THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES/SCHEDULE

THURSDAY’S SCORES

BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY            63          GEO NEXT GENERATION      25         

CHRISTEL HOUSE     71          CROSSPOINTE CHRISTIAN 64        

DEKALB            52          FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY             41         

EASTERN HANCOCK              57          NORTHEASTERN        36         

EDON (OHIO)               61          HAMILTON      14         

GIBSON SOUTHERN               44          MOUNT VERNON (POSEY)  35         

HIGHLAND     51          WHITING         39         

LALUMIERE REGIONAL         30          CAREER ACADEMY   25         

MORRISTOWN            41          WALDRON      38         

OAK FARM MONTESSORI    52          SMITH ACADEMY       36         

RANDOLPH SOUTHERN       52          MUNCIE BURRIS        35         

SOUTH BEND ADAMS            90          VICTORY CHRISTIAN             37         

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH   74          PLYMOUTH    35         

WESTVIEW     66          NORTHWOOD             58         

=========

FRIDAY’S BOYS SCHEDULE

ALL TIMES EASTERN

ANGOLA           AT          GARRETT         7:30 PM            

BARR-REEVE AT          TERRE HAUTE SOUTH           7:30 PM            

BATESVILLE    AT          LAWRENCEBURG                     7:30 PM            

BEECH GROVE            AT          INDIAN CREEK            7:30 PM            

BLACKFORD  AT          ALEXANDRIA                7:30 PM            

BLOOMINGTON NORTH       AT          MOORESVILLE            7:30 PM            

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH       AT          SOUTHPORT 7:30 PM            

BLUE RIVER VALLEY AT          COWAN            7:30 PM            

BOONVILLE    AT          TECUMSEH                   8:00 PM            

BORDEN          AT          SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)        7:30 PM            

BROWN COUNTY      AT          OWEN VALLEY             PPD.   

BROWNSBURG           AT          TIPPECANOE VALLEY             7:30 PM            

CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN             AT          KNIGHTSTOWN          7:30 PM            

CASTON           AT          CARROLL (FLORA)                   7:30 PM            

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN            AT          IRVINGTON PREP      7:30 PM            

CHESTERTON              AT          WASHINGTON TWP.                8:00 PM            

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY           AT          ROCK CREEK ACADEMY      7:30 PM            

CLINTON PRAIRIE     AT          DELPHI                            7:30 PM            

COLUMBUS EAST      AT          BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE        7:30 PM            

CONCORD     AT          PENN                 7:45 PM            

CRAWFORD COUNTY            AT          EASTERN (PEKIN)      7:30 PM            

CULVER ACADEMY   AT          LAKE CENTRAL                          8:00 PM            

EAST CENTRAL            AT          JENNINGS COUNTY                7:30 PM            

EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL   AT          MUNSTER                       8:00 PM            

EASTERN (GREENTOWN)     AT          TRI-CENTRAL               7:30 PM            

EDGEWOOD  AT          BLOOMFIELD               7:30 PM            

ELKHART CHRISTIAN             AT          LAKELAND CHRISTIAN         7:30 PM            

EVANSVILLE DAY       AT          TELL CITY                       8:30 PM            

EVANSVILLE HARRISON      AT          CASTLE                            8:00 PM            

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL      AT          JASPER                            8:00 PM            

EVANSVILLE REITZ   AT          EVANSVILLE MATER DEI       8:00 PM            

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA               AT          CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)                    7:30 PM            

FORT WAYNE NORTH             AT          FORT WAYNE SOUTH             7:45 PM            

FORT WAYNE NORTHROP   AT          FORT WAYNE LUERS              7:45 PM            

FORT WAYNE SNIDER            AT          FORT WAYNE WAYNE             7:45 PM            

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL              AT          RIVERTON PARKE      7:30 PM            

FRANKFORT   AT          CASCADE                       7:30 PM            

FRANKLIN       AT          GREENWOOD              7:30 PM            

FRANKLIN COUNTY AT          RUSHVILLE    7:30 PM            

GARY 21ST CENTURY             AT          PIKE     7:30 PM            

GIBSON SOUTHERN               AT          EVANSVILLE NORTH               8:00 PM            

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL         AT          NEW PALESTINE                        7:30 PM            

GREENSBURG             AT          COLUMBUS NORTH 7:30 PM           

HAGERSTOWN           AT          UNION COUNTY        7:30 PM            

HAMILTON      AT          FREMONT                       7:30 PM            

HAMILTON HEIGHTS              AT          LOGANSPORT                             7:30 PM            

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN             AT          BREBEUF JESUIT        7:30 PM            

HAMMOND CENTRAL            AT          GARY WEST                  8:00 PM            

HAMMOND NOLL      AT          KANKAKEE VALLEY                  8:00 PM            

HANOVER CENTRAL               AT          VALPARAISO                 8:00 PM            

HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE)        AT          DANVILLE        7:30 PM            

HEBRON          AT          TRI-TOWNSHIP                          8:00 PM            

HENRYVILLE  AT          AUSTIN                            7:30 PM            

HOMESTEAD AT          FORT WAYNE DWENGER     7:45 PM            

ILLIANA CHRISTIAN AT          GRIFFITH                        8:00 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH      AT          AVON                 7:30 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD   AT          HERITAGE CHRISTIAN           7:30 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN     AT          CONNERSVILLE          7:30 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER          AT          INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 7:30 PM           

INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI  AT          DECATUR CENTRAL 7:30 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA     AT          GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN  7:30 PM            

JEFFERSONVILLE       AT          SEYMOUR                      7:30 PM            

KOKOMO         AT          MCCUTCHEON                          7:30 PM            

KOUTS              AT          SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS)  8:00 PM            

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC   AT          COVINGTON  7:30 PM            

LAKE STATION             AT          WHEELER        8:00 PM            

LAPEL AT          WAPAHANI                    7:30 PM            

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN   AT          CROTHERSVILLE        6:00 PM            

LOOGOOTEE AT          FOREST PARK                             7:30 PM            

LOWELL           AT          LAPORTE                        8:00 PM            

MACONAQUAH          AT          WABASH          7:45 PM            

MADISON-GRANT     AT          ELWOOD         7:30 PM            

MISSISSINEWA           AT          OAK HILL         7:45 PM            

MOORESVILLE CHRISTIAN AT          CLAY CITY                      7:30 PM            

MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE)        AT          PENDLETON HEIGHTS          7:30 PM              

NEW ALBANY               AT          FLOYD CENTRAL                       7:30 PM            

NEW CASTLE AT          SHELBYVILLE                              7:30 PM            

NEW PRAIRIE               AT          JIMTOWN                       7:30 PM            

NEW WASHINGTON AT          SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER)                        7:30 PM              

NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC (KY.)        AT          OLDENBURG ACADEMY               6:00 PM            

NOBLESVILLE              AT          CARMEL                          7:30 PM            

NORTH DAVIESS        AT          NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG)            7:30 PM              

NORTH DECATUR      AT          EDINBURGH                 7:30 PM            

NORTH HARRISON   AT          SILVER CREEK             7:30 PM            

NORTH KNOX               AT          SHAKAMAK                   7:30 PM            

NORTH MONTGOMERY         AT          SEEGER            7:30 PM            

NORTH POSEY            AT          HERITAGE HILLS        8:00 PM            

NORTH PUTNAM        AT          WESTRN BOONE        7:30 PM            

NORTH PUTNAM        AT          WESTERN BOONE     7:30 PM            

NORTHEAST DUBOIS             AT          ORLEANS        7:30 PM            

NORTHVIEW  AT          WEST VIGO                   7:30 PM            

NORTHWESTERN      AT          TAYLOR                            7:30 PM            

OPH (ILL.)        AT          DUGGER UNION                       7:30 PM            

PERRY MERIDIAN      AT          WHITELAND                 7:30 PM            

PIONEER          AT          TRITON                            7:30 PM            

PLAINFIELD   AT          MARTINSVILLE                           7:30 PM            

PURDUE ENGLEWOOD         AT          INDIANAPOLIS HERRON     7:00 PM            

RENSSELAER CENTRAL        AT          NORTH WHITE            8:00 PM            

RICHMOND   AT          MARION                          7:30 PM            

RISING SUN   AT          SWITZERLAND COUNTY      7:30 PM            

ROCHESTER  AT          NORTH JUDSON                        8:00 PM            

ROSSVILLE     AT          FRONTIER                      7:30 PM            

SCOTTSBURG              AT          BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL   7:30 PM            

SHAWE MEMORIAL  AT          JAC-CEN-DEL               7:30 PM            

SHENANDOAH            AT          TRI                       7:30 PM            

SHERIDAN      AT          CLINTON CENTRAL                 7:30 PM            

SHOALS           AT          VINCENNES LINCOLN           7:30 PM            

SOUTH ADAMS           AT          CHURUBUSCO           7:30 PM            

SOUTH DEARBORN  AT          MADISON                       7:30 PM            

SOUTH DECATUR      AT          MILAN               7:30 PM            

SOUTH KNOX               AT          SOUTHRIDGE              7:30 PM            

SOUTH PUTNAM        AT          GREENCASTLE            7:30 PM            

SOUTH RIPLEY            AT          HAUSER                          7:30 PM            

SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE)  AT          KIPP INDY LEGACY   7:30 PM            

SOUTHWOOD             AT          PERU                  7:30 PM            

SPEEDWAY     AT          MONROVIA                    7:30 PM            

SPRINGS VALLEY       AT          MITCHELL                      7:30 PM            

ST. THOMAS MORE   AT          HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH         7:30 PM            

