Jr., F, Florida State

Janet Okeke, Jr., D, Florida State

Nyanya Touray, So., M, Florida State

Amelia Swinarski, Jr., M, Louisville

Bella Devey, So., F, North Carolina

Annabelle Chukwu, Jr., F, Notre Dame

Izzy Engle, Jr., F, Notre Dame

Abby Mills, Jr., D, Notre Dame

Caroline Birkel, So., GK, Stanford

Charlotte Kohler, Jr., M, Stanford

Kylie Maxwell, So., F, Wake Forest

A CHUKWU CLINIC

The sophomore forward was the Irish’s second leading scorer with 12 goals and 27 points, scoring 6 game-winning goals for Notre Dame this season, earning First Team All-ACC honors.

She received USC All-American Second Team and All-Atlantic Region First Team honors, and was also named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List, was named to the ACC Championship All-Tournament Team, and earned ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice this season.

Chukwu was amongst the top-10 in the conference in game-winning goals (2nd with 6 goals), in total goals (7th with 12 goals), and points per game (10th with 1.35 points per game).

2025 ACCOLADES

In addition to the accolades that Engle and Chukwu acquired, there were several other Irish standouts who received awards last season.

MORGAN ROY

United Soccer Coaches All-Region Fourth Team

Roy takes home her first All-Region honors, playing in 20 matches this season and scoring a career-high 3 goals this season. Roy recorded a career-high 9 assists (tied for a team-best) for a career-high 15 points on the year.

GRACE RESTOVICH

United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team

All-ACC Third Team

This season, Restovich took home her first All-Region and All-ACC honors as she co-led the Irish with 9 assists this season. As a freshman, she also led the Irish last season with a team-best 11 assists. She scored two goals this season and recorded 13 points for the Irish.

TESSA KNAPP

United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team

Tessa Knapp was named to the All-Freshman Team, recording three goals  in her rookie season

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BUTLER XC

The Butler men will compete at the site of the 2026 NCAA Championships as they travel to Terre Haute, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 19 for the John McNichols Invitational hosted by Indiana State.

The Bulldog men have earned six consecutive appearances in the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships and hope that their push for a seventh straight berth leads them to the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in November.

THE LINE-UP: Head coach Matt Roe’s line-up for Saturday will include six Bulldogs making their season debut. William Zegarski leads the group and is the current BIG EAST cross country champion and placed 66th nationally at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Most recently, he earned second-team All-America honors in the 10,000 meters during the 2026 outdoor track and field season. Matteo Rosio, who was part of the 2025 NCAA squad, and Sean Byrnes, who represented the Bulldogs at the 2024 NCAA Championships, join Zegarski.

Kyle Grove, who was named BIG EAST Male Athlete of the Week after leading the Bulldogs at the season-opening Spartan Invitational, is also part of the line-up and joins Connor Latouf and Asher Propst as the only Bulldogs in the Championship Race to have competed already this fall. Seth Mahony, Graham Tomori, and freshman Simon Jeukenne round out the group with their respective season debuts.

THE FIELD: The Bulldogs, ranked No. 16 in the USTFCCCA preseason poll, will compete against a loaded field that includes 14 ranked teams: No. 6 Colorado, No. 7 Northern Arizona, No. 9 BYU, No. 10 Wisconsin, No. 11 Washington State, No. 12 Eastern Kentucky, No. 17 Michigan State, No. 19 Harvard, No. 20 Georgia, No. 21 Florida, No. 23 Air Force, No. 24 Cal Baptist, No. 26 Louisville, and No. 27 Stanford. In-state foes include Indiana, Purdue, host Indiana State, and IU Indy.

THE DETAILS: The men’s 8k championship race will begin at 9:05 a.m. Butler will also have entries in the men’s 8k open race at 10:05 a.m. All of that group competed alongside Grove, Latouf and Propst at Michigan State last weekend: Mick Temple, Owen Whitney, Kayden Elliott, Eli Ilg, and Caelan D’Onofrio.

RunnerSpace will broadcast this year’s meet and live results will be available.

The Butler women are not competing in Terre Haute Saturday and are next in action Oct. 2 at the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.

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BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Butler’s 2026-27 women’s basketball schedule is now complete with the announcement of the Bulldogs’ 20 BIG EAST conference games. 

The 2026-27 season marks the second year of a six-year media agreement running through 2030-31, encompassing coverage across FOX Sports (FOX, FS1), NBC Sports (NBC, Peacock), and TNT Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV, and Max). The agreement provides extensive national broadcast, cable and direct-to-consumer streaming coverage of BIG EAST women’s and men’s basketball games. ESPN+ will also stream at least 75 women’s basketball games.

The Bulldogs will open the conference portion of their schedule on Friday, Dec. 4 as Butler hosts Seton Hall at Hinkle Fieldhouse. 

Game times and television information will be announced at a later date. 

The entire 2026-27 BIG EAST Conference women’s basketball schedule was announced Thursday by the league office. 

Notes on Butler’s 2026-27 BIG EAST Schedule:

Butler’s home BIG EAST schedule includes four weekend games. 

Three of the five games in December are road contests for the Bulldogs. 

Butler’s BIG EAST schedule features eight Wednesday games. 

Butler will host UConn on Thursday, Feb. 4 at Hinkle. The Dawgs’ second game against the Huskies is the regular season finale on Sunday, Feb. 28. 

Ticket Options for Bulldog Fans:

Season tickets for the upcoming 2026-27 basketball season are on sale now at butlersports.com/seasontickets. Fans can email tickets@butler.edu or call the ticket office at 317-940-3647 for more information on securing season tickets.

Single-game tickets for both non-conference and BIG EAST games will go on sale later this month. In the days prior to that public on-sale, Butler season ticket holders, Bulldog Club members, mini-plan purchasers, and Butler faculty and staff will be offered presale access.

Fans can purchase online or in person at the Butler Athletics Ticket Office at Hinkle Fieldhouse (which is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.).

About the 2026-27 Bulldogs: The Bulldog roster is set for the 2026-27 season. Saniya Jackson returns for BU after leading the team in both rebounding and steals (in addition to finishing second on the team in scoring) a season ago. Her twin sister, Nevaeh, is also back for the Bulldogs. Karina Bystry, a Horizon League All-Freshman selection from Northern Kentucky, and Tamar Singer, a MAC All-Defensive team selection from Miami (Ohio), will make an immediate impact. Lili Krasovec followed Marchesano from Purdue Fort Wayne, where she averaged double figures last season. Those five Bulldogs are joined by additional exciting newcomers to compose the 12-player roster. 

2026-27 BIG EAST SCHEDULE

DECEMBER:

Dec. 4 vs. Seton Hall

Dec. 6 at Marquette

Dec. 10 at DePaul

Dec. 22 at Creighton

Dec. 30 vs. St. John’s

JANUARY:

Jan. 6 vs. Providence

Jan. 10 at Seton Hall

Jan. 13 at Villanova

Jan. 16 vs. Xavier

Jan. 20 vs. Marquette

Jan. 24 vs. Creighton

Jan. 27 at Providence

Jan. 30 at Georgetown

FEBRUARY: 

Feb. 4 vs. UConn

Feb. 10 at Xavier

Feb. 13 vs. Villanova

Feb. 18 at St. John’s

Feb. 21 vs. DePaul

Feb. 24 vs. Georgetown

Feb. 28 at UConn

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BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER

Butler (4-2-1) vs. Western Illinois (1-9-0)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 19

Time: 2PM

Location: Indianapolis, Ind. | Varsity Field

Live Stats: Butlersports.com (StatBroadcast)

Live Stream: HomeTeam Network

The Butler women’s soccer team will host Western Illinois as part of a full weekend of homecoming activities this weekend. The Saturday match, which will include Alumni Weekend activities, will take place at Varsity Field. Admission for the contest is free, and it can be viewed at no cost on the HomeTeam Network.

The Bulldogs are coming off two shutout victories last week – over IU Indy and Central Michigan – and have now won three matches in a row. The visiting Leathernecks most recently lost to Illinois State. Their only win this season came against Northern Iowa.

Bulldog Bits

        (as of Monday, 9/14)

Addison Ash leads the BIG EAST and is 61st nationally with 4.86 saves per match. She ranks third in the conference and 26th nationally with a .872 save percentage and is also third (44th) with three shutouts.

Chloe Brecht is fourth in the BIG EAST and 73rd nationally with a .588 shooting accuracy. She also ranks fourth in the conference with four goals and with 10 points.

Riley Gumm leads the BIG EAST and ranks 33rd nationally with two game-winning goals. 

       Thursday at IU Indy and Sunday vs. Central Michigan

Brecht was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (9/14). She had two goals and an assist for her first collegiate brace in the 4-0 win at IU Indy. She led Butler with five points and tied with three shots on goal in the team’s 2-0 week.

Ash was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week (9/14). She added a pair of shutouts to her resumé with five saves across two wins for Butler. In the 4-0 win at IU Indy, she had three saves, followed by two saves in the 3-0 triumph against Central Michigan.

Kensey Teffner was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/14). She helped a Butler defense to two shutouts, limiting IU Indy and CMU to a combined five shots on frame. The freshman recorded her first career assist on the first goal in the 4-0 win over IU Indy.

Lola Pepper was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/14). She had a three-point performance in the team’s 3-0 win versus CMU, with an assist and an unassisted goal.

Alyssa Carlson notched a goal against both IU Indy and CMU.

Gumm tallied three points last week, scoring a goal at IU Indy and adding an assist versus CMU.

Sarah Beth Sizemore dished out an assist at IU Indy that was a career first and represented her first career point.

Sarah Monnin’s goal versus CMU was the first of her collegiate career.

Looking at Western Illinois

Head Coach: Ross Henderson (Fifth Season)

Goals: 3 (0.33 per match)

Assists: 4

Shots On Goal: 20-43 (.465)

Points Leader: Rita Moran 4 (2g, 0a)

GK Saves: 60 (.674 SV%)

Series: Butler leads, 2-0-0    

Streak: Butler, W2

Most Recent: Aug. 30, 2009 (Indianapolis) Butler 3, WIU 0

Butler won the first-ever meeting, 7-1, in 2000. That match was also played in Indianapolis.

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IU INDY BASKETBALL

INDIANAPOLIS – The Horizon League Council has approved updated #HLMBB and #HLWBB brackets for the 2027 Horizon League Basketball Championships.

Why it Matters: The updated championship format brings 11 total teams – five men and six women – to Noblesville in 2027 when #MarchStartsHere at the Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile.

Reseeding and Second Round byes for the top remaining teams in Noblesville reward regular season success and aim to protect our top seeds, best positioning the League during March Madness.

Click the links for 2026 #HLMBB and #HLWBB brackets. 

The men’s championship will feature 11 teams in a similar format to the 2026 championship.

The championship opens with a Play-In game featuring the No. 10 seed hosting the No. 11 seed on Monday, March 1.

First Round action will take place on campuses on Thursday, March 4 with the five winners advancing to Noblesville.

The Detroit Mercy men’s basketball program is not eligible for the 2027 #HLMBB championship due to NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) standards and related League operating regulations.

The women’s championship will feature all 12 teams with six teams advancing to Noblesville.

The championship begins on Wednesday, March 3 with the six best seeds hosting the First Round.

The action shifts to Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile on Sunday, March 7 with two Second Round #HLWBB contests and one Second Round #HLMBB contest.

The three best-seeded men’s and two best-seeded women’s teams remaining after the first round will advance to semifinal action on Monday, March 8 in Noblesville.

The 2027 #HLMBB and #HLWBB championships will culminate on Tuesday, March 9 with teams punching their tickets to the NCAA Tournament.

The Horizon League Council is comprised of athletics directors from all 12 institutions along with our SWA Chair, FAR Chair and a SAAC representative.

Opened in 2025, The Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose venue that is home to the Noblesville Boom (Indiana Pacers NBA G League affiliate) and built for the highest level of basketball and events. Seating is approximately 3,400 fixed with flexible expansion, plus modern concourses and premium spaces. This will provide an outstanding student-athlete experience for participating teams, creating a meaningful memory of a pinnacle collegiate athletics moment.

Groups, youth sports organizations and basketball fans interested in attending games or learning more about getting involved in Noblesville are encouraged to email Drew Naumovich (dnaumovich@horizonleague.org).

The Horizon League is an NCAA Division I athletics conference comprised of 12 member institutions headquartered in Indianapolis. The League and our member schools develop 4,000 student-athletes for life. Through unique opportunities in major metropolitan cities, their athletic, academic and personal aspirations can be achieved. Because what they learn today will inspire who they become tomorrow. For more information, visit HorizonLeague.com.

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IU INDY XC

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IU Indianapolis women’s cross country team will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 19) as head coach Antonio McDaniel’s team will compete in the Rumble in the Fort, hosted by Purdue Fort Wayne. The women’s 6K race is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. 

The Jaguars opened the season with a runner-up finish at Wright State’s Mike Baumer Invitational on Sept. 4 with three freshmen pacing the lineup in the 5K race. Maren Wilson finished seventh overall at 18:30.1 and was later named #HLXC Women’s Freshman of the Week. Behind her, Elora Bliss was eighth at 18:33.6 and Aftin Griffin was 13th overall at 18:49.6. 

Sophomore Riley Flynn ran her first collegiate 5K in a time of 18:59.0 and senior Grace Bragg rounded out the scoring five at 19:26.7, placing 28th overall. Two other Jaguars made their cross country debuts as Xavery Weisman spun a time of 20:16.6 and Jenna Twedt finished at 20:28.3. 

QUOTABLE

“I’m really proud of how our group started the season. The goal was to finish second and they took care of business. Our freshmen did a great job of leading the way. That’s both a testament to them and their hard work, along with our returners, who’ve made them feel welcomed right away,” McDaniel said following the Baumer Classic on Sept. 4. 

UP NEXT

The Jaguars are slated to compete in the Louisville Classic in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 3.

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BALL STATE FIELD HOCKEY

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ball State field hockey team is ready to defend its home turf at the Briner Sports Complex this weekend as it kicks off Mid-American Conference (MAC) action. The Cardinals will host James Madison University on Friday, Sept. 18, at 1 p.m. ET for the highly anticipated annual Blackout Game. They will follow that with a matinee matchup against Big Ten foe Michigan State on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 12 p.m. ET for Youth Day.

Ball State enters the weekend riding a wave of defensive grit and early-season highlights. In their recent home opener against Indiana, junior forward/midfielder GiGi Ranoldo put the Cardinals on the board with a brilliant second-quarter goal off a well-executed penalty corner set up by Jade Vandevoorde and Lauren Lewis. On the defensive end, goalkeeper Carleigh Hofelich anchored the backline with a phenomenal, career-defining 19-save performance. This resilient defensive foundation has the Cardinals energized and ready to make a statement in the conference standings.

Friday’s conference opener marks a competitive renewal of a tightly contested historic rivalry with James Madison. The Dukes hold a narrow 7-5 edge in the all-time series, which dates to 1980. While James Madison took the last meeting in October 2025, the Cardinals are focused on leveraging their home-field advantage to start the 2026 MAC schedule with a victory.

On Sunday, the homestand wraps up with another spectacular chapter in regional field hockey history against Michigan State. The all-time series between the Cardinals and the Spartans is razor-thin, with Michigan State holding a slight 15-13-2 advantage. The teams squared off last season in Muncie, resulting in a 5-1 win for the Spartans. Ball State will also welcome back Michigan State assistant coach and former field hockey Cardinal Emma Hilton on Sunday.

Fans attending Friday’s match are encouraged to wear black t-shirts to show their support for the annual Blackout Game.

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BALL STATE XC

MUNCIE, Ind. — After a promising start to the season at the Sam Bell Invitational in Bloomington two weeks ago, the Ball State Cross Country team will look to keep the momentum in full swing when they head to Kalamazoo, Michigan for the George Dales Invite hosted by Western Michigan University.

It was the underclassmen who led the way for the Cardinals with sophomores Emily Decker and Michigan native Kaitlyn Kauppila finishing in 15th and 16th. Freshman Carla Rodriguez crossed the line third for the Cardinals just ahead of another Michigander, sophomore Sadey Seyferth. Freshman Abra Mills rounded out the top five for the Cardinals ahead of Ava Dickenson, Elaina Lahmers and Gemma Pusateri.

The Cardinals’ focus now turns to Kalamazoo where they will face a field of 12 other teams, including 5 from the Mid-American Conference. The meet also serves as an opportunity for Ball State to get a feel for the course as they return to the same place for the MAC Championship on October 30th.

The race is set to begin at 10 a.m. EST as the Cardinals look to keep up their promising start to the season.

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BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL

MUNCIE, Ind. – – Junior outside attacker Ava Smith tied her career high with 19 kills Thursday night, but it was not enough to lift the Ball State women’s volleyball team past a tough Northwestern squad in its home opener at Worthen Arena.

After another slow start, the Cardinals (8-2) were able to find a rhythm on offense and win a close second set. However, the Wildcats (6-4) closed with a pair of tight set wins of their own, including earning the third frame in extras, to take the match 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 26-24, 25-23).

Along with Smith’s 19 kills, junior opposite Tiffany Snook reached double digits for Ball State with 11. It was the fifth consecutive match Snook has reached double figures and the eighth time in 10 matches this season.

The Cardinals’ freshmen twin sisters Mallory Pike and Leah Pike also had a strong night in their Worthen Arena debuts, starting with a career-high eight kills from M. Pike.

L. Pike would make her mark at the net, with a career-high four total blocks, while also smashing four kills.

Senior middle Gwen Crull led all players with five total blocks, while adding five kills. Senior middle Madison Buckley added four more blocks and eight kills. Overall, Ball State held a 10.0 to 9.0 edge in total blocks for the match.

In the backcourt, BSU junior libero Sophie Ledbetter led the squad with 13 digs and made some more spectacular plays to set up Ball State points. Prior to the start of the match, the Cardinals honored Ledbetter for her 1,000th career dig versus Stetson (Sept. 11) and head coach Kelli Miller Phillips for her 200th career win versus Furman (Sept. 12).

On the other side of the net, Mara Stiglic led all players with 22 kills and added 14 digs for a double-double. Lauren Dignan added a match-high 22 digs, while Isabella Bullington chipped in 17 kills a .531 (17-0-32) attack percentage and six digs.

Bullington is the daughter of Ball State women’s volleyball alum and three-year letterwinner Lauren Gilbert (2000-02) and baseball alum and 2002 MLB No. 1 draft pick Bryan Bullington (2000-02).

The Ball State women’s volleyball team returns to action Saturday when it hosts IU Indy in another 6 p.m. first serve at Worthen Arena. In addition to being RED OUT, the Cardinals will honor its 2026 senior class after the match. Another senior celebration will take place following the regular season home finale vs. Kent State (Nov. 13).

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BALL STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State soccer team fell to UMass 1-0 in their Mid-American Conference opener on Thursday evening.

The Cardinals (3-4-1) generated 16 shots with two shots on goal, but were held scoreless in the contest. The Minutewomen (7-1) scored the lone goal in the 40th minute to post the winning decision.

Ball State had five different players register a shot in the contest. Mary Jane Keller and Annika Klauss each were credited with a shot on goal.

Goalkeeper Kate Pallante made nine saves for Ball State, while Ainsley Schaufele and Jordyn Klaasen were other Cardinals to play the full 90 minutes.

UMass outshot the Cardinals 16-5 and led in shots on goal (10-2), while also being whistled for more fouls (12-7).

The Cardinals will continue MAC play on the road at Western Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State volleyball plays its final non-conference matches of the 2026 season Friday and Saturday, as the Sycamores head north for the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational.

The Trees open the weekend with a Friday doubleheader against a pair of first-time opponents in Stonehill (1 p.m.) and Columbia (4 p.m.), before closing the tournament Saturday at 2 p.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne.

Last Time Out

Indiana State played a pair of closely-contested matches to open its 2026 home slate, dropping a pair of matches to Milwaukee inside ISU Arena. The Sycamores were defeated in five sets (25-18, 18-25, 18-25, 27-25, 15-13) in their home opener on Sept. 10 and fell in four sets (25-19, 28-26, 28-26, 25-23) Friday evening to wrap up the homestand.

Despite the 0-2 record, Indiana State went toe-to-toe with a Milwaukee team which finished in a tie for third in the Horizon League last season. Five of the six sets that the Sycamores dropped were decided by just two points, while Corinne Knapp (six service aces) and Lily Mueller (10 block assists, 12 total blocks) both recorded top-10 single-match marks in program history during the homestand.

First Timers

Indiana State will see a pair of first-time opponents at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational, as the Sycamores have never faced Stonehill or Columbia prior to their upcoming matchups.

The Sycamores have a 2-1 record against first-time opponents this season, claiming wins over Navy and Northwestern State while falling in five sets against Little Rock.

Lockdown

Indiana State’s defense has seen a significant uptick in the right direction to begin the 2026 campaign. Despite going just 3-5 through their first eight matches, the Sycamores rank in the top three in the MVC in opponent hitting percentage (third, .206), opponent kills (second, 11.15 per set), opponent assists (second, 10.24 per set) and opponent aces (first, 0.94 per set).

For comparison, the Sycamores ranked 10th in the 11-team MVC last season in opponent hitting percentage, opponent kills and opponent assists and seventh in opponent aces. Sycamore opponents this season are averaging nearly three fewer kills and assists per set, while hitting more than 40 percentage points worse than Indiana State opponents in 2025.

Block Party

Senior middle blocker Lily Mueller produced her best statistical match in a Sycamore uniform in the back end of Indiana State’s two-match homestand against Milwaukee. Mueller tallied 12 total blocks (two solo, 10 assist) in Friday’s match against the Panthers, marking the first double-digit block match of her career and becoming the first Sycamore to accomplish the feat since Kylie Newby tallied 12 total blocks (three solo, nine assist) against Valparaiso on Oct. 30, 2021.

Mueller’s 12-block performance was tied for second for a single match in program history and tied for the most total blocks in a match by a Sycamore during the 25-point rally scoring era.

Aced It

Sophomore outside hitter Corinne Knapp produced one of the best matches from the service line by a Sycamore in recent years in the home opener, coming off the bench to finish with six service aces against Milwaukee. Knapp’s six aces were the most by a Sycamore since Sept. 1, 2023, when Emma Kaelin tallied seven service aces against Austin Peay.

Knapp cracked the top 10 in program history for aces in a single match with her performance against the Panthers, as her six aces in the home opener ranked ninth overall and third in the 25-point rally scoring era for a single match.

Milestone Watch

Indiana State has plenty of athletes nearing career milestones following the first three weekends of play this season. Ella Scott is nearing a pair of milestones, as the senior middle blocker sits nine aces shy of 100 for her career and 17 blocks short of 300 for her career. Should she reach it, Scott would become the 10th Sycamore to record 300 blocks in her career.

Kira Holland will likely reach 1,000 kills for her career during MVC play, as the Sycamore senior enters the weekend with 872. She would become the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000 kills. Holland isn’t the only Sycamore nearing a milestone mark in kills, as Curry Kendall sits 43 shy of 500 for her career.

Macy Lengacher is also nearing 1,000 digs for her career, as the senior enters the weekend with 848. Lengacher would become the 12th Sycamore to reach 1,000 career digs.

This Weekend’s Opponents At A Glance

Stonehill enters the weekend at 3-9 following a 1-2 weekend at the Friar Classic and a midweek loss to Holy Cross. The Skyhawks have wins over New Orleans, Alcorn State and Manhattan. Stonehill’s attack is led by Sam Loyd’s 3.42 kills per set, with Addy Frye (2.60 kills per set) also providing significant output for the Skyhawks

Columbia is off to its best start since 2000, as the Lions enter the weekend at 5-1 with wins over Fairleigh Dickinson, Iona, Lafayette, Mercyhurst and Niagara. The Lions’ five-match win streak to start the season was snapped in their last outing against Kent State. Elena Maynulet leads the Lion attack with 2.77 kills per set, while Maria Happ has averaged more than one block per set through the first six matches.

Purdue Fort Wayne enters its home tournament with a 4-6 record, with a pair of wins over Evansville to go alongside victories over Rutgers and Western Illinois. Riley Rosneck (4.22 kills per set) and Trinity Rye (3.51 kills per set) headline the attack for the Mastodons, while Beck Barrett averages more than four digs per set for the hosts.

Series History vs. This Weekend’s Opponents

Indiana State has never faced Stonehill or Columbia prior to Friday’s matches against the Skyhawks and Lions.

Indiana State is 2-4 against Purdue Fort Wayne, with the last meeting being a three-set loss to the Mastodons at the 2024 Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational. The Sycamores’ last win in the series came at the 2018 Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational.

Up Next

Indiana State opens Missouri Valley Conference play with a pair of home matches, welcoming Bradley (Sept. 25) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 26) to ISU Arena.

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INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The 2026-27 Indiana State men’s basketball schedule is complete as the Missouri Valley announced the 20-game conference slate on Thursday morning.

The Sycamores conference schedule opens on Tuesday, December 15, at UIC, and will feature home games against Murray State (Dec. 19) and Drake (Dec. 29), before the calendar year turns to 2027.

Overall, Indiana State is scheduled to host 16 regular season contests inside the Hulman Center, as well as the October 24 exhibition game against Rose-Hulman. The conference home schedule features Murray State (Dec. 19), Drake (Dec. 29), Northern Iowa (Jan. 9), Bradley (Jan. 12), Southern Illinois (Jan. 21), Evansville (Jan. 30), Illinois State (Feb. 6), Valparaiso (Feb. 13), Belmont (Feb. 15), and UIC (Feb. 21).

The release of the Missouri Valley schedule completes the 2026-27 Indiana State men’s basketball slate that also includes home contests against Charlotte (Nov. 2), Milwaukee (Nov. 11), Earlham (Nov. 14), IU Columbus (Nov. 28), SIUE (Dec. 2), and Southern Indiana (Dec. 6). Game times and television dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Season Tickets Remain On Sale, Single Game Coming Soon

Season tickets remain on sale for the entirety of the 2026-27 slate, while single game ticket packages and pricing will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information on season tickets, contact Mason LaGrange, Manager for Sale and Service, by calling 812-237-8972 or emailing malgrange1@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu.

The Sycamores will compete in two open exhibitions as Indiana State will travel to Butler on Sunday, October 18, for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff inside the Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana State will host Rose-Hulman on Saturday, October 24, with start time set for 6 p.m. inside Hulman Center.

Indiana State will open the 2026-27 regular season with an opening night tipoff at home against Charlotte on Monday, November 2, before the Sycamores remain inside the state heading to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State on November 6. Indiana State will remain at home for the following two games against both Milwaukee (Nov. 11) and Earlham (Nov. 14), before hitting the road for the 2026 Paradise Jam.

The Sycamores are slated to play three games while in the Virgin Islands over November 20-23 with the opening night of the eight-team tournament set for November 20 against Stephen F. Austin.

Following their return, Indiana State will host its longest home stretch of the 2026-27 season with a trio of games inside Hulman Center against IU Columbus (Nov. 28), SIUE (Dec. 2), and Southern Indiana (Dec. 6).

Following the homestand, the Sycamores will fly out to Eugene, Ore. to tipoff against Oregon on December 12, and then remain on the road for the Missouri Valley opener on December 15 at UIC. Indiana State will return home to host Murray State in the Sycamores’ Valley home opener on December 19, before heading back on the road to historic Allen Fieldhouse to take on Kansas on December 22.

After taking a brief break for the holidays, the Sycamores return to Hulman Center on December 29 to host Drake as teams settle into the full Valley schedule slate.

Indiana State opens the new year on the road with back-to-back games at Illinois State (Jan. 2) and Evansville (Jan. 5), before returning to host UNI (Jan. 9) and Bradley (Jan. 12). The Sycamores will have their first Valley rematch of the season on January 16 at Murray State before continuing on the road at Belmont (Jan. 18).

The Sycamores sandwich home games against Southern Illinois (Jan. 21) and Evansville (Jan. 30) around a road trip to Valparaiso (Jan. 27), before looking ahead to the final month of the regular season.

Indiana State returns the trip to Southern Illinois on February 3, before hosting Illinois State the following Saturday on February 6 inside Hulman Center. Indiana State travels to UNI on February 9, before returning home for games against both Valparaiso (Feb. 13) and Belmont (Feb. 15).

Indiana State’s final two road trips to Drake (Feb. 18) and Bradley (Feb. 24) sandwich the 2027 Indiana State men’s basketball Senior Day when the Sycamores host UIC on February 21.

ArchMadness is scheduled to run from March 4-7 inside the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. with the top 10 teams in the Missouri Valley battling it out for the conference title and the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

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PURDUE FT. WAYNE XC

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne cross country teams host the Rumble In The Fort on Saturday (Sept. 19) at the Mastodon Cross Country Course. Parking for the Rumble In The Fort will cost $5 and can be purchased at this link.

Meet: Rumble In The Fort

When: Saturday, September 19 | 10:00 a.m. (Women’s 6K) | 10:45 a.m. (Men’s 8K)

Schools Entered: Xavier, Findlay, Saint Francis (Ind.), Saint Xavier, IU Indy (women) and Three Rivers Racing Elite

Women’s Entrees

Faith Allen, Kingsley Brown, Violet Francisco, Katelyn Frazier, Haylee Hile, Bella Hodges, Kendall Hoeffel, Isabelle Rodgers, Ashley Schraeder, Nori Silva, Camryn Simons, Nicolette Stickney and Amanda Williams.

Men’s Entrees

Andrew Arnos, Bryan Garcia, Boden Genovese, Aidan Green, Austin Hall, Riley Lembke, Braydn Livingston, Landon Miller, Daniel Mullett, Marcus Ridge, Donovan Ryan, Kale Seymour, Andrew Strong and Jack Strong.