TERRE HAUTE NORTH           AT          NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS)               8:00 PM            

TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN            AT          NORTH VERMILLION              7:30 PM              

TRI-COUNTY AT          TWIN LAKES                 7:30 PM            

TRINITY GREENLAWN            AT          OREGON-DAVIS         7:30 PM            

TRITON CENTRAL      AT          TRI-WEST                       7:30 PM            

UNION CITY   AT          WINCHESTER                             7:30 PM            

VICTORY PREP            AT          INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE                7:30 PM            

WASHINGTON             AT          SOUTH SPENCER                     8:00 PM            

WES-DEL         AT          UNION (MODOC)                      7:30 PM            

WEST CENTRAL          AT          SOUTH NEWTON       8:00 PM            

WEST LAFAYETTE       AT          CRAWFORDSVILLE                 7:30 PM            

WEST WASHINGTON              AT          PAOLI                 7:30 PM            

WESTERN        AT          TIPTON                            7:30 PM            

WESTFIELD    AT          GUERIN CATHOLIC  7:30 PM            

WESTVILLE     AT          BOONE GROVE           8:00 PM            

WINAMAC       AT          ARGOS                             8:00 PM            

WOOD MEMORIAL    AT          PERRY CENTRAL        8:30 PM            

YORKTOWN   AT          DELTA                7:30 PM            

ZIONSVILLE   AT          LAWRENCE CENTRAL            7:30 PM

=========

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL THURSDAY’S SCORES

BENTON CENTRAL    59          WEST LAFAYETTE       54         

CALUMET        55          GARY 21ST CENTURY             1           

CARROLL (FLORA)    63          NORTHWESTERN      26         

CASTLE             55          EVANSVILLE MATER DEI       41         

CASTON           46          NORTH JUDSON         38         

CHARLESTOWN         63          HENRYVILLE  31         

CLINTON CENTRAL  50          TIPTON             21         

CLOVERDALE               29          CRAWFORDSVILLE  26         

CONNERSVILLE          49          BATESVILLE    45         

EVANSVILLE CENTRAL          56          HENDERSON COUNTY (KY.) 50      

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL      67          EVANSVILLE BOSSE 37         

FLOYD CENTRAL        55          SILVER CREEK             45         

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL              45          NORTH VERMILLION              34         

FRANKLIN COUNTY 51          NORTH DECATUR      24         

HIGHLAND     60          WHITING         36         

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL             57          GUERIN CATHOLIC  26         

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD   69          UNIVERSITY   40         

JOHN GLENN                44          JIMTOWN        10         

KNIGHTSTOWN          54          BLUE RIVER VALLEY 20         

LAWRENCEBURG      34          HARRISON (OHIO)   30         

LEWIS CASS  48          PERU   36         

LOGANSPORT              42          TAYLOR             10         

MACONAQUAH          65          TRI-CENTRAL               30         

MORRISTOWN            35          WALDRON      32         

NEW ALBANY               63          SCOTTSBURG              27         

NOBLESVILLE              54          FISHERS          39         

NORTH DAVIESS        29          BARR-REEVE 28         

NORTH WHITE            41          PIONEER          31         

OREGON-DAVIS         51          DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN            44         

PENDLETON HEIGHTS          62          DELTA 55         

PRINCETON   60          BOONVILLE    57          2OT

RENSSELAER CENTRAL        47          DELPHI             38         

ROSSVILLE     47          SHERIDAN      24         

SEEGER            37          RIVERTON PARKE      25         

SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS)  50          WASHINGTON TWP. 44         

SOUTH DECATUR      51          HAUSER           47         

SOUTH PUTNAM        47          GREENCASTLE            39         

SOUTHMONT               55          LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC   47         

SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER)         60          NEW WASHINGTON 9           

TRI-COUNTY 75          FRONTIER       29         

WAPAHANI     44          WINCHESTER              26         

WINAMAC       51          ARGOS              17         

MARION COUNTY TOURNAMENT

INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI  57          FRANKLIN CENTRAL 53       

LAWRENCE CENTRAL            56          BEN DAVIS      52         

PIKE     63          LAWRENCE NORTH 43         

BREBEUF JESUIT        33          WARREN CENTRAL   30         

UNREPORTED

CALUMET CHRISTIAN                           WESTVILLE                    PPD., J29

CAREER ACADEMY                  MISHAWAKA CHRISTIAN    5:30 PM

CASCADE                       MOORESVILLE                           PPD.

CENTER GROVE                         BLOOMINGTON SOUTH                      PPD., J6

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY                          TRINITY LUTHERAN                 PPD.

COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN                      ROCK CREEK ACADEMY      PPD., D29

COLUMBUS NORTH                EAST CENTRAL            PPD.

CRAWFORD COUNTY                           MITCHELL       PPD., D17

CROTHERSVILLE                       SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)        PPD., J8

EASTERN GREENE                    BLOOMFIELD               PPD.

FAIRVIEW (OHIO)                     FREMONT                       7:00 PM

HAMMOND MORTON                            GARY WEST   PPD.

HERITAGE HILLS                       FOREST PARK              PPD.

INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE                              BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY            6:00 PM

INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE                         TRITON CENTRAL      PPD.

JASPER                            VINCENNES LINCOLN           PPD.

LAFAYETTE JEFF                        CLINTON PRAIRIE     PPD.

LANESVILLE                  BORDEN                         PPD., D16

LINTON                            CLAY CITY                      PPD.

NORTH POSEY                           WASHINGTON             PPD., D30

NORTHEAST DUBOIS                            TELL CITY        PPD.

PAOLI                 ORLEANS                       PPD., D22

PERRY CENTRAL                       TECUMSEH                   PPD.

PIKE CENTRAL                            SOUTHRIDGE              PPD.

PROVIDENCE                              NORTH HARRISON   PPD., D13

SHAWE MEMORIAL                 SOUTH RIPLEY            PPD.

SOUTH DEARBORN                 GREENSBURG             PPD.

SOUTH KNOX                              VINCENNES RIVET   PPD.

TERRE HAUTE SOUTH                          COVINGTON  PPD.

TIPPECANOE VALLEY                            BREMEN           PPD., D20

WASHINGTON CATHOLIC                  LOOGOOTEE JV                         6:30 PM

WEST WASHINGTON                             EASTERN (PEKIN)                     PPD., D18

WHITE RIVER VALLEY                            NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG)               PPD., D22

WOOD MEMORIAL                   SOUTH SPENCER                     PPD.

=========

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

ALL TIMES EASTERN

ANDERSON    AT          PURDUE ENGLEWOOD         7:30 PM            

AVON  AT          HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN             7:30 PM            

BELLMONT      AT          EAST NOBLE                 7:30 PM            

BLACKFORD  AT          ALEXANDRIA                6:00 PM            

BLUE RIVER VALLEY AT          COWAN            6:00 PM            

BLUFFTON      AT          WOODLAN                    7:30 PM            

BROWN COUNTY      AT          OWEN VALLEY                            PPD., D30       

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN            AT          IRVINGTON PREP      6:00 PM            

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY           AT          CLARKSVILLE              7:30 PM            

CHURUBUSCO           AT          WEST NOBLE                7:30 PM            

CULVER            AT          CULVER ACADEMY                  7:00 PM            

EASTERN (GREENTOWN)     AT          TRI-CENTRAL                              6:00 PM            

EASTSIDE        AT          PRAIRIE HEIGHTS     7:00 PM            

ELKHART          AT          NEW PRAIRIE               7:30 PM            

EMAN  AT          BETHESDA CHRISTIAN         6:00 PM            

FAIRFIELD       AT          LAKELAND                     7:30 PM            

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA               AT          CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)                    6:00 PM            

FORT WAYNE NORTH             AT          FORT WAYNE SOUTH             6:00 PM            

FORT WAYNE NORTHROP   AT          FORT WAYNE LUERS              6:00 PM            

FORT WAYNE SNIDER            AT          FORT WAYNE WAYNE             6:00 PM            

FRANKFORT   AT          CASCADE                       6:00 PM            

FRANKLIN       AT          GREENWOOD                             6:00 PM            

FRANKTON     AT          EASTBROOK                 6:30 PM            

GARY LIGHTHOUSE VS.        TBA                      TBA      

GIBSON SOUTHERN               AT          EVANSVILLE NORTH               6:30 PM            

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL         AT          NEW PALESTINE         6:00 PM            

HEBRON          AT          TRI-TOWNSHIP                          6:30 PM            

HERITAGE       AT          SOUTHERN WELLS                  7:30 PM            

HOMESTEAD AT          FORT WAYNE DWENGER     6:00 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS     AT          CHRISTEL HOUSE                    6:00 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD   AT          HERITAGE CHRISTIAN           6:00 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER          AT          INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 6:00 PM           

INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA     AT          GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN  6:00 PM            

JAY COUNTY  AT          ADAMS CENTRAL                     7:30 PM            

KANKAKEE VALLEY   AT          HOBART                          8:00 PM            

KOKOMO         AT          MCCUTCHEON                          6:00 PM            

LAKE CENTRAL           AT          MICHIGAN CITY         8:00 PM            

LAPORTE         AT          MERRILLVILLE             8:00 PM            

LAVILLE            AT          KNOX                 7:30 PM            

LEO      AT          DEKALB                           7:30 PM            

MADISON-GRANT     AT          ELWOOD         6:00 PM            

MANCHESTER             AT          WHITKO           7:45 PM            

MUNSTER        AT          LOWELL                          8:00 PM            

NEW CASTLE AT          SHELBYVILLE               6:00 PM            

NEW HAVEN  AT          HUNTINGTON NORTH                          7:30 PM            

NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC (KY.)        AT          OLDENBURG ACADEMY               7:30 PM            

NORTH PUTNAM        AT          WESTERN BOONE                    6:00 PM            

NORTHFIELD AT          SOUTHWOOD                            7:30 PM            

NORTHRIDGE              AT          CONCORD                    7:45 PM            

NORTHVIEW  AT          WEST VIGO                   6:00 PM            

NORTHWOOD             AT          MISHAWAKA                7:45 PM            

NORWELL       AT          COLUMBIA CITY                        7:30 PM            

PENN  AT          MISHAWAKA MARIAN                           7:30 PM            

PORTAGE         AT          CHESTERTON                             8:00 PM            

SALEM               AT          CORYDON CENTRAL                             7:30 PM            

SHENANDOAH            AT          RANDOLPH SOUTHERN                      7:00 PM            

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH   AT          SOUTH BEND ADAMS                           7:30 PM              

SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON           AT          SOUTH BEND RILEY                7:30 PM              

SPEEDWAY     AT          MONROVIA                    6:00 PM            

TERRE HAUTE NORTH           AT          SULLIVAN        7:30 PM            

TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN            AT          ITOWN PREP 7:00 PM           

VALPARAISO  AT          CROWN POINT           8:00 PM            

VICTORY PREP            AT          INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 6:00 PM           

WAPAHANI     AT          HAGERSTOWN           7:30 PM            

WARSAW         AT          PLYMOUTH                   7:30 PM            

WAWASEE       AT          GOSHEN                         7:30 PM            

WESTFIELD    AT          ZIONSVILLE                  7:30 PM            

WESTVILLE     AT          BOONE GROVE           6:30 PM            

WHEELER        AT          LAKE STATION             8:00 PM            

==========

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WRESTLING RESULTS:

https://indianamat.com

=======

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WRESTLING RESULTS:

https://indianamat.com

=======

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES

#4 IOWA STATE 66 IOWA 62

HAWAII 98 HAWAII HILO 46

GREEN BAY 85 IU INDY 75

VIRGINIA TECH 96 WESTERN CAROLINA 74

MISSOURI 85 ALABAMA STATE 77

SYRACUSE 71 ST. JOSEPH’S 63

=========

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES

#19 NOTRE DAME 97 MOREHEAD STATE 48

#21 OHIO STATE 94 NORTHERN KENTUCKY 62

#9 OKLAHOMA 103 LITTLE ROCK 48

PURDUE 88 LIPSCOMB 45

INDIANA 98 LOUISIANA MONROE 54

DEPAUL 78 MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL 48

BUTLER 101 INDIANA STATE 56

WEST VIRGINIA 82 GEORGIA TECH 50

BYU 68 IDAHO STATE 59

PORTLAND 94 LONG BEACH STATE 58

SAN JOSE STATE 83 CSMB 40

=========

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/SCORES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

FIRST ROUND

DEC. 19, 8 P.M. ET
NO. 8 OKLAHOMA (10-2) VS. NO. 9 ALABAMA (10-3) AT NORMAN, OKLA.

DEC, 20, NOON ET
NO. 7 TEXAS A&M (11-1) VS. NO. 10 MIAMI (10-2) AT COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

DEC. 20, 3:30 P.M. ET
NO. 6 OLE MISS (11-1) VS. NO. 11 TULANE (11-2) AT OXFORD, MISS.

DEC. 20, 7:30 P.M. ET
NO. 5 OREGON (11-1) VS. NO. 12 JAMES MADISON (12-1) AT EUGENE, ORE.

==========

QUARTERFINALS

DEC. 31, 7:30 P.M. ET
COTTON BOWL, ARLINGTON, TEXAS
NO. 2 OHIO STATE VS. WINNER OF TEXAS A&M-MIAMI

==========

JAN. 1, NOON ET
ORANGE BOWL, MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.
NO. 4 TEXAS TECH VS. WINNER OF OREGON-JAMES MADISON

==========

JAN. 1, 4 P.M. ET
ROSE BOWL, PASADENA, CALIF.
NO. 1 INDIANA VS. WINNER OF OKLAHOMA-ALABAMA

==========

JAN. 1, 8 P.M. ET
SUGAR BOWL, NEW ORLEANS
NO. 3 GEORGIA VS. WINNER OF OLE MISS-TULANE

==========

SEMIFINALS

JAN. 8, 7:30 P.M. ET
FIESTA BOWL, GLENDALE, ARIZ.
WINNER OF COTTON BOWL VS. WINNER OF SUGAR BOWL

==========

JAN. 9, 7:30 P.M. ET
PEACH BOWL, ATLANTA
WINNER OF ORANGE BOWL VS. WINNER OF ROSE BOWL

==========

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

JAN. 19, 7:30 P.M. ET
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.

=======

NFL

WEEK 15

THURSDAY, DEC. 11

ATLANTA 29 TAMPA BAY 28

SUNDAY, DEC. 14

LA CHARGERS AT KANSAS CITY, 1 P.M. (CBS)

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

NY JETS AT JACKSONVILLE, 1 P.M. (CBS)

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

LAS VEGAS AT PHILADELPHIA, 1 P.M. (FOX)

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

WASHINGTON AT NY GIANTS, 1 P.M. (FOX)

CLEVELAND AT CHICAGO, 1 P.M. (FOX)

GREEN BAY AT DENVER, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)

INDIANAPOLIS AT SEATTLE, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)

DETROIT AT LA RAMS, 4:25 P.M. (FOX)

TENNESSEE AT SAN FRANCISCO, 4:25 P.M. (FOX)

CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS, 4:25 P.M. (FOX)

MINNESOTA AT DALLAS, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)

MONDAY, DEC. 15

MIAMI AT PITTSBURGH, 8:15 P.M. (ESPN)

=======

NBA SCORES

MILWAUKEE 116 BOSTON 101

HOUSTON 115 LA CLIPPERS 113

NEW ORLEANS 143 PORTLAND 120

DENVER 136 SACRAMENTO 105

=======

NHL SCORES

CAROLINA 3 WASHINGTON 2

SAN JOSE 3 TORONTO 2 OT

VEGAS 3 PHILADELPHIA 2 OT

NY ISLANDERS 5 ANAHEIM 2

OTTAWA 6 COLUMBUS 3

TAMPA BAY 8 NEW JERSEY 4

MONTRÉAL 4 PITTSBURGH 2

MINNESOTA 5 DALLAS 2

NASHVILLE 7 ST. LOUIS 2

BOSTON 6 WINNIPEG 3

EDMONTON 4 DETROIT 1

COLORADO 6 FLORIDA 2

BUFFALO 3 VANCOUVER 2

=======

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE

ALL TIMES EASTERN

DEC. 13

CELEBRATION BOWL

ATLANTA

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE VS. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M, NOON (ABC)

LA BOWL

INGLEWOOD, CALIF.

BOISE STATE VS. WASHINGTON, 8 P.M. (ABC)

=========

DEC. 16

SALUTE TO VETERANS BOWL

MONTGOMERY, ALA.

TROY VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE, 9 P.M. (ESPN)

=========

DEC. 17

CURE BOWL

ORLANDO, FLA.

OLD DOMINION VS. SOUTH FLORIDA, 5 P.M. (ESPN)

68 VENTURES BOWL

MOBILE, ALA.

LOUISIANA VS. DELAWARE, 8:30 P.M. (ESPN)

==========

DEC. 18

XBOX BOWL

FRISCO, TEXAS

ARKANSAS STATE VS. MISSOURI STATE, 9 P.M. (ESPN2)

==========

DEC. 19

MYRTLE BEACH BOWL

CONWAY, S.C.

KENNESAW STATE VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN, 11 A.M. (ESPN)

GASPARILLA BOWL

TAMPA, FLA.

MEMPHIS VS N.C. STATE, 2:30 P.M. (ESPN)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

FIRST ROUND

NO. 11 ALABAMA (10-3) AT NO. 8 OKLAHOMA (10-2), 8 P.M. (ESPN/ABC)

===========

DEC. 20

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

FIRST ROUND

NO. 10 MIAMI (FLA.) (10-2) AT NO. 7 TEXAS A&M (11-1), NOON (ESPN/ABC)

NO. 17 TULANE (11-2) AT NO. 6 MISSISSIPPI (11-1), 3:30 P.M. (TNT/HBO MAX)

NO. 19 JAMES MADISON (12-1) AT NO. 5 OREGON (11-1), 7:30 P.M. (TNT/HBO MAX)

===========

DEC. 22

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL

BOISE, IDAHO

UTAH ST. VS. WASHINGTON ST., 2 P.M. (ESPN)

===========

DEC. 23

BOCA RATON BOWL

BOCA RATON, FLA.

LOUISVILLE VS. TOLEDO, 2 P.M. (ESPN)

NEW ORLEANS BOWL

NEW ORLEANS

WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTHERN MISS, 5:30 P.M. (ESPN)

FRISCO BOWL

FRISCO, TEXAS

OHIO VS. UNLV, 9 P.M. (ESPN)

===========

DEC. 24

HAWAI’I BOWL

HONOLULU

CAL VS. HAWAII, 8 P.M. (ESPN)

===========

DEC. 26

GAMEABOVE SPORTS BOWL

DETROIT, MICH.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN VS. NORTHWESTERN, 1 P.M. (ESPN)

RATE BOWL

PHOENIX

NEW MEXICO VS. MINNESOTA, 4:30 P.M. (ESPN)

FIRST RESPONDER BOWL

DALLAS, TEXAS

FIU VS. UTSA, 8 P.M. (ESPN)

=============

DEC. 27

MILITARY BOWL

ANNAPOLIS, MD.