Strong Performance

Freshman Andrew Strong set a new Purdue Fort Wayne 4K program record at the Mastodon Alumni Open on Saturday (Sept. 5). Strong was the first Mastodon to cross the finish line, taking fourth with a time of 15:38.3.

Last Time Out (Men)

The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s cross country team opened the season with a second-place finish with 29 points at the Mastodon Alumni Open on Saturday. Andrew Strong led with a fourth place finish. Jack Strong followed with a new personal-best time of 15:41.3 to finish fifth. Bryan Garcia and Austin Hall were the next two Mastodons to cross the finish line. Garcia completed his first collegiate race in seventh (15:53.8), while Hall followed in eighth with a time of 15:57.7. Riley Lembke finished his first collegiate meet in 10th place with a time of 16:11.1. Fellow freshmen Aidan Green (23rd, 16:43.6) and Donovan Ryan (35th, 17:19.3) also completed their first collegiate races as Mastodons.

Last Time Out (Women)

The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s cross country team took first at the Mastodon Alumni Open on Saturday (Sept. 5) with 25 points. Faith Allen was the first Mastodon to cross the finish line, placing second overall and first among collegiate runners with a time of 18:50.4. Haylee Hile and Amanda Williams were next to cross the finish line for Purdue Fort Wayne. Hile finished sixth at 19:12.6, while Williams placed seventh at 19:27.8. Freshmen Kendall Hoeffel and Isabella Rodgers rounded out the Mastodons’ top five finishers, placing ninth (19:37.1) and 10th (19:40.5).

Preseason Poll

The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s team placed third in the 2026 Horizon League Preseason Poll.

Women’s Season Preview

The Mastodons recorded 74 points for second place at the 2025 #HLXC Championship. The Mastodons return two of their top-five finishers, Haylee Hile and Faith Allen. 

Men’s Season Preview

The Mastodons placed ninth at the 2025 #HLXC Championships. The ‘Dons return their top-two finishers from last season, Jack Strong and Boden Genovese.

Up Next

The Mastodons will travel to Notre Dame for the Joe Piane Invitational on Friday (Oct. 2).

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PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball head coach Jon Coffman announced that Justin Brown has joined the Mastodon program as Assistant Coach – Director of Recruiting & Community Engagement.

”I’m excited to have Justin join our staff,” Coffman said. “He is a veteran coach with recruiting connections in areas that we have had past success, particularly junior college, Chicago and Texas. He has a reputation for building strong relationships with players and recruits, and I believe his strengths and personality make him an ideal fit with our staff. I’m excited for Justin to direct and organize our recruiting efforts and bring his on-court expertise from having worked with a number of different coaches and programs at our level.”

Brown comes to Purdue Fort Wayne after spending two years in Muncie as an assistant coach for Ball State. Brown worked closely with the Ball State guards, including Jermahri Hill, who was named Honorable Mention All-MAC following the 2024-25 season. Hill averaged 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in his first season in Muncie while leading the league in free throw attempts (207). Brown arrived in Muncie in 2024 after serving three seasons at Pacific as an assistant. He was also on staff at Eastern Illinois for three seasons (2018-21). Overall, the Chicago native has 15 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level.

A guard on NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University who played on back-to-back Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship teams in 2008 and 2009, Brown joined the coaching staff at his alma mater for the 2009-10 campaign. He returned to his hometown in 2010-11 to be the boys’ basketball coach at Perspective Charter High School.

Brown also spent four seasons on the coaching staff at South Plains Junior College and three at Utah State University-East Utah in his time on the sidelines.

Brown and the Mastodons will open the season with an exhibition against Purdue on October 22 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

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EVANSVILLE XC

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s and women’s cross country teams are returning for their second meet of the season for The Southern Showcase, hosted by Jax State in Huntsville, Ala.  

The day begins at 7:30 AM with the Men’s Invitational 8k followed by the Women’s Invitational 5k at 8:10 AM.

Last Time Out

The Purple Aces met at USI to compete in the Stegemoller Screagle Invite at the USI Cross Country Course. The women earned 3rd place in team standings. Avery Stephens earned a top 10 finish with a 4k time of 14:23.0, and Kyleigh Wolf picked up a top 20 finish with a 14:48.2. The men were led by Nathan Whitehead who came home in 28th with a time of 19:25.9 in the 6k. 

Meet Information

Friday’s meet will be hosted at John Hunt Cross Country Park (2151 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville, AL 35801). In all, 64 schools across 16 states will be participating in the meet. This includes multiple SEC and ACC schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville St., and Mississippi State. The Aces will also face a familiar foe in fellow MVC member Belmont for their first meeting of the season. 

The following runners are set to compete:

Women:

Kyndall Anthis

Josie Lynch

Elaina Massey

Amick McClelland

Rebekah Sachs

Avery Stephens

Veronica Wilgocki

Kyliegh Wolf

Men: 

Woody Burrell

Nathan Campbell

Nicholas Hirsch

Micah Jablonski

Jack Minor

Andrew Potter

Tanner Spence

Nathan Whitehead

Oliver Wilgocki

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EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Missouri Valley Conference has unveiled the 2026-27 men’s basketball slate. Each team will face all league foes at home and on the road making for a 20-game schedule.

League action opens on Dec. 15 for the University of Evansville when the Purple Aces welcome Drake to the Ford Center. UE wraps up its pre-Christmas schedule with a Dec. 22 trip to Valparaiso before resuming play on the 29th at home against Illinois State.

Other home dates include Indiana State (Jan. 5), Belmont (Jan. 12), UIC (Jan. 16), UNI (Jan. 24), Bradley (Feb. 3), Murray State (Feb. 9), Valparaiso (Feb. 15), and Southern Illinois (Feb. 28).

All game times for the 2026-27 season will be announced in the coming weeks. The full MVC schedule for the Purple Aces is below.

UE MVC SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Dec. 15 – vs. Drake

Tuesday, Dec. 22 – at Valparaiso

Tuesday, Dec. 29 – vs. Illinois State

Saturday, Jan. 2 – at UNI

Tuesday, Jan. 5 – vs. Indiana State

Saturday, Jan. 9 – at Murray State

Tuesday, Jan. 12 – vs. Belmont

Saturday, Jan. 16 – vs. UIC

Monday, Jan. 18 – at Southern Illinois

Thursday, Jan. 21 – at Bradley

Sunday, Jan. 24 – vs. UNI

Saturday, Jan. 30 – at Indiana State

Wednesday, Feb. 3 – vs. Bradley

Saturday, Feb. 6 – at Drake

Tuesday, Feb. 9 – vs. Murray State

Friday, Feb. 12 – at Belmont

Monday, Feb. 15 – vs. Valparaiso

Thursday, Feb. 18 – at UIC

Sunday, Feb. 21 – at Illinois State

Sunday, Feb. 28 – vs. Southern Illinois

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EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER

EVANSVILLE, Ind – The Purple Aces will host the Southern Illinois Salukis for both team’s first game of MVC play on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 PM.

Evansville vs Southern Illinois | Saturday, September 19 | 6 PM CT

Site | Location Arad McCutchan Stadium | Evansville, Ind

Links 6:00 PM CT:  Live Stats | ESPN+

Last Time Out

Evansville fell to 2-2-1 after a 3-1 loss to Middle Tennessee last Thursday. The Blue Raiders struck quickly with a goal in the third minute, but the Purple Aces responded two minutes later with a goal from Brooklyn Robinson off an assist from Taylor Johnson. With the score tied 1-1, both defenses bolstered and only allowed a total of five shots in the rest of the opening half. 

In the second half both teams upped the ante. Middle Tennessee registered four shots that were all turned away by Evansville goalkeeper Bri Chirpich who ended the game with a season-high nine saves. Evansville was able to create two opportunities before Middle Tennessee broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. Middle Tennessee added another goal in the 83rd minute to take a 3-1 lead.

Brooklyn Robinson and Taylor Johnson led the Aces with two shots each, while Josie Seehafer, Mia Lancaster, Ella Hamner, and Lily Kytasaari each registered a shot. Overall, the Aces were outshot 14-8 in the contest.

Series History

The overall series record is tied 2-2-2 since their first meeting in the 2020-2021 season. At home the Aces are 2-1 against SIU, but SIU is coming off a 3-1 win in their last matchup. Evansville will look to take the series lead and their first MVC win in Saturday’s contest.

Scouting

Southern Illinois posts a 6-2-0 record heading into Saturday’s conference clash. The Salukis are coming off a five-game win streak. Both Saluki’s losses on the season came on the road against Southeast Missouri State and Auburn. SIU goalkeeper Reagan Miller is coming off MVC Goalkeeper of the Week honors.

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EVANSVILLE VOLLEYBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In its final non-conference weekend, the University of Evansville volleyball team faces USI in a home-and-home series. On Friday, the teams meet up on the campus of USI at 6:30 p.m. before Saturday’s match at Meeks Family Fieldhouse starts at 3 p.m.

Match Information

UE at USI Friday, September 18 | 6:30PM CST | Live Stats | ESPN+

UE vs. USI Saturday, September 19 | 3PM CST | Live Stats

Last Time Out

– Tuesday’s match at UT Martin saw the Skyhawks overcome an 0-1 deficit to defeat the Purple Aces in four sets

– Lyla Fisher matched her career mark with 16 kills while Wren Jones added 14

– Kendall Agler led all players with 23 digs

Top Three

– Highlighted by a career-high 31 digs in the road win at Tennessee State, Kendall Agler is third in the MVC with her season average of 4.39 per set

– The effort surpassed her previous mark of 22 digs, which came just days earlier versus Kansas City

– On Tuesday at UT Martin, Agler had another strong effort with 23 digs

– Agler is averaging 5.444 digs per set over the last four matches

Matching Her Mark

– Lyla Fisher has posted her top tally of 16 kills in each of the last two matches

– After doing so in the home match against Tennessee State, Fisher duplicated the feat on Tuesday at UT Martin

– Averaging 2.84 kills/set, Fisher is 9th in the conference and has at least eight kills in eight out of ten matches

– Fisher paced the offense in her first weekend of collegiate action; after posting 12 kills in the opener versus PFW, she added 15 against Rutgers before completing the weekend with 11 at Bellarmine

– Averaging 2.71 kills per set, Fisher is 10th in the MVC

UE Debut

– Savannah Gogel made her Evansville debut at UT Martin

– In her first action for the Purple Aces, Gogel recorded seven kills in 17 attempts

– She added a solo block and block assists

– Gogel played at Northern Illinois as a freshman with her top effort of 13 kills coming against Buffalo

Scouting the Opponent

– USI enters the weekend with a 4-6 record

– The Screaming Eagles went 2-1 in last weekend’s Sports Imports Classic in Columbus, Ohio earning wins over Youngstown State and Winthrop while falling to Ohio State in four sets

– Ashby Willis paces USI with 3.97 kills per set

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SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER

EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer travels to Belmont University Friday to close out non-conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The match will stream on ESPN+. Team coverage will be available on X (@USIMSOC) and Instagram (@usi_msoc), with live stats at USIScreamingEagles.com.

USI (0-3-3) is coming off a 0-0 draw at the University of Evansville on Tuesday, earning its first result in the Mayor’s Cup since 2022.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jacob English finished with five saves, including three in the final 21 minutes, to lead USI’s defense. He now has an Ohio Valley Conference-leading 33 saves this season.

USI has five players with one goal apiece, while six players have recorded two points this season. Graduate student Garrett Morris and freshman Christian Rotundo are USI’s most recent goal scorers. Sophomore Tony Murphy leads the team in assists with two.

The Screaming Eagles have allowed eight goals through six matches, their fewest since returning to Division I in 2022 and their lowest total through six matches since allowing five in 2018 at the Division II level.

Belmont (2-3-1) fell 4-3 to East Tennessee State University Saturday. The Bruins scored in the 15th, 30th and 36th minutes despite being outshot 19-14. Two of Belmont’s three goals came from off the bench.

The Bruins’ three leading goal-scorers are sophomore midfielder Paul Claes Nielsen with three goals, and graduate students John McDowell and Nate Meffored are tied with two goals apiece.

Freshman goalkeeper Brody Sucher protects the net for Belmont. In 516 minutes this season, he has managed 23 saves and allowed 10 goals.

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SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER

CHICAGO – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer wrapped up its four-game road stretch with a 1-1 draw at DePaul University on Thursday afternoon.

USI Women’s Soccer (1-6-3) posted its first result in its first-ever game against a Big East Conference opponent. The Screaming Eagles grabbed the lead in the 51st minute before DePaul (3-2-3) scored an equalizer with under two minutes to go.

Freshman midfielder Shea Krakowski scored the second-half tally for the Screaming Eagles, registering her first career goal. Krakowski became the third freshman to score this season.

USI Women’s Soccer fired seven shots and four on goal, while DePaul had 12 attempts but only five shots on goal.

The first 45 minutes on Thursday were a scoreless battle, as USI’s defense turned away DePaul’s attack and limited the Blue Demons to only one quality chance. The Screaming Eagles’ best looks in the first half came early when freshman forward Liza Anderson charged forward on the dribble for a shot, and later when senior forward Eva Boer took a shot on goal that was saved. The two sides combined for eight shots in the opening half.

Krakowski’s goal in the early minutes of the second half to put USI Women’s Soccer up 1-0 came after a strong push by the Screaming Eagles into the attacking half that led to a throw-in. Krakowski headed the ball into the goal on assists from Boer and sophomore defender Anna Depenbrock, who initiated the play with the throw-in. The scoring play gave Boer her second assist of the season, a team high, and it was Depenbrock’s first helper of the season.

USI protected its one-goal advantage and kept creating chances late into the second half. With five minutes remaining, the Screaming Eagles won possession and moved toward the net to score another tally. However, a VAR review disallowed the potential second goal, keeping USI’s lead at 1-0. Nearly four minutes later, with under two minutes left, DePaul scored the tying goal on a ricochet in the box to make it 1-1.

USI Women’s Soccer returns to Strassweg Field for the first time in two weeks this Sunday, September 20, at 1 p.m., when the Screaming Eagles host Xavier University in USI’s non-conference finale and their second straight match against a Big East Conference team. Sunday is Youth Soccer Day and will feature postgame autographs. Sunday’s match is available with an ESPN+ subscription, with live stats and additional coverage on usiscreamingeagles.com.

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SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL

EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball hosts the second annual Battle for the Lloyd match against crosstown rival the University of Evansville in the first half of this season’s home-and-home series.

USI will host the first of the two games, marking the championship Battle for the Lloyd match on September 18 at 6:30 p.m. inside Liberty Arena for a Red Out theme. Admission to Friday’s match and all USI Volleyball home games this season will be free courtesy of ProRehab. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ on Friday for those with a subscription.

For the second half of the series, the Screaming Eagles will travel across town to UE’s Meeks Family Fieldhouse at 3 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at this link.

The Screaming Eagles return home to Liberty Arena for the first time since breaking the program’s attendance record, hosting the school’s first Division I top-25-ranked opponent, No. 21 Indiana University, on September 7 with 2,125 fans in attendance. The four-set match marked the first set taken off a ranked opponent in USI volleyball’s DI era.