PITTSBURGH VS. EAST CAROLINA, 11 A.M. (ESPN)

PINSTRIPE BOWL

BRONX, N.Y.

CLEMSON VS. PENN ST., NOON (ABC)

FENWAY BOWL

BOSTON

UCONN VS. ARMY, 2:15 P.M. (ESPN)

POP-TARTS BOWL

ORLANDO, FLA.

NO. 12 BYU VS. NO. 24 GEORGIA TECH, 3:30 P.M. (ABC)

ARIZONA BOWL

TUCSON, ARIZ.

FRESNO ST. VS. MIAMI (OH), 4:30 P.M. (CW NETWORK)

NEW MEXICO BOWL

ALBUQUERQUE

NO. 23 NORTH TEXAS VS. SAN DIEGO ST., 5:45 P.M. (ESPN)

GATOR BOWL

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.

NO. 25 MISSOURI VS. NO. 20 VIRGINIA, 7:30 P.M. (ABC)

TEXAS BOWL

HOUSTON

LSU VS. NO. 21 HOUSTON, 9:15 P.M. (ESPN)

===========

DEC. 29

BIRMINGHAM BOWL

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. APPALACHIAN STATE, 2 P.M. (ESPN)

===========

DEC. 30

INDEPENDENCE BOWL

SHREVEPORT, LA.

COASTAL CAROLINA VS. LOUISIANA TECH, 2 P.M. (ESPN)

MUSIC CITY BOWL

NASHVILLE, TENN.

TENNESSEE VS. ILLINOIS, 5:30 P.M. (ESPN)

ALAMO BOWL

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

NO. 16 SOUTHERN CAL VS. TCU, 9 P.M. (ESPN)

============

DEC. 31

RELIAQUEST BOWL

TAMPA, FLA.

NO. 13 VANDERBILT VS. NO. 23 IOWA, NOON (ESPN)

SUN BOWL

EL PASO, TEXAS

ARIZONA ST. VS. DUKE, 2 P.M. (CBS)

CITRUS BOWL

ORLANDO, FLA.

NO. 14 TEXAS VS. NO. 18 MICHIGAN, 3 P.M. (ABC)

LAS VEGAS BOWL

LAS VEGAS

NO. 15 UTAH VS. NEBRASKA, 3:30 P.M. (ESPN)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

QUARTERFINALS

AT COTTON BOWL, ARLINGTON, TEXAS

MIAMI/TEXAS A&M WINNER AT NO. 3 OHIO ST., 7:30 P.M. (ESPN)

============

JAN. 1

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

QUARTERFINALS

AT ORANGE BOWL, MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.

JAMES MADISON/OREGON WINNER AT NO. 4 TEXAS TECH, NOON (ESPN)

AT ROSE BOWL, PASADENA, CALIF.

ALABAMA/OKLAHOMA WINNER AT NO. 1 INDIANA, 4 P.M. (ESPN)

AT SUGAR BOWL, NEW ORLEANS

TULANE/MISSISSIPPI WINNER AT NO. 2 GEORGIA, 8 P.M. (ESPN)

===========

JAN. 2

ARMED FORCES BOWL

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

TEXAS STATE VS. RICE, 1 P.M. (ESPN)

LIBERTY BOWL

MEMPHIS, TENN.

NO. 22 NAVY VS. CINCINNATI, 4:30 P.M. (ESPN)

DUKE’S MAYO BOWL

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

MISSISSIPPI ST. VS. WAKE FOREST, 8 P.M. (ESPN)

HOLIDAY BOWL

SAN DIEGO, CALIF.

NO. 21 ARIZONA VS. SMU, 8 P.M. (FOX)

===========

JAN. 8

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

SEMIFINALS

AT FIESTA BOWL, GLENDALE, ARIZ.

TBD, 7:30 P.M. (ESPN)

==========

JAN. 9

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

SEMIFINALS

AT PEACH BOWL, ATLANTA

TBD, 7:30 P.M. (ESPN)

===========

JAN. 19

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

AT MIAMI

SEMIFINAL WINNERS, 7:30 P.M. (ESPN)                                  

=========

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL-NCAA TOURNAMENT

THURSDAY, DEC. 11

NO. 3 CREIGHTON 3, NO. 2 ARIZONA STATE 1

NO. 1 KENTUCKY 3, CAL POLY 0

NO. 1 PITTSBURGH 3, NO. 4 MINNESOTA 0

NO. 3 PURDUE 3, NO. 2 SMU

=========

DECEMBER 12

INDIANA VS. TEXAS

WISCONSIN VS. STANFORD

TEXAS A&M VS. LOUISVILLE

KANSAS VS. NEBRASKA

===

SEMIFINALS: THURSDAY, DEC. 18

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3:30 P.M. ON SUNDAY, DEC. 21 | ABC

==========

MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER

NCAA TOURNAMENT

MEN’S COLLEGE CUP:

SEMIFINALS: FRIDAY, DEC. 12

NC STATE VS. ST. LOUIS

WASHINGTON VS. FURMAN

FINALS: MONDAY, DEC. 15

=========

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES

NFL NEWS

FALCONS’ LAST-SECOND FIELD GOAL CAPS RALLY, SINKS BUCS

Zane Gonzalez drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the visiting Atlanta Falcons to a stunning 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.

After Atlanta, which trailed by 14 in the fourth quarter, forced a Tampa Bay punt at the two-minute warning, the Falcons took over at their own 30-yard line. Kirk Cousins completed a 21-yard pass to David Sills V on fourth-and-14 with 30 seconds left, moving the ball to the Tampa Bay 36.

The Falcons (5-9) then picked up 11 more yards before Gonzalez struck the game-winner.

Cousins completed 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns for Atlanta, which had dropped seven of its previous eight games. Kyle Pitts Sr. amassed 166 yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions in the win.

The Falcons prevailed despite committing a franchise-record 19 penalties for 125 yards.

Baker Mayfield threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for Tampa Bay (7-7), which dropped a critical NFC South game. The Buccaneers have lost five of their past six to fall a half-game behind the Carolina Panthers (7-6) for the division lead.

After trailing by a point at halftime, Tampa Bay scored on a 90-yard drive that was aided by three Atlanta penalties. Mayfield’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Devin Culp gave the Buccaneers a 20-14 edge with 6:22 left in the third.

After Jacob Parrish recovered Bijan Robinson’s fumble on the Atlanta 25, the Buccaneers tacked on with Mayfield’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin. The duo connected on the ensuing two-point conversion, pushing the lead to 28-14 with 13:34 remaining in the final quarter.

The Falcons sliced their deficit to eight as Robinson ran in a 6-yard touchdown. Atlanta was unsuccessful on the two-point-conversion attempt with 9:37 remaining.

Mayfield was then intercepted at the Atlanta 33-yard line by Dee Alford. The Falcons scored again after Pitts hauled in his third touchdown of the game, this time a 7-yarder with 3:34 remaining. Again, the Falcons’ two-point-conversion try failed, leaving the deficit at 28-26.

Tampa Bay struck first on Sean Tucker’s 1-yard touchdown rush with 1:38 left in the first quarter.

Cousins hit Pitts for a 8-yard touchdown on the next drive, tying the score at 7-7 with 12:11 remaining in the first half.

Tampa Bay grabbed a 10-7 lead on Chase McLaughlin’s 49-yard field goal at the 2:04 mark.

Cousins then connected with Pitts for a 17-yard touchdown, giving the Falcons a four-point edge with 38 seconds left. McLaughlin’s 52-yarder cut Tampa Bay’s deficit to one as time expired in the first half.

STEELERS LB TJ WATT HOSPITALIZED AFTER EXPERIENCING DISCOMFORT IN HIS LUNGS

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt is in the hospital after experiencing discomfort in his lungs.

Team spokesman Burt Lauten said the seven-time All-Pro and 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was sent to the hospital on Thursday after initially reporting the discomfort to the club’s medical staff on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Watt’s status for Monday night’s visit from Miami is uncertain, Lauten said. Watt has started 56 straight regular-season games for Pittsburgh (7-6).

Watt has led the NFL in sacks three times in his nine seasons, all with the Steelers. He tied a league record in 2021 when he finished the year with 22 1/2 sacks.

Watt has seven sacks in 2025 and recently surpassed older brother and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt on the league’s career sack list when he recorded his 115th last month.

BENGALS PLACE TREY HENDRICKSON ON INJURED RESERVE, ENDING FRUSTRATING SEASON FOR ALL-PRO PASS RUSHER

CINCINNATI (AP) — Trey Hendrickson was placed on injured reserve by the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, ending his season.

The All-Pro defensive end will undergo core muscle surgery. He has missed six games this season, including the last five, due to a hip/pelvis injury.

The move to injured reserve finishes a frustrating season for Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17 1/2 sacks last season. He is in the final year of a restructured contract worth $29 million after holding out during training camp.

In seven games this year, Hendrickson had 16 tackles and four sacks.

Without Hendrickson, Cincinnati has only 21 sacks, fourth-lowest in the league. The Bengals defense is also ranked near the bottom of the league in most categories going into Sunday’s game against Baltimore.

Hendrickson is not expected to be back with the Bengals next season as he becomes a free agent. He signed with Cincinnati in 2021, and his 61 sacks over the past five seasons are fourth-most in the league.