USI spent the weekend on the road at the Sports Imports Classic hosted by Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The Screaming Eagles recorded wins over Youngstown State University (3-1) and finished the weekend with a win over Winthrop University (3-2) in the first five-set challenge of the season.

For their performances in USI’s 2-2 week, senior Ashby Willis and sophomore Aysa Thomas earned Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week awards.

Willis earned her first Defensive Player of the Week honor for tallying 65 digs for a team high with 3.44 per set. The outside hitter proved her all-around play abilities by also leading the team with 55 kills for the week, marking a double-double in three of the four games.

Thomas earned her 10th career weekly award from the league, as the Co-Setter of the Week for her 154 assists across the four games played last week with 9.06 per set. The setter tied her career high with seven blocks in the win over Winthrop. She finished the week with 37 digs, 12 kills, and 12 total blocks. The sophomore is close to a career milestone as she sits with 1,488 career assists, just 22 away from 1,500.

About Evansville: The Purple Aces are 2-8 so far this season, with both wins coming from a home-and-home series with Tennessee State on September 10 and 12. Evansville returned 11 players from last season and added five newcomers. Newcomer Lyla Fisher is leading the Aces’ offense, adding 16 kills in their last match, and Kendall Agler led the team with 23 digs in the loss to UT Martin on September 15. Head Coach Zach Weinberg is in his second season at UE. He currently holds an 8-30 overall record, after the Aces went 6-22 in his debut season.

For game updates on this week’s rivalry games, fans can follow USI Athletics and usivolleyball on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and online at usiscreamingeagles.com.

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VALPO VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball 9/16/2026 8:52:00 PM

Volleyball Closes Preconference Play This Weekend

Valparaiso (5-4, 0-0 MVC)

at WNY Invitational

Friday, Sept. 18 – vs. Le Moyne (0-8) – 11 a.m. CT | at Niagara (0-6) – 5 p.m. CT

Saturday, Sept. 19 – at Canisius (0-8) – 1 p.m. CT

Next Up For Valpo Volleyball: The Valpo volleyball team closes out its preconference play this weekend with a trip to the Empire State for the WNY Invitational, co-hosted by Niagara and Canisius. The Beacons will also take on Le Moyne at the event.

Previously: Valpo posted a 1-2 record last weekend at the CSU/Akron Invite, beating Cleveland State and falling to Coppin State and Akron.

Looking Ahead: Valpo opens MVC play with three consecutive home matches at the ARC, starting with a pair on Homecoming weekend against Belmont and Illinois State.

Following the Beacons: Valpo’s match against Niagara is slated for ESPN+ broadcast, while the Canisius match will have a pay video feed through Canisius’ website. All tournament matches will have live stats available via ValpoAthletics.com.

Series History: Le Moyne – First meeting.

Niagara – Valpo has won both previous matchups against Niagara, winning 3-1 in 2010 at La Salle and 3-1 last season at Eastern Michigan. Jordyn Gove had a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs in that win, while Mara Thomas had 28 assists and 16 digs.

Canisius – First meeting.

Scouting the Opposition: Le Moyne – The Dolphins come into the weekend at 0-8, having lost to Bucknell (3-0), Siena (3-0) and Delaware State (3-1) last weekend. Branwyn Lupton leads Le Moyne with 34 kills, while Haley Buescher has a team-best 39 digs.

Niagara – The Purple Eagles are 0-6 entering the weekend, dropping matches to Kent State (3-0), Columbia (3-1) and Mercyhurst (3-0) last weekend. Payton Lee has tallied a team-high 49 kills and Ashley Moreland has racked up a team-best 47 digs.

Canisius – The Golden Griffins come into the weekend at 0-8 this season, falling last weekend in straight sets at Syracuse. Emma Isroff owns a team-best 70 kills, while Brenda Reynaga leads Canisius with 129 digs.

Player of the Week: Junior Ava Helming was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday following a weekend in northeastern Ohio where she averaged an MVC-best 4.62 kills/set on .261 hitting, highlighted by her career-high 28-kill effort in the win over Cleveland State. It is the third MVC Player of the Week honor of Helming’s career, as she had one apiece as well in each of her first two seasons.

Another Career High…: Helming’s Friday effort against Cleveland State saw her set a career high in kills for the third time this year, as her 28 terminations (on .357 hitting) zoomed past her best of 24, set the previous weekend against Oakland. The 28 kills match the most by a Valpo player in the 25-point era, tying Angie Porché, who recorded 28 kills against Wake Forest Sept. 6, 2008. Helming’s 28 kills rank joint sixth across all eras in program history – the only Valpo players who have registered more than 28 kills in a match are Nicole Schulz (twice), Porché, Kathy Harrison and Kelly Schoenhoft.

…for Gove as Well: Junior Jordyn Gove, who entered the season with a career high of 16 kills, has surpassed the 20-kill mark three times already this campaign. Most recently, Gove racked up 22 kills against Akron – matching her career high set the previous weekend against Oakland – and did so with a career-best .422 hitting percentage. The junior also tallied two more double-doubles last week, giving her six in the season’s first nine matches.

Big Fifth Set: While Helming led the way on the attack in the win over Cleveland State, only two of her 28 kills came in the fifth set, as junior Maggie Uhwat stepped up with her arm in the decisive frame. After racking up just five kills and hitting negative over the first four sets against the Vikings, the junior posted five kills on .400 hitting in the fifth set. In her first season with the Beacons, Uhwat has hit double figures in kills six times in the season’s first nine matches.

Digging It Up: Freshman Rylee Bumgardner submitted her two most prolific matches of the season over last week’s final two matches. She tallied a team-high 17 digs in the win over Cleveland State and followed by soaring past her previous season high with a match-best 29 digs against Akron. Bumgardner also successfully received 36 serves without committing a reception error over the two contests.

A Lethal Attack: Valpo’s win over Oakland came in large part due to the Beacons’ efficiency on the attack. Valpo hit .320 with 70 kills in the win over the Golden Grizzlies – the kill total is tied for second in a four-set match by Valpo in the 25-point era, ironically matching a total against Oakland back on Nov. 21, 2015, while the hitting percentage ranks fourth in a four-set match in the 25-point era. Valpo outkilled Oakland by a 70-38 margin, the program’s biggest advantage in that department since being +33 (76-43) in a win over Wake Forest Sept. 6, 2008. The Beacons’ .320 hitting percentage was the fifth-best in program history when compiling at least 70 kills.

Setting It Up: The Beacons ran a 5-1 in that win over Oakland, and sophomore Olivia Wagner took full advantage playing all the way around at setter. Wagner dished out 57 assists, tied for second-most in a four-set match by a Valpo player in the 25-point era and just one shy of the record. Her assist total was the program’s highest since Victoria Bulmahn tallied 57 assists at Drake March 1, 2021. Wagner was efficient as well, ending the night with a setting percentage of .514. Wagner’s 57 assists more than doubled her collegiate career total, as she entered the night with 55 assists to her name. She also recorded a career-high 10 digs to finish with her first collegiate double-double. On the other end of Wagner’s sets more often than not were Ava Helming  (24 kills) and Jordyn Gove (22 kills), becoming the first pair of Valpo players to each hit 20 kills in the same match since Feb. 14, 2021 against Southern Illinois, when Jaclyn Bulmahn notched 23 kills and Jillie Grant 22.

Capturing Crowns: Part of the volleyball program’s winning tradition has been a penchant for capturing tournament titles, and that continued with the Beacons claiming the Chattanooga Classic on opening weekend. Valpo has won 37 in-season tournament titles since the start of the 2002 campaign. The team has won at least one tournament in 19 of those 25 seasons, and multiple tournaments 11 times. Those tournament titles have come in 14 different states.

Fighting From Behind: The most dramatic of the three wins on opening weekend was easily Valpo’s season opener against UAB. The Beacons rallied from down 1-0 and 2-1 to earn the 3-2 victory in the opener, the first time they have twice overcome a one-set deficit to win a match since doing so in a win at Belmont Oct. 19, 2024. Then, the final set featured 10 tie scores and also saw Valpo trail 12-9 before rallying to win in extra points – the first time the Beacons have had a fifth set go to extra points since prevailing 17-15 in the decisive frame against Missouri State Oct. 12, 2024.

Playing Their Aces: The Beacons had their serving game on point right from the start, racking up 14 service aces in the season-opening win over UAB – second-most by a Valpo team in the 25-point era for a five-set match and fourth-most in this era for any length match. Leading the way was Rylee Bumgardner, as the freshman had five aces in her collegiate debut – tied for second individually by a Valpo player in the 25-point era in a five-set match.

All-Tournament Honors: The Beacons have had four players receive All-Tournament Team accolades over their two tournaments which have presented an All-Tournament Team:

Valpo – Jordyn Gove

Chattanooga – Gove (MVP), Ava Helming, Maggie Uhwat

Making Debuts: Maggie Uhwat was one of two transfers to see her first official action as a Beacon on opening weekend, as fifth-year senior setter Maddie Kmetz handed out 24 assists over parts of seven sets across the three matches. In addition, a quartet of freshmen made their collegiate debuts as well – libero Rylee Bumgardner, setter Mia McCall, middle Maddie Steele and outside/right side Sarah Pippin.

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VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER

Valpo (4-4-1, 0-0-0 MVC)

Sunday, Sept. 20 – Drake (5-3-1, 0-0-0 MVC) – 1 p.m.

Next Up in Valpo Soccer: The Valpo soccer program opens the second season Sunday afternoon on Brown Field as the Beacons host Drake to begin the MVC slate.

Previously: The Beacons enter MVC play with momentum, coming off a pair of wins last weekend, as Valpo took down Oakland, 4-1, and then defeated Southern Indiana on Senior Day, 2-0. The Beacons earned two weekly awards from the MVC office in the process, as Kiara Desiderio was named MVC Player of the Week and Daisy Boardman MVC Defender of the Week.

Looking Ahead: Valpo plays its fourth consecutive home match next Sunday afternoon, as the Beacons welcome Indiana State to town.

Following the Beacons: This week’s matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+, and live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com. All home matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+ as part of The Valley on ESPN, while select road fixtures will also have live video available. 

Head Coach John Marovich: In his 19th season at the helm of the Valpo program, John Marovich holds a 145-143-54 (.503) record both overall and at Valpo as a head coach. The 2014 Horizon League Coach of the Year and the head of the 2022 MVC Coaching Staff of the Year, Marovich is Valpo’s all-time leader in victories.

Series Notes: Valpo is 3-9-2 all-time against Drake, with the Bulldogs earning a 5-1 victory in Des Moines last season in the last meeting between the two programs. The most notable of Valpo’s three wins came in the 2023 MVC Tournament title match in Des Moines, a 1-0 win which gave the Beacons the tournament crown.

Scouting the Opposition: Drake closed nonconference play with a 5-3-1 record, but enters MVC action winless in its last two, falling 2-0 at South Dakota and drawing 1-1 with Omaha last time out. The Bulldogs have limited their opponents to five goals over those nine matches, while on the attack, Angela Gutierrez has scored a team-high six goals. Drake is the reigning MVC regular season champion and was picked atop the 2026 MVC preseason poll.

Starting Valley Play: Valpo is in search of three points to open MVC play in Sunday’s match, something which has eluded it each of the last three years (0-2-1 in openers). The Beacons’ last victory in its conference-opening match came in 2022, a 1-0 win at UNI which kickstarted their run to the regular season title. Incidentally, this marks the third straight season which Valpo has kicked off the Valley slate against Drake.

Nonconference Success: With a pair of wins last week, the Beacons closed out their nonconference slate at .500 with a 4-4-1 record. This is the fifth time in the last seven seasons that Valpo has finished .500 or better in the nonconference schedule.

Putting Away Goals: With six goals over its two victories last week, Valpo bumped its season total to 16 goals entering Valley play. It is the program’s highest goal total entering its first conference match since the 2005 side tallied 17 goals prior to its Mid-Con opener. The Beacons scored multiple goals in six of their nine nonconference matches.

Home Sweet Home: It will be nearly a month between road trips for Valpo, as the Beacons closed nonconference play with a pair of home matches before opening the MVC schedule with two matches on Brown Field.  It is the first time Valpo will have played four straight home matches since playing five in a row back in the Eastgate Field days in September and October 2008. The 28-day stretch between games away from home will be the longest such stretch in program history.

Ki Does It Again: Sophomore Kiara Desiderio was named the MVC Player of the Week for the second time in her career after a big week on the attack last week. After entering the week with two goals and one assists in the season’s first seven matches, Desiderio knocked home a pair of goals in the win over Oakland and then was involved with both goals in the win over USI with a goal and an assist. She has now had multiple goal involvements in three matches this season and five for her career, including three career braces.

Another Brace for Martha: Sophomore Martha Goddard recorded her second brace of the season in the win over Oakland and followed it up with a goal against Southern Indiana, accounting for both match-winning goals in her three-goal weekend as she boosted her season total to six goals. Desiderio and Goddard became the first Valpo teammates to both score twice in a single match since Kendall Brown and Sarah Jewell each scored a pair Oct. 8, 2006 in a victory over Lewis.

First-Time Honoree: While Desiderio earned her third career weekly honor from the MVC office with her Player of the Week accolade, senior Daisy Boardman earned a weekly award for the first time as she was recognized as the MVC Defender of the Week. Boardman played 170 of a possible 180 minutes at right back as the Beacons surrendered just one goal over their two wins, while adding her first assist of the season on the attack versus Oakland. Boardman is just the third Valpo player to be honored as Defender of the Week since the Valley broke goalkeeper and defender into two separate weekly awards starting in 2023.

Multiple Weekly Winners: Desiderio and Boardman teamed up to mark the seventh time multiple Valpo players have earned MVC weekly accolades in the same week since Valpo joined the Valley. It is the first such instance since Sept. 26, 2022, when Addy Joiner, Nikki Coryell and Nicole Norfolk swept the player, goalkeeper and defender weekly honors.

Stopping Shots: Junior Salange Bell held a clean slate in her 135 minutes in goal last week in the pair of wins. Bell stopped three shots after entering at halftime of the win over Oakland, and followed against USI with her second clean sheet of the season, making six saves to blank the Screaming Eagles. Bell ranks second among qualified MVC goalkeepers with an .806 save percentage and ranks fourth with a 1.17 GAA. Over her last three starts, Bell has two shutouts and her two highest save totals of the season.

A Big Win: Valpo’s 4-0 victory over Western Illinois was the program’s largest margin of victory and most goals scored since downing the Leathernecks 5-1 last season. It also marked the program’s largest home victory since a 5-1 win over Chicago State Aug. 31, 2023.

Stringing Together Multiple Goals: The Beacons found the back of the net eight times over a three-match stretch, bookending the four-goal performance against WIU with multiple goals against SIUE and Detroit Mercy. It is the first time Valpo has scored at least two goals in three straight contests since doing so in a three-match stretch in MVC play versus Evansville, Belmont and Murray State in October 2022.

Preseason Honoree: Coming off a rookie campaign in which she was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, sophomore Kiara Desiderio was named to the Preseason All-MVC Team. Desiderio, who became Valpo’s first Freshman of the Year since joining the Valley and was also a Second Team All-MVC choice, kicked off her Beacon career with a team-high seven goals in 2025 — tied for third-most by a freshman in program history. She ranked third in the MVC in goals and fifth in points (15), while also being tied for seventh nationally in goals by a freshman.

Who’s Back: The Beacons return 16 players who saw action on the pitch last season, including eight regular starters. That group accounted for 73.4% of the team’s minutes played by field players in 2025, including six players who played over 1,000 minutes – led by junior Ashley Trippeer, who played 1,397 minutes.

Who’s Gone: Valpo graduated four seniors from last year’s squad and had five other offseason departures. Notably, Second Team All-MVC honoree Molly O’Rear and starting goalkeeper Kate Sheridan were among the group of seniors.

Who’s New: The Beacons welcome nine new players to the program this season: seven true freshmen, one Division I transfer and one Division III transfer.

Good as Goddard: Sophomore forward Martha Goddard returns for her second season in the Brown and Gold after a strong rookie campaign. An MVC All-Freshman Team selection, Goddard tallied three goals and recorded five assists, the latter mark matching the program record for assists by a freshman. She was tied for second in the MVC in assists and tied for fourth on Valpo’s overall single-season chart. Goddard became the first Valpo player to register an assist in three consecutive contests since 2017.

Looking Back at Last Year: Valpo posted a 5-8-4 overall record in 2025 and went 2-4-3 in MVC play, earning eight more points in the Valley than the previous season despite playing one fewer conference game and raising its winning percentage 162 points year-over-year. The Beacons scored 21 goals while surrendering 28 goals, improving their goal differential by 21 goals over 2024. This all came with the vast majority of field player minutes coming from underclassmen, as the 2025 Beacons had 41.2% of their field player minutes played by freshman and 42.3% by sophomores. Kiara Desiderio was named the MVC Freshman of the Year and was joined by Molly O’Rear on the Second Team All-MVC, while Martha Goddard joined Desiderio on the MVC All-Freshman Team.

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VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL

The journey ahead is set for the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team as the Missouri Valley Conference announced its 2026-2027 men’s basketball schedule on Thursday.

The Beacons will have one early-December conference contest as they tip off the league slate on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at UIC before finishing out the remainder of the nonconference schedule. The start of continuous league play and the first Valley home game will be on Tuesday, Dec. 22 against Evansville.

The Beacons will play home-and-home series against each of the other 10 teams to comprise the 20-game Valley slate. Defending conference tournament champion UNI will come to Northwest Indiana on Monday, Jan. 18. Later that same week, defending regular-season champion Belmont will be at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Thursday, Jan. 21. The regular season concludes with what could be an important matchup in the standings as Murray State visits Valpo on Saturday, Feb. 27.

The State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament will take place from March 3-7 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

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A breakthrough 2025-2026 season coupled with strong retention and recruiting has the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team projected to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference, according to Blue Ribbon Magazine. This marks the team’s highest predicted finish since joining The Valley and if achieved would be the team’s highest actual finish since joining the league.

In addition, sophomore JT Pettigrew (Lisle, Ill. / Bolingbrook) has been named to the Blue Ribbon Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Team. Pettigrew is one of only five MVC players to garner this preseason recognition.

Pettigrew became the first Valpo freshman to earn all-conference honors since Lubos Barton in 1999 as he was named to the All-MVC Third Team last season. He was the MVC Freshman of the Year Runner-up and achieved all-freshman team status. A four-time MVC Freshman of the Week, Pettigrew averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while playing in all 33 contests and making 31 starts. He played his best basketball down the stretch, averaging 17.4 points and 8.6 rebounds over the final month of the season. Pettigrew ranked third in the league in rebounding average in MVC play.

The team went 11-9 in league action last year, nearly doubling its conference win total for a second straight season, notching the team’s first-ever winning season in Valley play. Overall, Valpo won 18 games including 17 regular-season contests in 2025-26, the program’s highest regular-season win total since its final season in the Horizon League in 2016-17. The Beacons enjoyed their first winning season overall since 2019-20 and featured a 13-4 mark at the Athletics-Recreation Center, their highest home win total since 2016-17.

Last year, Valpo exceeded expectations, finishing just one game out of a tie for third in a tightly-packed league after being picked last in the 11-team conference’s preseason poll. Valpo ranked 325th nationally in Division-I experience prior to the 2025-26 season and finished the regular season at 150 in the KenPom after beginning at 283, a jump of 133 spots that was the fourth-largest improvement nationally.

Valpo will host an exhibition game on Oct. 27 before tipping off the regular season at the ARC on Nov. 2 vs. Western Illinois. Visit tickets.valpoathletics.com to purchase season tickets.

BLUE RIBBON FORECAST

1.      UIC

2.      Illinois State

3.      Murray State

4.      Valparaiso

5.      Belmont

6.      Bradley

7.      Drake

8.      Southern Illinois

9.      Evansville

10.    UNI

11.    Indiana State

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

F-Chase Walker, SR, Illinois State

F-Roman Domon, SO, Murray State

F-JT Pettigrew, SO, Valparaiso

G-Andy Johnson, SO, UIC

G-Ahmad Henderson, SR, UIC

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Chase Walker, SR, Illinois State

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Christian Jones, R-JR, Murray State

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UINDY FOOTBALL

GAME 4

at McKendree Bearcats (0-2, 0-0 GLVC)

Saturday // September 19

8 p.m. ET // Lebanon, IL

The UIndy football team begins its GLVC title defense this weekend when it travels to McKendree University to battle the Bearcats. Originally scheduled as an afternoon clash, kickoff was moved to 8 p.m. Eastern due to safety concerns over anticipated high temperatures in the area.

UIndy owns a healthy 13-1 lead in the all-time series, with McKendree’s only win coming in 2023. Last year, the Greyhounds racked up more than 600 yards of total offense in a 47-19 Homecoming rout over the visiting Bearcats.

COMPLETE GAME NOTES: https://athletics.uindy.edu/documents/2026/9/16/GAME_4_at_McKendree.pdf

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MARIAN FOOTBALL

Indianapolis — The Marian University football home opener versus Madonna University on Saturday, Sept. 19 has been moved up to an 11:05 a.m. kickoff due to the heat, University officials announced Thursday morning.

Tailgate lots will open at 9 a.m.; gates will open at 9:30 a.m. The Mike Holman Marian Mile will continue at its scheduled time of 9 a.m.

Fans will be allowed to bring a factory-sealed water bottle into Ascension St. Vincent Field.

Further updates on the timing of pregame festivities and Family Weekend activities will be provided.

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“SPORTS EXTRA”

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1889 – The Browns’ Tommy McCarthy steals second base, third, and home in the 7th inning of a 3 – 2 St. Louis victory in Kansas City.

1901 – The American League season ends with Chicago four games in front. Says the Reach Guide: “Effective pitching and sharp fielding were the rule as only 17 batters hit over .300. There was less disorder in the field than the other league, owing to the vigilance of Ban Johnson in protecting umpires.”

1903:

Christy Mathewson relieves Luther Taylor with the score knotted at 5 – 5 in the 7th. The Giants then push across two runs off Jack Sutthoff and Matty wins his 29th of the year.

The Cubs beat the Phils, 6 – 5, in the first game of a twinbill. In the second game, Chick Fraser no-hits Chicago, 10 – 0, for the Phils. Peaches Graham, normally a catcher, is the loser in his only major league decision, while Fraser K’s five and walks four.

Bill Dinneen wins his 20th as Boston defeats Cleveland, 7 – 6. In the absence of official sanction, the presidents of the pennant-winning clubs in the National and American Leagues sign an agreement to meet in a best-of-nine series for the championship. The Pirates will clinch the pennant tomorrow and will face Boston in the first World Series, starting on October 1st.

1908:

Cleveland’s Bob Rhoads pitches a no-hitter against the Red Sox, 2 – 1, beating Frank Arellanes, the only Mexican-American pitcher in the major leagues.

The White Sox stay close to the top when Ed Walsh tops Walter Johnson to win, 1 – 0. The Sox manage just three hits off the Senators’ ace.

The largest crowd in the history of the National League – 35,000 – cheer as the Giants shove the Pirates to five games off the pace by sweeping a doubleheader. Christy Mathewson shuts out the Bucs in the first game, 7 – 0, for his 11th shutout and his 33rd win. Then the Giants collect 18 hits to take the nitecap, 12 – 7, as Hooks Wiltse and Joe McGinnity combine for the win. The other hitting occurs in the first game when Mike Donlin tires of a heckler and punches him in the eye. Police quickly move in.

1909:

Before 35,409, the largest paid baseball attendance ever, Charles Bender beats Bill Donovan and the Tigers, 2 – 0, at Philadelphia to keep the A’s in the pennant race. The A’s are 14-8 against Detroit this year, setting an American League record for most wins against the pennant winner. Ty Cobb is the Triple Crown winner with a .377 BA, 9 home runs (all inside-the-park), and 107 RBI. He also will lead the American League with 216 hits, 116 runs, and 296 total bases. His 76 stolen bases make him the only player ever to win a “quadruple crown”.

In Pittsburgh, Vic Willis stops Brooklyn on just one hit, a topped roller in the 3rd inning by Zack Wheat. It will be the closest ever to a no-hitter by any pitcher at Forbes Field.

1911:

With a triple steal on, the Highlanders’ Cozy Dolan singles in three runs in a 9 – 4 loss at Detroit. The three RBIs are half of Cozy’s season total.

The Giants beat Pittsburgh, 7 – 2, as the Giants steal eight bases with Larry Doyle swiping home twice. New York ties a major league mark with three steals of home. Christy Mathewson is the winner on a four-hitter over Howie Camnitz, increasing the Giants’ lead to five games.

1912 – Despite being rained out in Cleveland, the Red Sox (97-41) clinch the pennant when the A’s lose the first game of a doubleheader with Chicago. Red Sox president Jimmy McAleer informs the Highlanders that Boston will not play a rained out game with them.

1915 – In one of the best pitched games of the year, Ernie Shore goes all the way to give Boston a 1 – 0 win over Detroit in 12 innings.

1916:

The Giants extend their win streak to 11 games by topping the Pirates in the opener of two. The nitecap is called after eight innings with the score tied, 1 – 1.

Washington’s Claude Thomas makes his first major league start and shuts out the A’s, 1 – 0.

Ernie Shore tops the White Sox, 4 – 3. The win, coupled with Detroit’s loss, allows the Red Sox to reclaim first place by .003. Boston will win three in a row from Detroit.

1917:

For the second time this month, a pitcher beats Brooklyn twice in one day, as the Cardinals’ Bill Doak wins, 2 – 0 and 12 – 4. With his 14th and 15th victories, Doak picks up a bonus check as well. In a salary dispute in the spring, the Cards and Doak agreed upon a bonus if the pitcher reached 15 wins, and another bonus if he won twenty. He’ll win just one more.

The Giants suspend team captain Buck Herzog for refusing to accompany the team on its western trip. Herzog will be traded after the season.

1920 – National League directors meet in New York, NY, joined by Jacob Ruppert, Cap Huston, Charles Comiskey, and Harry Frazee of the American League. They name a committee to draw up an agreement along the lines of Albert Lasker’s proposal, and give the five AL clubs still backing Ban Johnson an ultimatum: come in by November 1st or the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox will pull out of the AL and join a 12-team National League (with a team in Detroit, MI to complete the roster). The AL five turn it down, and bluff and counterbluff blow through the autumn air.

1922 – Whitey Witt, his head bandaged from being hit by a bottle two days before, drives in two in the 9th for a 3 – 2 New York win, and they leave St. Louis one and a half games in front. They will finish one game on top, clinching the pennant on the 30th with a 3 – 1 win in Boston. George Sisler’s 41-game hitting streak is stopped by New York’s Joe Bush, the same pitcher he had started the streak against on July 27th.

1925:

At Pittsburgh, the Pirates stop the Braves, 9 – 7. Kiki Cuyler is 4 for 4 with a double and triple and two runs to start a hit streak.

Five days after making a start in a 4 – 3 loss to the Browns, White Sox pitcher Dickie Kerr loses his only decision this year, 11 – 6, to Washington. It’s the last decision of his brilliant but short career. Kerr (21-17 in 1920; 19-17 in 1921) turned down a Sox offer of $4,500 in 1922 and signed with a Texas semi-pro team for $5,000. Commissioner Landis suspended Kerr, and he didn’t return to the major leagues till this month. Kerr was the winner of two games in the 1919 World Series.

1926 – At Dunn Field, the Indians win their fourth in a row, defeating the Yankees, 3 – 1, behind George Uhle. The win cuts the Yanks’ American League lead to two and a half games over the Tribe.

1928 – The Braves and Cubs combine for National League-record eight double plays between them, but the Cubs win the game, 8 – 3. Sheriff Blake is the winner over Johnny Cooney.

1929 – A Pirates loss to the Braves clinches the National League pennant for the Cubs.

1930:

The Cards finish a three-game sweep of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field.

The Yankees edge the Browns, 7 – 6, in ten innings as pitcher Red Ruffing hits two home runs in the winning effort.

The Philadelphia Athletics win the American League championship for the second year in a row, defeating the White Sox, 14 – 10.

1931:

In a 4 – 3 loss to the Cardinals, the Giants’ Mel Ott is beaned by Burleigh Grimes in the 5th inning. Ott suffers a concussion and, with the Cardinals clinching the pennant, he sits out the rest of the season.

Lefty Grove wins his 30th game, beating the White Sox, 3 – 1, on five hits. He is the first to win 30 since Jim Bagby of Cleveland in 1920 and will be the last American League hurler to do so until Denny McLain in 1968.

1933:

The Cards put off the Giants’ flag conquest by attacking Carl Hubbell in the 8th to win, 4 – 3. Tex Carleton is the winner when Leo Durocher drives home the last run with a triple.

The second-place Yankees split with the White Sox, winning, 6 – 1, on Johnny Allen’s two-hitter, before falling, 4 – 3. Les Tietje, in his big league debut, stops the Bombers in the nitecap. Lou Gehrig clubs home runs #28 and #29: Jimmie Foxx leads the American League with 45.

1934 – Bobo Newsom of the Browns continues the unusual, losing a no-hitter with two out in the 10th inning. Two walks and a single produce the game’s second run as Boston’s Rube Walberg hurls nine innings of ten hits and one run. Wes Ferrell started but left after one inning. Final score: 2 – 1.

1935 – With 30,000 fans watching at Wrigley Field, first-place Chicago tallies 20 hits in thrashing the Giants, 15 – 3. Charlie Root picks up the win, Chicago’s 15th straight.

1936 – Larry MacPhail abruptly quits as the Reds’ general manager. He will be replaced by Warren Giles.

1937:

Pittsburgh OF Paul Waner establishes a 20th-century National League record with his eighth year of 200 or more hits.

Martin Dihigo raps six hits (four singles, a double and a home run) in a Mexican League game, the first player to do so.