PACKERS HEAD TO DENVER LOOKING TO END THE BRONCOS’ 10-GAME WINNING STREAK

DENVER (AP) — Green Bay (9-3-1) at Denver (11-2)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Packers by 2 1/2.

Against the spread: Packers 6-7, Broncos 5-7-1.

Series record: Broncos lead 8-7-1.

Last meeting: Broncos beat Packers 19-17 at Empower Field at Mile High on Oct. 22, 2023.

Last week: Packers beat Bears 28-21; Broncos beat Raiders 24-17.

Packers offense: overall (13), rush (19), pass (12), scoring (10).

Packers defense: overall (5), rush (9), pass (7), scoring (6).

Broncos offense: overall (10), rush (14), pass (13), scoring (14).

Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (2), pass (10), scoring (4).

Turnover differential: Packers plus-4; Broncos minus-3.

Packers player to watch

QB Jordan Love. This is the time of the season when Love typically heats up and it’s happening again this year. Love has thrown seven touchdown passes with only one interception over his last two games. Love finally has two of his top wideouts — Christian Watson and Jayden Reed — healthy at the same time. That should enable Love to continue thriving late in the season but he’s not faced a pass rush like this one.

Broncos player to watch

QB Bo Nix. In his second season, Nix seems to be hitting his stride down the stretch just as he did in his rookie season last year before Jayden Daniels ran away with Rookie of the Year honors. Nix has fixed his footwork issues with three straight solid games in that regard. Like his counterpart with the Packers, Nix will have to deal with an excellent pass rush that could disrupt his rhythm and the progress he’s made of late.

Key matchup

Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons, who has 12½ sacks, vs. Denver’s stout offensive line led by LT Garett Bolles, who has surrendered just a single sack this season.

Key injuries

Packers: DL Lukas Van Ness (foot) has missed seven of Green Bay’s last eight games. … LB Kristian Welch, who contributes primarily on special teams, left the Bears game with a concussion. … WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) played just six snaps and WR Matthew Golden (shoulder) played five against Chicago due to their injuries.

Broncos: Rising rookie WR Pat Bryant (ankle) didn’t practice Wednesday during the game plan installation. … DT D.J. Jones (ankle) missed last week’s game, but was back at practrice as a full participant. … Also back practicing are TE Nate Adkins (knee) and OL Ben Powers (biceps).

Series notes

Both teams have taken care of their home field throughout the series. The Broncos are 7-1 against Green Bay at home with their only loss coming in 2007 in overtime. The Packers are 6-0-1 against Denver at home. Of course, the biggest game in the series came in Super Bowl 32 when John Elway and Terrell Davis led the Broncos to a 31-24 win over the Packers, led by Brett Favre and Reggie White.

Stats and stuff

The Packers have won four straight to take over first place in the NFC North. … This is the second straight week the Packers have faced a team that’s the projected top seed in its conference. Chicago temporarily had the No. 1 seed in the NFC before losing at Green Bay and falling to the No. 7 position. … According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the fourth time the Packers have faced a team that was on at least a 10-game, single-season winning streak. The Packers have gone 2-1 in those games. They beat Detroit 3-0 on Nov. 25, 1934, beat Seattle 23-17 on Jan. 1, 2006, and lost to Detroit 34-31 on Dec. 5, 2024. … The Packers have won nine of their last 10 against AFC teams. … RB Josh Jacobs’ 12 touchdown runs put him in a tie for third place in the NFL. He’s behind Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor (15) and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs (13). … WR Christian Watson has five TD catches in his last four games. He had four catches for 89 yards and two TDs against the Bears. … DE Micah Parsons and Denver’s Nik Bonitto are tied for third in the NFL with 12½ sacks. They’re behind Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (20) and the New York Giants’ Brian Burns (13). Parsons has an NFL-leading eight sacks in the fourth quarter or overtime. He also has a league-high 87 quarterback pressures, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. … CB Keisean Nixon is tied for second in the NFL in passes defensed with 16. He’s behind Cincinnati’s D.J. Turner (17). … The Broncos’ 10-game winning streak is tied with the New England Patriots for the longest active streak in the NFL. Denver hasn’t won this many in a row since 2012, when they finished the regular season an 11-game winning streak during Peyton Manning’s first season with the Broncos. … Bo Nix is the first Broncos quarterback to record at least four rushing scores in back-to-back seasons. His eight TD runs are four shy of Tim Tebow for second place in team history. … Evan Engram has 40 receptions this season, making him just the second tight end in NFL history with at least 40 catches in each of his first nine NFL seasons. Jeremy Shockey is the other. … Marvin Mims Jr. had his first punt return for a touchdown last week. … RB RJ Harvey leads NFL rookies with nine touchdowns. Harvey is the sixth rookie since 1990 with at least five TD runs and four TD receptions, joining Saquon Barkley (2018), Alvin Kamara (2017), David Johnson (2015), Matt Forte (2008) and Edgerrin James (1999). … DT Malcolm Roach recorded his career-best third sack last week.

Fantasy tip

Watson has emerged as Green Bay’s most reliable receiver since returning from a torn ACL on Oct. 26. It also might be worth checking whether Reed landed in your league’s waiver wire when he went on IR and hasn’t been picked up yet. Reed had four catches for 31 yards and two carries for 22 yards Sunday in his first game since Sept. 11.

PANTHERS AIM TO EVEN THINGS AGAINST THE SAINTS AND REMAIN ATOP THE NFC SOUTH

Carolina (7-6) at New Orleans (3-10)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox.

BetMGM NFL odds: Panthers by 3.

Against the spread: Panthers 8-5, Saints 5-8.

Series record: Saints lead 33-29.

Last meeting: Saints beat Panthers 17-7 on Nov. 9, 2025, at Carolina.

Last week: Panthers had a bye; beat the Rams 31-28 on Nov. 30; Saints beat the Buccaneers 24-20.

Panthers offense: overall (23), rush (10), pass (25), scoring (28).

Panthers defense: overall (18), rush (17), pass (18), scoring (15t).

Saints offense: overall (26), rush (28), pass (21), scoring (30).

Saints defense: overall (12), rush (23), pass (6), scoring (21).

Turnover differential: Panthers even; Saints minus-5.

Panthers player to watch

CB Jaycee Horn. His five interceptions are tied for second most in the NFL. He’ll be eager to see if he can add to that against a rookie QB in the very stadium that his father, former Saints receiver Joe Horn, once called home. Horn had two interceptions in the first half of his last outing in Week 12 game against San Francisco. He missed the following week against the Los Angeles Rams with a concussion.

Saints player to watch

QB Tyler Shough. The rookie is showing he can make plays as a passer or runner. He ran for touchdowns of 34 and 13 yards in last Sunday’s victory over Tampa Bay.

Key matchup

Carolina’s Horn is bound to spend much of the game covering Saints No. 1 receiver Chris Olave, a Saints first-round pick in 2022 who leads the club with 76 catches for 811 yards and five TDs.

Key injuries

Panthers: Horn and LB Claudin Cherelus are expected to clear the team’s concussion protocol following the bye week. … C Cade Mays returns after missing two games with an ankle injury. His return means Austin Corbett moves back to right guard. … LB Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) is also expected back after missing two games.

Saints: RB Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) and S Justin Reid (knee) and reserve OT Asim Richards (ankle) missed practice this week, while RT Taliese Fuaga (ankle) returned to the field on a limited basis after sitting out last week.

Series notes

The Saints have won the last two meetings in New Orleans. The Saints are 16-13 against Carolina in the Superdome. A Saints-Panthers game has been decided by eight or fewer points 30 times with each team winning 15 of those. The last time these teams met in New Orleans, the Saints recorded the largest victory margin in series history, winning 47-10. Since then, the Saints have changed coaches from Dennis Allen to Kellen Moore and changed QBs from Derek Carr to Shough.

Stats and stuff

The Panthers enter tied with Tampa Bay atop the NFC South Division. … QB Bryce Young completed 15 of 20 passes (75%) for 206 yards and 3 TDs for a 147.1 rating in Week 13. … RB Rico Dowdle had 79 scrimmage yards (58 rushing, 21 receiving) in Week 13 and has 70 or more scrimmage yards in three straight games. … Dowdle has 929 yards rushing this season and needs 71 more for his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. … RB Chuba Hubbard led Carolina with a season-high 124 scrimmage yards (83 rushing, 41 receiving) and caught a TD pass in Week 13. … WR Tetairoa McMillan had his sixth TD catch of season in Week 13, tied for the most among rookies this season. His 826 yards receiving ranks first among rookies. … McMillan has a TD catch in each of his last three games. … WR Jalen Coker had a team- and season-high 74 yards receiving and his first TD catch of this season in Week 13. … LB D.J. Wonnum had his first fumble recovery of the season in Week 13. … LB Trevin Wallace had six tackles and a tackle for loss in Week 13 and has a tackle for loss in each of his last two games. … DT Derrick Brown had a sack, a pass defensed and his first forced fumble of season in Week 13. He had nine tackles and a tackle for loss in these teams’ Week 10 meeting. … CB Mike Jackson returned an interception for a TD in Week 13 and has three interceptions this season. … S Nick Scott had nine tackles and his first interception of the season in Week 13. … Rookie S Lathan Ransom led Carolina with a season-high 11 tackles and had his first sack of the season in Week 13. … The Saints’ Shough completed 13 of 20 passes (65%) for 144 yards passing and to go with his 55 yards rushing. His 34-yard TD rushing was the longest by any Saints QB. … Shough joined Archie Manning as the only Saints QBs to rush for 50 yards and two TDs in a game. … RB Alvin Kamara, who has missed the Saints’ past two games, has 7,250 career yards rushing and 4,948 career yards receiving, putting him in range of becoming the first NFL player with 5,000 career yards rushing and receiving. Kamara had 115 scrimmage yards against Carolina in Week 10. … Rookie RB Devin Neal led New Orleans with 70 yards rushing and scored his first career TD rushing last week. … Olave is one of six receivers this season with 50 or more yards receiving in 10 games. … Olave had 104 yards receiving against the Panthers in Week 10. … WR Devaughn Vele led the Saints with 40 yards receiving in Week 14. … TE Juwan Johnson had 92 yards receiving and a TD catch in Week 10 and has caught a TD pass in two of his past three vs. Carolina. … LB Demario Davis led New Orleans with seven tackles last week and has at least that many in each of his past seven games. … DE Cameron Jordan has 128 sacks and 747 tackles since 2011. … CB Alontae Taylor had his second interception of the season last week. … CB Kool-Aid McKinstry had a team-high seven tackles and a pass defensed in Week 14.