1938 – Although they drop a doubleheader to the Browns, the Yankees clinch the pennant.

1940:

The A’s are mired deep in the cellar, but Connie Mack hits all the right buttons today. He sends four pinch hitters to the plate in the 9th inning versus Detroit, and all four deliver hits.

The Reds clinch the National League flag, outdistancing the Dodgers and the late-rushing Cardinals. Bill McKechnie’s Cincinnati team makes only 117 errors during the season, 18 less than any previous team. The .981 fielding mark is the best up to this time. The defense, plus the pitching of Bucky Walters, Paul Derringer, and reliever Joe Beggs, brings the second straight NL flag to the Reds, despite multiple injuries to Ernie Lombardi. The big catcher went down again on September 15th, and the club turns to 39-year-old coach Jimmie Wilson for some of the backstopping. Wilson will end up as a World Series hero.

1943 – The Cardinals clinch the National League pennant. Howie Pollet, Max Lanier, and Mort Cooper will rank 1-2-3 in NL ERA, and Al Brazle at 1.53 and Harry Brecheen at 2.27 are near the same level. For hitting, Redbirds prime with Whitey Kurowski, Walker Cooper, and Stan Musial, who in his second season hits .357 and has 220 hits, 347 total bases, 48 doubles and 20 triples.

1950 – At Ebbets Field, the Dodgers’ Tommy Brown hits three home runs in his team’s losing effort. He is the third Dodger this year to clout three homers in one game. The Cubs’ Ron Northey hits his third lifetime pinch grand slam – a record – to give Chicago a 9 – 7 win.

1951:

In St. Louis, the Cardinals cuff Ralph Branca for a 7 – 1 win over the Dodgers. It is Brooklyn’s fourth loss in seven road games. Adding insult to injury, Stan Musial and Enos Slaughter pull off a double steal with Stan scoring.

After a day off, the Giants edge the Reds, 6 – 5, in Cincy, though Dave Koslo is touched for 13 hits. Willie Mays has two of the three Giants errors, but George Spencer saves the game in his 55th appearance.

In the first of two games today, Browns pitcher Tommy Byrne hits a grand slam off the Senators’ Sid Hudson in the 9th inning to ice the game, 8 – 0. It’s the first grand slam for the Browns this year. In the nitecap, Byrne cracks a 10th-inning pinch single to give the Browns a 3 – 2 victory,

Cleveland beats Boston, 6 – 4, as Mike Garcia wins his 20th. With the Yanks losing to Billy Pierce and Chicago, 7 – 1, the Indians and Yankees are tied for first place. This is the tenth time the two teams have been in a tie for first place, surpassing the major-league record of nine set in the National League race of 1889 and the Federal League race of 1914.

1953 – The St. Louis Cardinals appeal the U.S. claim for $215,025 in back taxes from 1947-1949.

1954:

The Indians clinch the third pennant in club history with a 3 – 2 win over the Tigers.

The Giants’ Don Mueller makes his 200th hit an inside-the-park home run, making him the first Giant to get 200 hits since Joe Moore in 1936. Willie Mays also has an inside-the park homer, as the Giants beat the Phils, 8 – 1.

1955 – In a 7 – 5 loss to Brooklyn, Willie Mays hits his ninth homer at Ebbets Field to tie Joe Adcock’s mark.

1956:

Mickey Mantle hits his 50th home run, only the eighth to do so, in the 11th off Chicago’s Billy Pierce, as New York wins, 3 – 2, to clinch another pennant.

Cleveland sweeps a doubleheader from Washington behind Herb Score and Mike Garcia, 1 – 0 and 6 – 0.

1958 – For the second time in a month, the first two hitters for a team homer. This time it is Kansas City’s Bill Tuttle and Roger Maris connecting off Boston’s Ted Bowsfield in the bottom of the 1st inning as the A’s win, 4 – 1. Bob Cerv hits #37 for the A’s and Pete Daley homers in the 2nd off winner Bud Daley for Boston’s only score.

1960:

Pittsburgh’s Vern Law joins the 20-win circle with a complete game 5 – 3 win in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field.

Don Zimmer, Ron Santo, and George Altman hit 6th-inning home runs as the Cubs beat the Dodgers, 5 – 2, at Wrigley Field. Chicago’s biggest home run threat, Ernie Banks, sets a record by drawing his 27th intentional walk of the year.

Before 53,876 fans, the Yankees win both ends of a doubleheader against the Orioles, winning, 7 – 3 and 2 – 0. The Yankees sweep the four-game series and the faltering Birds, now four back, will end up in second place, eight games back. Ralph Terry’s two-hitter in the nitecap beats Milt Pappas.

The surprising fourth-place Senators fall to a game above .500 when Ted Williams’ two-run home run off Pedro Ramos gives Boston a 2 – 1 win. Billy Muffett allows just three hits, including Jim Lemon’s 38th home run, in a quick one hour, 40 minute win. A late collapse – 15 losses in their final 18 games – will drop Washington to fifth place, but that will still be the club’s best finish in seven years. The club will continue its improvement after relocating in Minnesota next season.

1962:

The Mets drop a pair to the visiting Colts .45s, 6 – 2 and 8 – 6, and also break the major-league record for homers allowed. Merritt Ranew and Dave Roberts connect for the Colts, the 188th and 189th homers allowed, breaking the A’s mark set in 1956. Bob Aspromonte of the Colts sets a National League record for a third baseman with his 57th straight errorless game.

At Los Angeles, the Aaron brothers lead the Braves to a 10 – 5 pounding of the Dodgers, and cut the Dodgers’ lead over the idle Giants to three and a half games. Hank Aaron hits his 40th homer and Tommie Aaron accounts for three RBIs with three hits.

At Washington’s new ball park, D.C. Stadium, Mickey Mantle clouts the first home run there, and adds another, both off Washington starter Tom Cheney, to pace New York to a 7 – 1 win. Mick has five RBIs. Ralph Terry picks up his 22nd win, the most by a Yankee right-hander since 1928. The Yankees’ win, combined with a Twins loss, leaves New York (90-63) in first place by four games.

Charlie Finley is denied permission to move the Athletics to Dallas-Ft. Worth.

1963:

Rookie Dick Nen crushes St. Louis’ pennant hopes with a 9th-inning game-tying home run off reliever Ron Taylor. Ron Perranoski wins, 6 – 5, in 13 innings for a three-game sweep of the threatening Cards. Nen’s home run is his only hit in eight at bats with the Dodgers.

The last major league game at the Polo Grounds draws 1,752 fans to see Philadelphia beat New York, 5 – 1. Jim Hickman hits the final New York home run in the historic park, and Chris Short beats Craig Anderson.

1965:

Larry Jackson of the Cubs beats the Mets, 4 – 3, for his 11th straight win over New York.

On Mickey Mantle Day at Yankee Stadium, 50,180 fans see Mantle play his 2,000th game. Joe DiMaggio and Bobby Kennedy are on hand as Mantle is given a barbecue grill in the shape of a prairie schooner and a six-foot Kosher salami weighing 100 pounds. In Mantle’s first at bat, Detroit’s Joe Sparma comes off the mound to shake his hand. Mick then flies out. Detroit wins, 4 – 3, with reliever Denny McLain getting the win.

1966:

The Twins beat the Yankees, 5 – 3, in ten innings, on Bob Allison’s pinch three-run homer, sending the Yankees to the cellar in the American League. In his last plate appearance of the year, Mickey Mantle whiffs and becomes the first player to strike out 1,500 times in his career.

Kansas City and Washington battle with Washington winning, 1 – 0, behind Phil Ortega. John Odom blanks the Senators for 8 1/3 innings to run the A’s scoreless string to 45 1/3 innings. The American League record of 47 was set by Cleveland in 1948.

1967:

Bob Gibson pitches St. Louis to a 5 – 1 win and its second pennant of the decade.

Boston rallies to beat the first-place Tigers in Detroit. A Carl Yastrzemski home run, his 40th, ties the game, 5 – 5, in the 9th inning and a solo home run by Dalton Jones wins it in the 10th. Hours later, Detroit will receive another blow when Denny McLain leaps off a couch and sprains his left ankle. He will not pitch again until the last game of the year.

Minnesota keeps pace by beating Kansas City, 2 – 0, behind Jim Kaat’s six-hitter. The White Sox lose, 3 – 2, to the Angels when Rick Reichardt hits a 9th-inning RBI single. Boston, Detroit, and Minnesota are now tied for first, with Chicago in fourth place, a half-game back.

1968 – Sixteen hours after Gaylord Perry’s feat, Ray Washburn of the Cards makes major league history by hurling a second consecutive no-hitter in one park. Run-scoring hits by Mike Shannon and Curt Flood at Candlestick Park down the Giants, 2 – 0.

1970 – The Cubs sweep a pair from Montreal, winning 3 – 2 and 5 – 4. Fergie Jenkins wins his 20th in the opener, helped by Billy Williams’ 40th homer of the year. Phil Regan is the victor in the nitecap.

1971 – San Diego’s Clay Kirby allows just one hit – a wind-blown homer in the 8th by Willie McCovey – in beating the Giants, 2 – 1. Despite the loss, the Giants retain their two-game edge over the Dodgers. The Padres score their first run on a squeeze by Enzo Hernandez. For Hernandez, his bunt gives him 12 RBIs: his 12 RBIs in 549 at bats is the fewest in history by anyone with 500 or more at bats.

1975 – The New York Mets defeat the Chicago Cubs, 7 – 5, at Shea Stadium. Dave Kingman sets a team record with his 35th home run of the season to win it in the 9th inning. Rusty Staub becomes the first Mets’ player to reach 100 RBIs in a season with a two-run homer in the 5th.

1976:

In his last major league at-bat, future Hall of Fame Cleveland player-manager Frank Robinson strokes a pinch-hit single against the Orioles.

The Phillies finally win, topping the host Cubs, 4 – 1, as Jay Johnstone leads with four hits. It is the first-place Phillies’ sixth win in their last 24 games.

Tom Seaver cuts down the Pirates for the second time in six days, this time winning 6 – 2 at Shea Stadium. Dave Kingman belts his 35th homer and Ed Kranepool adds another for the Mets.

1977:

Spoiling Brooks Robinson Night in Baltimore, Boston’s Ted Cox goes 4 for 4 in his first big league game, a 10 – 4 win over the Orioles. Cox will get two more hits tomorrow before making an out against the Yankees, setting a major-league record for consecutive hits at the start of a career.

After losing five of his last six decisions, Chicago’s Rick Reuschel notches his 20th victory, beating the Mets, 6 – 5. Reuschel leaves after six innings because of a blister, but racks up two hits and three ribbies at the plate.

1979 – Yankees manager Billy Martin reportedly pays rookie P Bob Kammeyer $100 to hit former Yankee Cliff Johnson with a pitch in Cleveland’s 16 – 3 rout of the Bronx Bombers. Johnson belts two homers as does Toby Harrah and the two combine for nine RBIs. The loss goes to Paul Mirabella but Kammeyer gives up all eight Tribe scores in the 4th inning without recording an out in his only appearance of the season.

1980:

At Milwaukee, the Twins lose, 9 – 8, to the Brewers, wasting Gary Ward’s hitting for the cycle.

Willie Wilson steals second and third base in the 2nd inning of Kansas City’s 5 – 2 win over the Angels, giving him an American League-record 28 consecutive stolen bases without being caught. Ron LeFlore had set the previous record in 1978.

1981 – The Brewers top the Orioles, 5 – 1, to move into first place in the American League East by half a game.

1984:

Tim Raines becomes the first player in major league history with four consecutive seasons of 70 or more stolen bases by swiping four in Montreal’s 7 – 4 win over St. Louis.

The Tigers clinch the American League East championship with a 3 – 0 win over the Brewers as starter Randy O’Neal records his first major league win. Detroit becomes the fourth team this century to be in first place every day of the season, joining the 1923 Giants, the 1927 Yankees, and the 1955 Dodgers.

1985 – Catcher Rich Gedman hits for the cycle and drives in seven runs as the Red Sox rout Toronto, 13 – 1.

1986 – For the second time in his career, Reggie Jackson belts three homers in a game in an 18 – 3 Angels laugher over Kansas City. At the age of 40 years, four months, Reggie joins Stan Musial and Babe Ruth as the only players to accomplish the feat after turning 40. Reggie scores four times and has seven RBIs

1987 – In Detroit’s 7 – 6 win over the Brewers, Darrell Evans belts his 30th homer of the year. He is the first 40-year-old to hit 30 homers in a season.

1988 – Baltimore’s Bob Milacki allows one hit over eight innings in his big league debut and Tom Niedenfuer pitches the 9th to complete a 2 – 0 one-hitter against the Tigers.

1990 – In Toronto, the Red Sox beat the Jays, 6 – 3, to cut Toronto’s lead to two games over Baltimore. Boston has now won four out of five in the SkyDome, but has a 15-game losing streak to the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.

1991:

San Diego’s Tony Gwynn undergoes arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee. Gwynn has missed 11 of the Padres’ last 17 games. He has just four hits in his last 27 at bats and has fallen behind Hal Morris in the batting race.

Despite Cal Ripken’s 30th homer of the year, Baltimore loses to Boston, 7 – 5. With 42 doubles already, Cal is the first shortstop in major league history to top 30 home runs and 40 doubles in the same year.

In Toronto’s 5 – 3 win over Seattle, Toronto’s Rob Ducey is knocked unconscious in a collision at the plate with Seattle C Scott Bradley. Unlike most catchers, Bradley keeps his mask on for throws from the OF, and Ducey hits his head on the mask.

1992:

Pittsburgh’s Barry Bonds hits his 30th home run of the season off Philadelphia’s Terry Mulholland in the Pirates’ 5 – 2 win over the Phillies. Bonds thus becomes the fifth player in history to have a pair of 30-HR, 30-stolen bases seasons. The others include his father, Willie Mays, Howard Johnson, and Ron Gant.

Koji Akiyama sets a Pacific League record with his eighth straight 30-homer season. Akiyama and teammates Orestes Destrade and Kazuhiro Kiyohara have each hit 30+ three years in a row, also a record.

1993 – Trailing by two runs with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Mike Stanley hits a pop fly to left for the apparent third out, but time had been called just as the pitch was delivered due to a fan running out onto the Yankee Stadium field. Given a second chance, the Yankee catcher singles, which is followed by a Wade Boggs hit, a walk to Dion James, and a Don Mattingly single driving in two runs to beat the Red Sox, 4 – 3.

1995:

Gary Sheffield follows up his 5-for-5 performance of yesterday with three hits in three at bats – eight straight hits – for seven RBIs, in Florida’s 13 – 10 loss to Philadelphia. Sheffield, who was on the disabled list, will hit ten homers and a club record 27 RBI in September.

The owners hire New York City labor commissioner Randy Levine as their chief labor negotiator.

1996:

Boston’s Roger Clemens fans 20 Detroit Tigers, without walking a single batter, to tie his record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game. The Rocket holds the Tigers to four hits en route to a 4 – 0 shutout.

Cincinnati OF Kevin Mitchell is suspended by the Reds for the final 13 games of the season. After receiving permission to stay behind in San Diego on an off-day, Mitchell did not show up in Pittsburgh as expected yesterday or today, precipitating the suspension.

1997 – At San Francisco, Brian Johnson homers in the 12th inning to give the Giants a 6 – 5 win over the Dodgers and a tie for the lead in the National League West. Rod Beck gives up three singles in the 10th, but strikes out Todd Zeile and gets Eddie Murray on a double play.

1998:

The White Sox sell C Chad Kreuter to the Angels.

Mark McGwire hits home run #64 as he leads the Cardinals to a 5 – 2 win over the Brewers.

Houston’s Randy Johnson loses his no-hit bid in the 7th but improves his National League record to 9-1, beating the Pirates, 5 – 2. The Big Unit allows four hits.

Frank Thomas notches his 100th RBI – the eighth straight year he’s reached that level – by clouting a two-run home run in Chicago’s 11 – 9 win over Boston. Thomas’s home run is one of seven in the game in which 32 hits are registered.

1999:

The Rangers defeat the Devil Rays, 6 – 1. Tampa Bay P Jim Morris makes his major league debut by fanning Royce Clayton in the 8th inning. At 36, he becomes the oldest rookie pitcher since Diomedes Olivo (age 40 or so) with Pittsburgh in 1960. Morris was a high school baseball coach and science teacher just four months ago when he tried out at the urging of his players. His life story will be turned into a movie.

Slammin’ Sammy Sosa becomes the first player in major league history to hit 60 homers twice. The Cub outfielder hits his milestone round-tripper off Brewer hurler Jason Bere.

2000:

Pitching a one-hitter against the Yankees, Indians hurler Bartolo Colon nearly ends the longest streak in major league history of a team not being held hitless by its opponents. The Bronx Bombers have not been denied a hit in a game since Hoyt Wilhelm did it on September 9, 1958 spanning a total of 6,637 contests.

The Braves defeat the Mets, 6 – 3, as Greg Maddux extends his scoreless streak to 29 innings.

2001 – The Rockies came back from a 6 – 0 deficit in the 1st inning, in which they make five errors, and pound Curt Schilling to defeat the Diamondbacks, 10 – 9. The Rocks win it on dramatic back-to-back homers by Todd Helton and Jeff Cirillo off Byung-Hyun Kim in the bottom of the 9th. The D-Backs’ lead over San Francisco is now just one and a half games.

2002 – The Diamondbacks trounce the Padres, 10 – 3, as 1B Greg Colbrunn hits for the cycle. Colbrunn adds a second home run among five hits and drives home four runs for Arizona. Colbrunn is the first player to hit two home runs in a game while hitting for the cycle since George Brett (May 28, 1979).

2007 – The second Bricktown Showdown is played and the Sacramento River Cats top the Richmond Braves, 7 – 1. Kazuhito Tadano gets the win while Blaine Boyer takes the loss. Lou Merloni drives in four to win the MVP award while Brant Colamarino hits a two-run homer.

2009:

Ichiro Suzuki hits a two-out, two-run homer off Yankee closer Mariano Rivera to give Seattle a 3 – 2 win.

Scott Kazmir pitches six scoreless innings for his first win with the Angels, 2 – 0 over Texas. Vladimir Guerrero hits a home run.

2010:

DOOR Neptunus wins its record 13th Hoofdklasse title, breaking a tie with Haarlem Nicols. They win the 2010 Holland Series, four games to two, over the Amsterdam Pirates, taking Game 6 by a 5 – 2 score. The finale features two weird plays at third base that lead to both Amsterdam runs. Bas de Jong collides with the third base coach while en route to score his team’s first run, but Johan Brandsma, the umpire, rules it is not interference. The very next play, Neptunus 3B Raily Legito collides with Kenny Berkenbosch on a pick-off, leading to an interference call and a second run. Diegomar Markwell pitches a one-hitter, the second in Holland Series history, while Amsterdam becomes the first team to strand no baserunners in a Holland Series game. Dushan Ruzic is named Series MVP thanks to two wins and one save out of the Neptunus bullpen.

CC Sabathia becomes the major leagues’ first 20-game winner this year in the Yankees’ 11 – 3 pasting of the Orioles. Sabathia has twice before finished a season with 19 wins, but it is the first time he reaches the magic number. However, the Yankees fail to put some distance between themselves and Tampa Bay, as the Rays rally in the 9th to tie the game, then score the winning run on a throwing error as they defeat the Angels, 4 – 3, to remain a half-game behind the Bronx Bombers.

The Padres use a 9th-inning rally, capped by a three-run homer by Ryan Ludwick against his former teammates, as they defeat St. Louis, 8 – 4, and regain a half-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. The Rockies are only a game back of both teams after they win their 20th in their last 26 games, 12 – 2 over Los Angeles. Red-hot Troy Tulowitzki hits two more homers and has now gone long 14 times in his last 15 games.

2012:

The Tigers defeat the red-hot Athletics, 12 – 2, but lose P Max Scherzer, who departs after two innings with shoulder fatigue. Miguel Cabrera homers twice, including a grand slam in the 8th, and drives in six runs; Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta also homer as A.J. Griffin is the loser after starting his career with six straight wins.

Taylor Teagarden strokes a pinch-hit single in the 18th inning to give the Orioles a 4 – 2 win over the Seattle Mariners, and put them in a first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the AL East. The O’s need to rally from a 2 – 0 deficit in the top of the 9th, as Ryan Flaherty and Nate McLouth open the frame with singles, chasing starter Erasmo Ramirez, who had only given up two hits until then. J.J. Hardy bunts the two runners over, then Chris Davis drives them both in with a single off closer Tom Wilhelmsen, sending the game into extra innings.

2013:

In his first major league start Reds OF Billy Hamilton reaches base five times and steals four bases, becoming the first player to do so in the modern era. The Reds defeat the Astros, 6 – 5, as Hamilton scores a key run in the top of the 13th.

Other games with postseason implications go into extra innings, as the Rays defeat the Rangers, 4 – 3, in 12 innings on Desmond Jennings’ game-ending single, while Chris Davis of the Orioles drives in a pair of 12th-inning runs in a 5 – 3 win over Boston. Tampa Bay’s win gives the Rays sole possession of the first wild card slot in the American League, a game ahead of Texas, with Cleveland a half-game behind Texas, the Orioles one back and Kansas City two and a half out.

2016 – The Kingdom of the Netherlands wins the 2016 European Championship, defending its title. The Dutch receive a stiff challenge from Spain, appearing in its first finals in 61 years. Nick Urbanus hits a two-run single off Leslie Nacar in the 2nd but Fernando Martínez ties it in the 8th with a two-run homer against Shairon Martis. In the bottom of the 10th, Yurendell de Caster singles in Dashenko Ricardo with the winner. Loek van Mil gets the win. Dutch shortstop Stijn van der Meer is named European Championship MVP.

2017:

Playing the last-place Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the Dodgers open the game with an inside-the-park homer by Chris Taylor and a conventional one by Justin Turner against rookie Nick Pivetta. However, the youngster settles down and in the 6th, Clayton Kershaw loads the bases with a pair of walks sandwiched around a bloop single by Freddy Galvis, before Aaron Altherr takes him deep for the first grand slam he has allowed in over 1,900 major league innings. Curtis Granderson adds a homer for the Dodgers in the 9th, but Hector Neris saves Philly’s 4 – 3 win.

In Game 4 of the American Association championship series, the Wichita Wingnuts think they have defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes when Casey Turgeon grounds out to third with a runner on second base to apparently end the game and give Wichita a 3 – 2 win that clinches the championship. But while the players are out celebrating, the home plate umpire throws a cold shower on their party, telling them he had called a balk on the play. Given a second chance to bat, Turgeon drives in the tying run and Winnipeg eventually wins in 17 innings, forcing a decisive fifth game.

2018:

With a 4 – 0 win over the Rangers, Blake Snell becomes the first 20-game winner in the majors this year. He also ties David Price for the Rays team record, and records his 200th strikeout in the process, reaching the mark for the first time of his career.

The first Super6 begins. In the opener of the 2018 edition, Italy hits five home runs to rout Germany, 11 – 1. Former major leaguers Alex Liddi and Chris Colabello combine for five runs and six RBI, while Luis Lugo gets the win over Daniel Thieben.

The Memphis Redbirds win the Triple-A Baseball National Championship with a 14 – 4 romp over the Durham Bulls. Alex Mejia goes 5 for 5 with five RBI to win the MVP award.

2019 – On the first day of the 2019 Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier, the Netherlands beat Czechia, 4 – 1, behind three RBI from Roger Bernadina and a strong start by Orlando Yntema. Israel’s Joey Wagman throws a three-hitter and Danny Valencia drives in all the runs in a 3 – 0 win over Spain. The game between Italy and South Africa is halted by rain in the 6th inning.

2020 – Garrett Crochet becomes the first player in over a decade to go straight to the majors when the #11 pick from the 2020 amateur draft makes his maiden appearance pitching in relief for the White Sox against the Reds. After working out at the Sox’s alternate training site in Schaumburg, IL since being signed, he impresses by striking two of the three batters he faces and regularly hitting 100 mph on the radar gun with his fastball.

2021 – Slovakia finishes last in its first European Championship but shows it could challenge teams with long histories. In the 15th/16th place game of the 2021 European Championship, it leads France (a former Bronze Medalist that has finished 7th or 8th in recent Euros) entering the 8th before falling, 6 – 5, in 11 innings. Robyn Clara gets the win when center fielder Léo Jiminian makes a catch-and-throw double play to end the game, nailing Michal Noga at the plate.

2022:

The USA wins the 2022 U-18 Baseball World Cup. In the finale, they avenge their only loss, beating Taiwan, 5 – 1. Bryce Eldridge scores two, drives in three and closes out the game with a shutout inning to lock up Cup MVP honors. It is the US’s tenth title, moving within one of all-time leader Cuba. In the Bronze Medal Game, Japan beats South Korea, 6 – 2, with Shiki Kawahara notching a three-inning save, allowing one hit and no runs.

With ten strikeouts in six innings in a 5 – 2 Braves win over the Phillies, rookie Spencer Strider becomes the quickest pitcher to record 200 Ks in a season, doing so in 130 innings. The previous record was 130 2/3 innings by Randy Johnson in 2001.

2023 – Having announcement his retirement at the end of the season, Adam Wainwright achieves an important career milestone in one of his final starts as he defeats Milwaukee, 1 – 0, for his 200th win. The long-time Cardinals pitcher gives up four hits and no runs over seven innings.

2024 – The first two teams to clinch a spot in this year’s postseason do so today. The Brewers secure the NL Central title, their third in four years, with a 2 – 1 win over the Phillies combined with a loss by the Cubs earlier in the day. For their part, the Yankees are assured of at least a wild card spot after a ten-inning, 2 – 1 victory over Seattle, although they are looking for more given they now hold a five-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East and have the best record in the circuit at 89-63.

2025:

All-time pitching legend Clayton Kershaw, who in July became just the 20th pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts, announces that he will retire following the season after 18 years in the majors, all with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the Reds desperately hanging on at the fringes of the National League wild card race, Hunter Greene pitches the best game of his career, limiting the Cubs to one hit – a double by Seiya Suzuki with two outs in the 7th – while striking out nine in a 1 – 0 win. The one-hitter is Greene’s first career shutout.

Births[edit]

1859 – Wally Andrews, infielder (d. 1940)

1865 – Al Warner, umpire (d. 1916)

1872 – Bill Byron, umpire (d. 1955)

1883 – Frank Manush, infielder (d. 1965)

1889 – Heinie Groh, infielder, manager (d. 1968)

1889 – Chuck Miller, outfielder (d. 1961)

1890 – Harvey Grubb, infielder (d. 1970)

1898 – George Uhle, pitcher (d. 1985)

1899 – Steve O’Neill, owner (d. 1983)

1901 – Tige Stone, outfielder (d. 1960)

1903 – Rube Chambers, pitcher (d. 1928)

1905 – Sammy Bankhead, outfielder/infielder; All-Star (d. 1976)

1905 – Mike Getto, college coach (d. 1960)

1906 – Jimmy Bonner, NPB pitcher (d. 1963)

1908 – Lefty Guise, pitcher (d. 1968)

1909 – Rip Collins, catcher (d. 1969)

1911 – Tommy de la Cruz, pitcher (d. 1958)

1911 – Charlie Rivera, infielder (d. 2003)

1913 – Max Marshall, outfielder (d. 1993)

1914 – Sylvester Snead, infielder (d. 1995)

1914 – Bill Sodd, pinch hitter (d. 1998)

1918 – Enrique Fonseca, Venezuelan national team catcher (d. 2020)

1918 – Norman Young, infielder (d. 1987)

1919 – Len Pigg, catcher (d. 1993)

1920 – Paul Gillespie, catcher (d. 1970)

1920 – Ed Hanyzewski, pitcher (d. 1991)

1922 – Lenny Roberts, umpire (d. 2008)

1922 – Masaharu Tanaka, NPB outfielder (d. 1944)

1923 – Joe Tepsic, outfielder (d. 2009)

1925 – Harvey Haddix, pitcher; All-Star (d. 1994)

1929 – Mary Beschorner, AAGPBL outfielder (d. 2008)

1929 – Tetsuharu Teramoto, NPB infielder (d. 2010)

1930 – Noboru Fujishige, NPB catcher

1934 – Bob White, minor league infielder (d. 2010)

1935 – Jerry Mallett, outfielder

1936 – Yoshinori Kido, NPB pitcher (d. 2023)

1936 – Tokito Soejima, NPB pitcher

1938 – Lorn Brown, broadcaster (d. 2010)

1940 – Akira Kawaharada, NPB pitcher (d. 2023)

1941 – Dick Dietz, catcher; All-Star (d. 2005)

1945 – Satoru Miwa, NPB pitcher (d. 2021)

1945 – Shinichi Sakaki, NPB catcher

1946 – Mitsuru Fujiwara, NPB infielder

1946 – Dave Sells, pitcher

1947 – Bill Champion, pitcher (d. 2017)

1948 – Ken Brett, pitcher; All-Star (d. 2003)

1948 – Lee Richard, infielder (d. 2023)

1951 – Bob Maneely, minor league pitcher

1951 – Masayuki Miura, NPB catcher

1951 – Juan Pérez Pérez, Cuban league pitcher (d. 2013)

1951 – Tony Scott, outfielder (d. 2024)

1952 – Sam Bowen, outfielder

1953 – Mark DeJohn, infielder

1953 – Rick Tronerud, minor league pitcher (d. 2020)

1955 – Don McCormack, catcher

1955 – Garry Pyka, minor league infielder

1955 – Ray Smith, catcher

1956 – Dave Burroughs, college coach

1957 – Roger Mason, pitcher

1958 – Scott Holman, pitcher

1958 – Takashi Kimura, NPB outfielder

1959 – Mikio Oikawa, NPB outfielder

1959 – Ryne Sandberg, infielder; All-Star, manager; Hall of Famer (d. 2025)