Fantasy tip

Dowdle has been a monster producer in fantasy football this season, but his production could be on a downward slope with Hubbard looking healthy again. In fact, Hubbard outgained Dowdle 83 yards to 58 in Carolina’s last game against the Los Angeles Rams.

THE 3-10 COMMANDERS VISIT THE 2-11 GIANTS IN A GAME OF NFC RIVALS ON LONG SKIDS

Washington (3-10) at N.Y. Giants (2-11)

BetMGM NFL odds: Giants by 2 1/2.

Against the spread: Commanders 4-9; Giants 7-6.

Series record: New York leads 108-74-5.

Last meeting: Commanders beat Giants 21-6 on Sept. 7, 2025, at Washington.

Last week: Commanders lost to Vikings 31-0; Giants had bye, lost to Patriots 33-15 on Dec. 1.

Commanders offense: overall (18), rush (4), pass (24), scoring (24)

Commanders defense: overall (30), rush (29), pass (30), scoring (28)

Giants offense: overall (14), rush (13), pass (15), scoring (23)

Giants defense: overall (31), rush (31), pass (24), scoring (30)

Turnover differential: Commanders minus-11; Giants minus-7.

Commanders player to watch

RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. The Giants allow 154.2 rushing yards a game and the Commanders are averaging 136.5, so perhaps this will be the week Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury lets Rodriguez get a few more carries. He had success last week against Minnesota when given the ball — gaining 5.2 yards per rush — but only ran the ball 10 times.

Giants player to watch

Rookie QB Jaxson Dart. His development is the most — and maybe only — important part left in this lost season. Dart says he just wants to win as the Giants play out the string, and he might be able to take advantage of an opponent that struggles against the run and the pass. Dart has thrown for 11 touchdowns and run for seven more in his first eight NFL starts.

Key matchup

Commanders’ offensive line vs. Giants’ pass rush. Only Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, approaching the single-season record, has more sacks than New York’s Brian Burns, with a career-high 13. Even without Kayvon Thibodeaux, there should be plenty of pressure on Mariota from Burns, rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

Key injuries

Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels will miss his seventh game of the season after aggravating his injured left elbow last week. That was his first game in more than a month after dislocating his nonthrowing elbow on Nov. 2. Daniels also missed two games with a sprained left knee and one game with a bad right hamstring earlier. … TE Zach Ertz went on IR this week after tearing his right ACL.

Giants: Thibodeaux could miss a fourth consecutive game because of a shoulder injury. … With P Jamie Gillian nursing a left knee injury, Cameron Johnston was signed to the practice squad and could take over punting duties.

Series notes

The Commanders won the past three meetings after losing the previous three. … Washington is trying to sweep the two-game series against the Giants in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1982-83. … Each team is expected to have a different starting QB than in Week 1: Marcus Mariota instead of Daniels for the Commanders, and Dart instead of Russell Wilson for the Giants.

Stats and stuff

Following eight consecutive defeats, Washington already has twice as many losses as it did all of last season, when it went 12-5 and then made it all the way to the NFC title game. … The loss to Minnesota last week was the first time Washington had been shut out since 2019. … The Commanders are 1-5 when Mariota starts this season. … The Commanders have just seven takeaways this season, the same total as the Giants. The Jets (with two) are the only team with fewer. … LB Von Miller’s sack last week against the Vikings raised his season total to a team-leading six and his career count to 135 1/2, putting him one away from passing Jared Allen for 12th on the all-time list. … The Giants have lost seven in a row, with coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen getting fired during the skid. They’ve lost 25 of their past 30 games dating to last season. … New York has had six different leading receivers in 13 games. WR Wan’Dale Robinson has a team-high 73 catches and 828 yards, while TE Theo Johnson has the most TD catches with five. … Carter registered his first full sack against the Patriots after being benched for the first quarter, his second disciplinary action in three games.

Fantasy tip

Giants RB Tyrone Tracy is good to go after the bye week, interim coach Mike Kafka said. With snow potentially in the forecast, Tracy might get a healthy amount of carries and the chance to develop a rhythm in the running game.

JAGUARS CAN REACH DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE 2007 WHEN THEY HOST THE JETS

New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville (9-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL odds: Jaguars by 12 1/2.

Against the spread: Jets 7-5-1, Jaguars 8-5.

Series record: Jaguars lead 9-8.

Last meeting: Jets beat the Jaguars 32-25 on Dec. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville.

Last week: Jets lost to the Dolphins 34-10; Jaguars beat the Colts 36-19.

Jets offense: overall (29), rush (7), pass (32), scoring (25).

Jets defense: overall (17), rush (30), pass (8), scoring (26t).

Jaguars offense: overall (17), rush (15), pass (19), scoring (9).

Jaguars defense: overall (11), rush (1), pass (22), scoring (11).

Turnover differential: Jets minus-15; Jaguars plus-8.

Jets player to watch

RB Breece Hall. He’s 123 yards rushing from his first 1,000-yard season of his career. He’ll be looking for a bounce-back game after rushing for just 43 yards and being held without a catch for just the second time this season. He’ll have a tough task against the NFL’s top run defense.

Jaguars player to watch

RB Travis Etienne. He hasn’t topped 100 yards rushing since late September, a nine-game span in which he averaged 3.8 yards a carry. But he could be in for a big afternoon against a Jets defense that ranks 30th in the league against the run.

Key matchup

The Jaguars held Hall to 30 yards on the ground in their last meeting and hope to have similar success Sunday. Jacksonville is allowing 82.9 yards a game — on pace to set the franchise mark. The unit hasn’t allowed any single runner to reach 75 yards, and only two running backs have gained more than 20 yards on any carry against the Jags this season.

Key injuries

Jets: QBs Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) might not play, leaving undrafted rookie Brady Cook in line to potentially get his first NFL start. … TEs Mason Taylor (neck) and Stone Smartt (concussion), LBs Quincy Williams (hand) and Kiko Mauigoa (neck), and CB Azareye’h Thomas (shoulder) are dealing with injuries.

Jaguars: S Andrew Wingard and LT Walker Little, both of whom sat out against Indy, cleared concussion protocol and should return. … WR Parker Washington (hip) is working his way back after also missing the game.

Series notes

The Jaguars are 5-2 against the Jets in Jacksonville, with the last four wins being by a combined score of 129-30.

Stats and stuff

The Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight season — the NFL’s longest active drought. … New York also has its sixth straight season with double-digit losses and ninth in 10 years. … Cook would become the 55th starting QB in franchise history. … Taylor started the last three games in place of the benched Fields. … Cook and Taylor didn’t get a lot of help from their receivers against the Dolphins. They had six dropped passes, giving them 26 for the season — third in the NFL behind Jacksonville (38) and Denver (33), according to Pro Football Reference. … Mason Taylor has 44 catches, five from surpassing Dustin Keller for the team’s rookie record for tight ends. … The Jets have no interceptions through 13 games, an NFL record. … Isaiah Williams is the third player in franchise history to have multiple punt return TDs in one season, joining Dick Christy (1961 and 1962) and Santana Moss (2002). … Kene Nwangwu also has a 99-yard kickoff return for a score, giving the Jets their most TDs on returns since also having three in 2007. … K Nick Folk needs two field goals to join Pat Leahy as the only players in franchise history to make 200. … The Jaguars are trying to reach double-digit wins for the second time since 2007. Their plus-five win differential from 2024 to 2025 ranks second in the NFL behind New England (plus-seven). … Jacksonville’s 182 points scored since Week 9 are the most in the AFC and the third most in the NFL. The team’s 65-point differential since its Week 8 bye leads the AFC. … LB Foye Oluokun is the first player since 2019 with 100 or more tackles and 10 passes defensed through the first 13 games of a season. … QB Trevor Lawrence is going for his fourth consecutive game with 225 or more yards and two TD passes. … WR Brian Thomas Jr. has at least 80 yards receiving in three straight games at EverBank Stadium. He had 10 catches for 105 yards and two TDs in his last game against the Jets. … WR Tim Patrick has a TD catch in three consecutive home games. … DE Josh Hines-Allen has at least one sack in five of his last six games.

Fantasy tip

Jaguars WR Jakobi Meyers has a TD catch in three consecutive games.

CHARGERS CLOSING IN ON PLAYOFF SPOT AS CHIEFS FACE ELIMINATION IN AFC WEST SHOWDOWN

Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) at Kansas City (6-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL odds: Chiefs by 4 1/2.

Against the spread: Chargers 7-6, Chiefs 5-7-1.

Series record: Chiefs lead 11-5.

Last meeting: Chargers beat Chiefs 27-21 on Sept. 5, 2025, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Last week: Chargers beat Eagles 22-19; Chiefs lost to Texans 20-10.