1960 – Renato Anastagasti, Netherlands Antilles national team infielder

1960 – Scott Earl, infielder

1960 – Dan Lamar, minor league catcher

1963 – Dave Martinez, minor league pitcher (d. 2022)

1963 – Mike Trapasso, college coach

1964 – Takehiro Hashimoto, NPB pitcher

1964 – Alex Morales, scout

1964 – Dan Murphy, pitcher

1964 – Yoshihiro Nakashima, minor league pitcher

1965 – Jeff Bronkey, pitcher

1965 – Yosuke Takamura, NPB pitcher

1967 – Dave Richards, minor league pitcher

1968 – Jose Musset, minor league pitcher

1969 – Katsuyoshi Murata, NPB pitcher

1969 – Kevin Schula, minor league catcher

1970 – Ozzie Timmons, outfielder

1970 – Todd Ruyak, minor league player

1971 – Chris Holt, pitcher

1971 – Adrian Langeveldt, South African national team infielder

1973 – Ming-Chang Liu, TML pitcher

1973 – Mitch Meluskey, catcher

1974 – Huai-Shan Chen, CPBL infielder and outfielder

1975 – Randy Williams, pitcher

1976 – Remy Maduro, minor league outfielder

1977 – Jody Gerut, outfielder

1977 – Taisuke Ishimaru, minor league pitcher

1978 – Tony Stevens, minor league infielder

1978 – Wilkin Ruan, outfielder

1979 – Shaun Francis, minor league umpire

1979 – Cupertino León, minor league pitcher

1979 – Kevin Thompson, outfielder

1979 – Billy Traber, pitcher

1980 – Carlo Cota, minor league infielder

1980 – Sergio Mora, minor league pitcher

1982 – Joe Bisenius, pitcher

1983 – Jesus Castillo, Division Honor infielder

1983 – Brent Lillibridge, infielder

1983 – Shawn Williams, minor league infielder and manager

1984 – Kevin Flores, minor league infielder

1984 – Jered Stanley, minor league infielder

1984 – Donnie Veal, pitcher

1985 – Brahiam Maldonado, minor league outfielder

1985 – Ryuhei Matsuyama, NPB outfielder

1985 – Nick Pugliese, minor league pitcher

1986 – Michael Kirkman, pitcher

1987 – Chih-Hsiang Huang, minor league infielder

1987 – Aaron Miller, minor league player

1988 – Yung-Han Chang, CPBL outfielder

1988 – Derrick Fox, minor league infielder

1988 – Rick Hague, minor league infielder

1988 – Sébastien Vézina, division elite player

1989 – Yasunori Kikuchi, NPB pitcher

1989 – Taylor Motter, outfielder

1989 – Lucas Nakandakare, minor league infielder

1989 – Ross Seaton, minor league pitcher

1989 – Franklin Soto, minor league player

1989 – Kenjiro Tanaka, NPB pitcher

1990 – Melissa Armstrong, Canadian women’s national team pitcher

1990 – Jesus Castillo, minor league pitcher

1990 – Kelly Dugan, minor league outfielder

1990 – Kazuyuki Kaneda, NPB pitcher

1990 – Juan Minaya, pitcher

1991 – Yomar Cruz, Puerto Rican national team catcher

1991 – Michael Flemming, Virgin Islands national team infielder

1991 – Víctor Luna, Dominican national team infielder

1991 – Jon Singleton, infielder

1992 – Mike Odenwaelder, college coach

1992 – Will Remillard, coach

1992 – Justin Shafer, pitcher

1992 – Spencer Turnbull, pitcher

1993 – Daniel Thieben, minor league pitcher

1994 – Ronny Agustín, minor league pitcher

1994 – Isamu Sato, NPB pitcher

1995 – Vladimir Gutiérrez, pitcher

1995 – Matthew Holliday, Hong Kong national team infielder

1995 – Daniel Procopio, minor league pitcher

1995 – Jonah Todd, college coach

1995 – Wei-Yung Wang, CPBL pitcher

1996 – Seth Beer, infielder

1996 – Beau Burrows, pitcher

1996 – Marcos Diplan, pitcher

1997 – Josh Hendrickson, minor league pitcher

1997 – Ricky Karcher, pitcher

1997 – Sergey Kudryashov, Russian national team outfielder

1997 – Jace Van Droogenbroeck, First Division pitcher

1998 – Carlos Miranda, Colombian national team catcher

1998 – Daniel Federman, minor league pitcher

1998 – Kyle Hunter, minor league pitcher

1998 – Andre Pallante, pitcher

1999 – Wei-Chiang Kao, CPBL pitcher

1999 – David Grimes, Bundesliga infielder

1999 – Ryuya Matsumoto, NPB pitcher

2000 – Mario Fernandez, minor league coach

2000 – Seiya Hashimoto, NPB catcher

2000 – Ceddanne Rafaela, outfielder; All-Star

2001 – Hayato Tsunehiro, NPB pitcher

2002 – Takuto Takada, KBO pitcher

2003 – Dong-hee Yoon, KBO outfielder

2005 – Pin-Shih-Jung Ho, CPBL outfielder

Deaths[edit]

1892 – George Hurll, umpire (b. 1854)

1908 – Dickey Pearce, infielder, manager (b. 1836)

1921 – Zack Foreman, pitcher (b. 1893)

1922 – Jake Stahl, infielder, manager (b. 1879)

1923 – General Stafford, infielder (b. 1868)

1924 – Bill Geis, infielder (b. 1858)

1939 – Toots Coyne, infielder (b. 1894)

1940 – Bade Myers, minor league infielder and manager (b. 1872)

1945 – Ducky Holmes, catcher; umpire (b. 1883)

1948 – Art Devlin, infielder (b. 1879)

1949 – Roger Denzer, pitcher (b. 1871)

1949 – Charlie Malay, infielder (b. 1879)

1952 – Alberto Azoy, Winter League manager (b. ?)

1953 – Harry Aubrey, infielder (b. 1880)

1956 – Jim Rutherford, outfielder (b. 1886)

1964 – Frank Barron, pitcher (b. 1890)

1968 – Rip Wheeler, pitcher (b. 1898)

1969 – Joe Grace, outfielder (b. 1914)

1973 – Dave Harris, outfielder (b. 1900)

1973 – Doug Smith, pitcher (b. 1892)

1978 – Joe Lillard, outfielder (b. 1905)

1979 – Isaac Lane, infielder (b. 1888)

1979 – John Reeves, minor league executive (b. 1901)

1980 – Leo Tankersley, catcher (b. 1901)

1980 – Fredda Thompson, AAGPBL pitcher (b. 1925)

1982 – Clyde McCullough, catcher; All-Star (b. 1917)

1995 – Buck Elliott, minor league outfielder (b. 1919)

1997 – Amos Watson, pitcher (b. 1926)

2001 – Isaiah Harris, Negro League pitcher (b. 1925)

2004 – Gil Aase, minor league pitcher (b. 1909)

2004 – Ned Eades, minor league catcher (b. 1946)

2005 – Marv Grissom, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1918)

2006 – Nobuyoshi Watanabe, NPB pitcher (b. 1929)

2008 – Cece Carlucci, minor league umpire (b. 1917)

2009 – Ichiro Kumabe, NPB catcher (b. 1920)

2010 – Ray Coleman, outfielder (b. 1922)

2012 – Jack Kralick, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1935)

2014 – Emory Dickerson, Negro League player (b. 1924)

2014 – Carlos Garcia, Nicaraguan baseball official (b. 1931)

2015 – John Petrulis, minor league pitcher (b. 1944)

2017 – Miguel Gonzalez, minor league pitcher (b. 1995)

2025 – Ed Acosta, pitcher (b. 1944)

######################################################

(All times Eastern)

Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts

Friday, Sept. 18

AUTO RACING

7:30 p.m.

CW — NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Food City 300 – The Chase, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

7:30 p.m.

ESPN — Miami at Wake Forest

8 p.m.

FOX — Houston at Texas Tech

10:30 p.m.

BTN — Portland St. at Oregon

COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN’S)

9 p.m.

ACCN — NC State at SMU

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

7 p.m.

ACCN — Florida at Florida St.

8 p.m.

ESPN2 — Kansas St. at Creighton

GOLF

7 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: BMW PGA Championship, Second Round, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England

1 p.m.

GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, Second Round, Ohio State University Golf Club – Scarlet Course, Columbus, Ohio

3 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: Biltmore Championship Asheville, Second Round, The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville, N.C.

6 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: PURE Insurance Championship, First Round, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif.

MLB BASEBALL

7 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati (joined in progress) (6:40 p.m.) OR Kansas City at Pittsburgh (joined in progress) (6:40 p.m.)

7:10 p.m.

APPLE TV — Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets

10 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Yankees at Arizona (joined in progress) (9:40 p.m.) OR Miami at San Diego (joined in progress) (9:40 p.m.)

10:10 p.m.

APPLE TV — San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers

SOCCER (MEN’S)

3 p.m.

USA — English Premier League: Chelsea at Brentford FC

WNBA BASKETBALL

7:30 p.m.

ION — TBA

10 p.m.

ION — Portland at Golden State

_____

Saturday, Sept. 19

AUTO RACING

7:30 p.m.

USA — NASCAR Cup Series: Bass Pro Shops Night Race – The Chase, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

11:30 a.m.

CBSSN — Coast Carolina at Delaware

Noon

ABC — Georgia at Arkansas

ACCN — Mercer at Georgia Tech

BTN — Regional Coverage: Akron at Minnesota OR Buffalo at Penn St.

ESPN — North Carolina at Clemson

ESPN2 — Tulane at Kansas St.

ESPNU — Bowling Green at Iowa St.

FOX — Kent St. at Ohio St.

FS1 — Arizona St. at Kansas

USA — North Texas at Texas St.

12:30 p.m.

NBCSN — E. Michigan at Wisconsin

PEACOCK — E. Michigan at Wisconsin

12:45 p.m.

SECN — NC State at Vanderbilt

2 p.m.

PEACOCK — S. Illinois at Illinois

3 p.m.

CBSSN — Temple at Toledo

3:30 p.m.

ABC — Florida St. at Alabama

ACCN — Wagner at California

BTN — UTEP at Michigan

CBS — Southern Cal at Rutgers

ESPN — TBA

ESPN2 — TBA

FOX — Utah St. at Utah

USA — Duquesne at Washington St.

4 p.m.

CW — Stanford at Duke

ESPNU — Louisiana Tech at Baylor

FS1 — N. Iowa at Iowa

NBCSN — W. Kentucky at Indiana

PEACOCK — W. Kentucky at Indiana

4:15 p.m.

SECN — Mississippi St. at South Carolina

6:30 p.m.

CBSSN — Marshal at Missouri

7 p.m.

ESPN — Florida at Auburn

7:15 p.m.

BTN — Regional Coverage: E. Washington at Washington OR N. Dakota at Nebraska

7:30 p.m.

ABC — LSU at Mississippi

ACCN — West Virginia at Virginia

CBS — BYU at Colorado St.

ESPN2 — New Mexico at Oklahoma

NBC — Michigan St. at Notre Dame

PEACOCK — Michigan St. at Notre Dame

7:45 p.m.

SECN — Kennesaw St. at Tennessee

8 p.m.

ESPNU — Arkansas St. at TCU

10 p.m.

CBSSN — S. Dakota at Boise St.

CW — James Madison at San Diego St.

10:30 p.m.

ESPN — N. Dakota St. at Sacramento St.

TNT — N. Illinois at Arizona

11 p.m.

BTN — Purdue at UCLA

FS1 — Fresno St. at San Jose St.

USA — Montana at Oregon St.

GOLF

7 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: BMW PGA Championship, Third Round, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: Biltmore Championship Asheville, Third Round, The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville, N.C.

4 p.m.

GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, Third Round, Ohio State University Golf Club – Scarlet Course, Columbus, Ohio

6 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: PURE Insurance Championship, Second Round, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif.

MLB BASEBALL

4 p.m.

MLBN — Milwaukee at Baltimore (4:05 p.m.)

7 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Atlanta at Houston (7:10 p.m.) OR Detroit at Chicago White Sox (7:10 p.m.)

10 p.m.

MLBN — San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers (joined in progress) (9:10 p.m.)

SOCCER (MEN’S)

7:30 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur

10 a.m.

NBCSN — English Premier League: Hull City at Newcastle United

USA — English Premier League: Arsenal at Brighton & Hove Albion

12:30 p.m.

NBC — English Premier League: Coventry City at Nottingham Forest

WNBA BASKETBALL

1 p.m.

CBS — Phoenix at Dallas

7 p.m.

PRIME VIDEO — Chicago at Atlanta

9 p.m.

PRIME VIDEO — Seattle at Golden State

_____

Sunday, Sept. 20

AUTO RACING

3 p.m.

NBC — IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis

COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY

Noon

ACCN — Virginia at North Carolina

ESPN — Virginia at North Carolina

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

3 p.m.

ABC — Louisville at Kentucky

GOLF

7 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: BMW PGA Championship, Final Round, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, England

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: Biltmore Championship Asheville, Final Round, The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville, N.C.

4 p.m.

GOLF — Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, Final Round, Ohio State University Golf Club – Scarlet Course, Columbus, Ohio

6 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: PURE Insurance Championship, Final Round, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif.

LACROSSE (MEN’S)

12:30 p.m.

ABC — PLL Playoffs: Denver vs. Philadelphia, Championship, Harrison, N.J.

MLB BASEBALL

1 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets (1:10 p.m.) OR Kansas City at Pittsburgh (1:35 p.m.)

4 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: N.Y Yankees at Arizona (4:10 p.m.) OR San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers (4:10 p.m.)

7 p.m.

NBCSN — Milwaukee at Baltimore

PEACOCK — Milwaukee at Baltimore

NFL FOOTBALL

1 p.m.

CBS — Regional Coverage: Pittsburgh at New England, Cleveland at Tampa Bay, New Orleans at Baltimore OR Cincinnati at Houston

FOX — Regional Coverage: Carolina at Atlanta, Minnesota at Chicago, Philadelphia at Tennessee OR Green Bay at N.Y. Jets

4:05 p.m.

CBS — Regional Coverage: Jacksonville at Denver OR Las Vegas at L.A. Chargers

4:25 p.m.

FOX — Regional Coverage: Washington at Dallas, Seattle at Arizona OR Miami at San Francisco

8:20 p.m.

NBC — Indianapolis at Kansas City

PEACOCK — Indianapolis at Kansas City

SOCCER (MEN’S)

9 a.m.

NBCSN — English Premier League: Sunderland at Manchester City

USA — English Premier League: Liverpool at AFC Bournemouth

11:30 a.m.

NBC — English Premier League: Manchester United at Fulham

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — USL Championship: San Antonio at Sacramento

WNBA BASKETBALL

4 p.m.

NBATV — Washington at Indiana

7 p.m.

USA — Portland at Los Angeles

9 p.m.

CNBC — Seattle at Las Vegas

USA — Seattle at Las Vegas

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