Chargers offense: overall (11), rush (9), pass (17), scoring (T17)

Chargers defense: overall (4), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (4)

Chiefs offense: overall (7), rush (17), pass (4), scoring (11)

Chiefs defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (13), scoring (7)

Turnover differential: Chargers plus-1; Chiefs minus-1.

Chargers player to watch

Justin Herbert needs 19 yards passing to become only the third QB in NFL history with at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first six seasons. He had 318 yards and three TDs passing when he faced the Chiefs in September.

Chiefs player to watch

QB Patrick Mahomes is coming off one of the worst games of his NFL career, when he threw for just 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in a 20-10 loss to the Texans. He is 10-3 against the Chargers in the regular season, but that includes a loss in the season opener this past September.

Key matchup

The Chiefs running game against the Chargers defense, which has been stellar against the pass but prone to giving up yardage on the ground. The Chiefs had just 98 yards rushing against Los Angeles in September, and 57 of them came when Mahomes was scrambling.

Key injuries

Chargers: WR Derius Davis (ankle), LB Troy Dye (hip), DB Elijah Molden (hamstring) and OL Trey Pipkins III (ankle) missed practice this week. Herbert was limited by his left hand but will play on Sunday.

Chiefs: OL Wanya Morris (knee) and OT Jawaan Taylor (triceps and knee) missed practice, but OL Trey Smith is expected to return from an ankle injury Sunday.

Series notes

The Chargers snapped a seven-game skid against Kansas City when they beat their AFC West rivals in the opener in Brazil. The Chiefs had not lost to Los Angeles since Sept. 26, 2021, which is also the last time the Chargers triumphed in Arrowhead Stadium.

Stats and stuff

The Chargers are seeking consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since 2006-07, and they are trying to qualify for the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since four straight from 2006-09. … Chargers RB Kimani Vidal has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in three of his past four games. … Chargers WR Keenan Allen had seven catches for 68 yards and a TD when he faced Kansas City in September. … The Chiefs would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss and a combination of wins by three other AFC teams. … TE Travis Kelce has caught a pass in 187 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest in Chiefs history. … Kelce need 73 yards receiving to join Jerry Rice as the only players with at least 800 in 12 consecutive seasons. … DT Chris Jones needs 1 1/2 sacks to pass Neil Smith (85 1/2) for third-most in Chiefs history. … Mahomes needs three TD passes to become the sixth player in NFL history with at least 25 in eight consecutive seasons. … Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt has run for a TD in five of his past six games.

Fantasy tip

In a matchup between two teams known for their ability to produce points, the only must-start player might be Chiefs WR Rashee Rice — and even he comes with a question mark. He had just four catches on eight targets for 34 yards last week against Houston, when he also dropped his fourth pass of the season at a crucial moment.

BEARS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST GARRETT AND THE BROWNS AFTER LOSING TO THE PACKERS

Cleveland (3-10) at Chicago (9-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox.

BetMGM NFL odds: Bears by 7 1/2.

Against the spread: Browns 4-6; Bears 6-4.

Series record: Browns lead 11-7.

Last meeting: Browns beat Bears 20-17 at Cleveland on Dec. 17, 2023.

Last week: Browns lost to Tennessee 31-29; Bears lost at Green Bay 28-21.

Browns offense: overall (30), rush (27), pass (29), scoring (29)

Browns defense: overall (2), overall (13), pass (1), scoring (17)

Bears offense: overall (5), rush (2), pass (14), scoring (8)

Bears defense: overall (27), overall (27), pass (21), scoring (25)

Turnover differential: Browns minus-1; Bears plus-17.

Bears player to watch

WR DJ Moore. With leading receiver Rome Odunze missing last week’s game with a lingering foot injury, coach Ben Johnson expected Moore to carry a heavier load. That didn’t happen. Moore was targeted just three times and caught one pass for a 4-yard loss, the first time in his eight seasons that his receiving total was for negative yardage. Moore has 498 yards receiving through 13 games and is on pace to finish with 651. His career low is 788 yards in 2018 as a rookie with Carolina.

Browns player to watch

QB Shedeur Sanders. The highly publicized fifth-round pick and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders will be the Browns’ starter for the rest of the season after passing for 364 yards and three touchdowns while also having a rushing score. He is 1-2 as Cleveland’s starter, but the next three games against tough defenses should be an indicator of what the Browns might have going into another offseason where they could be looking for quarterback help.

Key matchup

Browns DE Myles Garrett vs. Bears LT Ozzy Trapilo. Garrett comes in with a league-leading 20 sacks and needs just 2 1/2 to match the NFL single-season record shared by the New York Giants’ Michael Strahan (2001) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt (2021). A four-time All-Pro, Garrett has 16 in the past seven games. The Giants’ Brian Burns is second in the NFL with 13 sacks. Trapilo, a second-round draft pick from Boston College this year, held his own last week against an aggressive defense led by Micah Parsons. A solid effort against Cleveland could help cement him as the Bears’ left tackle of the future.

Key injuries

Browns: OG Wyatt Teller (calf) will miss his second straight game and OT Jack Conklin remains in concussion protocol. … WR Malachi Corley (concussion), TE David Njoku (knee), CB Denzel Ward (calf) and WR Cedric Tillman (concussion) are questionable after being injured last week.

Bears: CB Kyler Gordon (groin) was a late scratch last week after he was hurt in warmups and coach Ben Gordon said it’s “to be determined” if he’ll play again this season. He has played in just three games due to hamstring and groin injuries. … Odunze would have been a limited participant Wednesday had the Bears practiced rather than held a walkthrough.

Series notes

The Browns have won the past two meetings — both in Cleveland, including a wild one in 2023. They rallied from 10 down with Joe Flacco leading the comeback and withstood a Hail Mary on the final play. Justin Fields’ heave got batted by two defenders, but it went directly to Bears receiver Darnell Mooney, who was lying on his back. The ball bounced in and out of Mooney’s hands and he kicked it into the air, allowing Browns safety D’Anthony Bell to intercept it. … Chicago is 5-2 in home games against Cleveland, most recently winning at Soldier Field in 2017.

Stats and stuff

Cleveland has dropped two straight and five of six. It is assured of its 19th season with double-digit losses since returning to the league in 1999. … The Browns are on pace to join the 1968 Buffalo Bills as the only teams in the Super Bowl era to have their leaders in pass attempts, rushing carries and pass receptions all be rookies. … RB Quinshon Judkins leads NFL rookies with 784 yards rushing and is tied for first in rushing TDs (seven). … WR Jerry Jeudy had his second TD catch of the season last week. … TE Harold Fannin Jr. had career highs in receptions (eight) and yards receiving (114) last week. He’s second among league rookies with 59 catches. … Chicago had won five straight and nine of 10 before last week’s game. … The Bears fell behind Green Bay for the NFC North lead and tumbled from first to seventh in the conference race with the loss at Lambeau Field. … The Bears have won four straight at home since a season-opening loss to Minnesota. … Chicago leads the league in interceptions (18), takeaways (27) and turnover differential (plus-17). … The Bears have five wins this season after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, tied with the 2016 Detroit Lions and 2011 Denver Broncos for the league record. … QB Caleb Williams has completed fewer than 60% of his passes in six straight games. On a more positive note, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has 19 touchdown passes after throwing for 20 as a rookie last season. … S Kevin Byard leads the NFL with six interceptions — two shy of his career high. CB Nahshon Wright is tied for second with five, and LB Tremaine Edmunds has four, matching his personal best. … Wright leads the league in takeaways (eight) and fumble recoveries (three).

Fantasy tip

With frigid temperatures forecast and the potential for a low-scoring game, this might be a good week to bench Sanders — particularly going against a defense that leads the league in takeaways.

PATRIOTS CAN CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH AND AFC EAST TITLE WITH WIN OVER BILLS

Buffalo (9-4) at New England (11-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL odds: Bills by 1.

Against the spread: Bills 6-7; Patriots 8-4-1.

Series record: Patriots lead 80-51-1.

Last meeting: Patriots won 23-20 in Buffalo on Oct. 5, 2025.

Last week: Bills beat Bengals 39-34; Patriots beat Giants 33-15 on Dec. 1.

Bills offense: overall (2), rush (1), pass (11), scoring (5t).

Bills defense: overall (10), rush (28), pass (2), scoring (14).

Patriots offense: overall (8), rush (21), pass (2), scoring (7)

Patriots defense: overall (7), rush (3), pass (14), scoring (5)

Turnover differential: Bills minus-1; Patriots plus-1.

Bills player to watch

QB Josh Allen. The eighth-year starter is coming off an outing in which he passed for three touchdowns and scored another rushing while rallying Buffalo from a 10-point deficit in the final eight minutes. Allen has combined for three or more touchdowns seven times this season — all wins — and is looking to atone for a sloppy two-TD and two-turnover outing in Buffalo’s loss to New England in Week 5.

Patriots players to watch

QB Drake Maye. The second-year standout enters this week first in the NFL with a 71.5 completion percentage and 111.9 passer rating. He’s also second in the NFL in yards passing (3,412). Since 1970, three quarterbacks have led the league in yards, completion percentage and passer rating in the same season: Tom Brady in 2007, Kurt Warner in 2001 and Ken Anderson in 1974.

Key matchup

Allen and RB James Cook vs. Patriots run defense. The Patriots have been stingy against the run all season and come in allowing opponents only 89.5 yards per game on the ground. But the Bills have been great running the ball over their last two games. Against Pittsburgh in Week 13, Cook (144 yards) led the offense in an outing that saw Buffalo rack up a season-high 249 rushing yards. In their win over Cincinnati the following week, the Bills had 183 yards rushing – including 78 and a touchdown by Allen.

Key injuries

Bills: Buffalo is getting healthier with RT Spencer Brown (right shoulder) expected to return after missing two games. … DE Joey Bosa (hamstring/wrist) has a chance to return after he resumed practicing on a limited basis after missing one game. … LB Terrel Bernard’s status remains uncertain after missing two games with an elbow issue.

Patriots: Rookie LT Will Campbell won’t play for the second straight game after he was placed on injured reserve Nov. 26 with a knee injury. … LG Jared Wilson began the week as a full participant after sitting out last week with an ankle injury. … RB Terrell Jennings started the week in the concussion protocol.

Series notes

The Patriots’ 80 wins over the Bills are their highest total against any opponent. … New England is 41-24 all-time at home against Buffalo, including 18-5 at Gillette Stadium. … The last time the Bills have been swept by a division foe was in 2019, Tom Brady’s last season in New England, when the Bills lost both games to the Pats.

Stats and stuff

The Patriots will clinch both the AFC East title and a playoff berth with a victory, ending Buffalo’s streak of five consecutive division titles. … Including the playoffs, Buffalo is 12-12 on the road since 2023 and 3-3 this season. … Buffalo is one win shy of its seventh consecutive season with 10 or more victories. … Bills coach Sean McDermott improved to 95-49, moving ahead of John Madden and Mike McCarthy for the most regular-season wins among NFL coaches in their first nine years. McDermott is one win shy of matching Paul Brown, while George Seifert leads the list with 106. … Allen improved to 6-0 this season and 38-7 overall when not committing a giveaway. The quarterback also extended his NFL record with his 50th game in which he has scored a TD on a pass and a run. … RB James Cook topped 100 yards from scrimmage for a 10th time last weekend, but also lost a fumble — his third of the season. The turnover came in the red zone, marking the fifth time the Bills have coughed up the ball inside an opponent’s 20 this season. The previous four giveaways were Allen interceptions. … TE Dawson Knox had season highs with six catches and a team-leading 93 yards — the third most of his seven-year career — against the Bengals. … CB Christian Benford scored on a 63-yard interception return against Cincinnati and a week after scoring on a 17-yard fumble return. He became Buffalo’s first player to score on TD returns in consecutive games. … Buffalo has scored on a return in three straight, with Ray Davis’ 97-yard kickoff return in a 23-19 loss at Houston. … The Patriots can also clinch a playoff berth with several combinations of tie and losses involving multiple teams. … New England hasn’t won the AFC East since 2019, its final in a streak of 11 consecutive titles from 2009 to 2019. … An 11th consecutive victory would be the third-longest single-season streak in team history. The Patriots have had streaks of at least 11 wins in a season two previous times: a 12-game streak in 2003 and a 16-game streak in 2007. … A victory would give the Patriots their 14th 12-win season in team history. … Mike Vrabel can become the third head coach since 1970 to record a winning streak of 11 or more games in his first season with a team, joining Jim Caldwell (14 consecutive wins with Indianapolis in 2009) and Steve Mariucci (11 with San Francisco in 1997). … New England is the first team in NFL history to win 10 consecutive games with at least 23 points scored and 23 or fewer points allowed in each game. … WR Stefon Diggs leads the team with 64 receptions and 705 receiving yards. … TE Hunter Henry entered the week second on the team with 610 yards receiving. He needs 65 yards to set a single-season career high. … LB Harold Landry leads the Patriots with 7 1/2 sacks.

Fantasy tip

Look for the ball to go to Diggs a lot in this one. He posted a season-high 10 catches for 146 yards in the Patriots’ victory in Buffalo in Week 5. That was also Diggs’ season high for catches and yards.

COWBOYS CLING TO PLAYOFF HOPES AS VIKINGS VISIT WITH FOCUS ON MCCARTHY’S GROWTH

Minnesota (5-8) at Dallas (6-6-1)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC

BetMGM NFL odds: Cowboys by 6.

Against the spread: Vikings 5-7; Cowboys 7-6.

Series record: Cowboys lead 19-15.

Last meeting: Cowboys beat Vikings 40-3 on Nov. 20, 2022, in Minneapolis.

Last week: Vikings beat Commanders 31-0; Cowboys lost to Lions 44-30.

Vikings offense: overall (28), rush (24), pass (30), scoring (26).

Vikings defense: overall (8), rush (22), pass (4), scoring (124).

Cowboys offense: overall (1), rush (16), pass (1), scoring (3).

Cowboys defense: overall (29), rush (20), pass (32), scoring (31).

Turnover differential: Vikings minus-12, Cowboys minus-8.

Vikings player to watch

RB Jordan Mason. With a career-high six touchdown runs and a team-leading 630 yards rushing, Mason has been well worth the late draft pick the Vikings sent to San Francisco to acquire the 26-year-old last spring. Mason is averaging more than 6 yards per attempt over the last five games and should continue to be a prominent part of the game plan down the stretch.

Cowboys player to watch

WR George Pickens. He faced questions about his effort in the loss to the Lions after what appeared to be several instances of half-hearted route-running. If CeeDee Lamb can’t play after suffering a concussion against Detroit, there will be even more focus on Pickens. Pickens did average 120 yards while scoring four touchdowns in the three games Lamb missed with an ankle injury this season. Pickens is third in the NFL with 1,179 yards receiving despite the Lions limiting him to 37 yards.

Key matchup

QB J.J. McCarthy vs. Dallas’ pass defense. The best game of what is essentially McCarthy’s first season came against the Commanders. The second-year pro who missed all of his rookie year with a knee injury had his most touchdown passes with three in his first game without a turnover. McCarthy had a 129.2 passer rating in his seventh start after averaging 51.3 in his previous five games. Now he faces the NFL’s worst pass defense. The Cowboys have struggled in the secondary most of the season trying to implement first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ zone-heavy scheme.

Key injuries

Vikings: They fielded their expected starting lineup on both offense and defense last week for the first time this season and reported no significant injuries during the Washington game.

Cowboys: DE Jadeveon Clowney was a game-time decision in the loss to Detroit, so the extra time off should bode well for his return after missing just that game with a hamstring injury. … LT Tyler Guyton is probably at least another week away from returning from a sprained ankle that has sidelined him two games.

Series notes

The Cowboys have won five of the past six meetings, but the only loss was at home, 28-24 in 2019. Dallas is 13-7 on the road against Minnesota, but just 6-8 in Texas. … The Vikings have lost four consecutive Sunday night road games since that 2019 victory over the Cowboys. They also lost their last Sunday night meeting with Dallas, 20-16 at home in 2021 when Cooper Rush started in place of injured star quarterback Dak Prescott for the Cowboys.

Stats and stuff

The Vikings are 1-7 on the road and 5-10 overall in prime time under coach Kevin O’Connell. Over the last 20 seasons, the Vikings are 9-28 on the road and 24-42 overall in night games. … The Cowboys trail NFC East-leading Philadelphia by 1 1/2 games with four to play after their three-game winning streak was stopped by Detroit. The Eagles have lost three in a row. … McCarthy’s completion percentage is 56%. The only lower percentage among quarterbacks with at least one start is Cleveland rookie Shedeur Sanders (52.4%). … WR Justin Jefferson has just four catches for 15 yards over the last two games. He needs 134 yards receiving to pass Randy Moss for the most by a player over his first six NFL seasons. … The Vikings have at least two sacks in 24 of 31 games since the start of the 2024 season, second most in the league behind Denver (28). … The Vikings have allowed 2.24 yards per play in the red zone this season, the second-fewest in the league. They rank third in red zone touchdown rate. … Prescott can set a franchise record with a fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game. The NFL leader in yards passing is facing a defense that has held opponents to 250 yards or fewer through the air in 12 of 13 games, and allowed an average of just 112 yards over the past three games. … RB Javonte Williams clinched his first 1,000-yard season last week. The fifth-year back is seventh in the NFL with 1,022 yards. … Lamb has at least 100 yards receiving in five of his nine games, not counting a loss at Chicago when he injured an ankle the only time he touched the ball, on a designed running play out of the backfield. He didn’t finish his fifth 100-yard effort. Lamb had seven catches for 110 yards when he suffered the concussion against the Lions. … DE Donovan Ezeiruaku is second among rookies with nine tackles for loss. … DE Sam Williams is the only player in the NFL with two blocked kicks and a blocked punt this season. … K Brandon Aubrey is the first in league history with at least 100 field goals in his first three seasons.

Fantasy tip

All three of McCarthy’s touchdown passes last week went to tight ends — two to Josh Oliver and one to T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings are trying to simplify the offense through McCarthy’s struggles and quick or underneath throws seem to be part of the plan. Hockenson could be poised for a strong finish in what has so far been a career-worst season and would be worth a pickup in a league where a frustrated owner sent him to the waiver wire.

THE 49ERS HOST THE TITANS IN SEARCH OF THEIR FIRST 4-GAME WINNING STREAK SINCE 2023

Tennessee (2-11) at San Francisco (9-4)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox.

BetMGM NFL Odds: 49ers by 12 1/2.

Against the spread: Titans 6-7; 49ers 8-5.

Series record: 49ers lead 9-6.

Last meeting: Titans beat 49ers 20-17 Dec. 23, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Last week: Titans beat Browns 31-29; 49ers beat the Browns 26-8 before bye.

Titans offense: overall (32), rush (31), pass (31), scoring (31).

Titans defense: overall (26), rush (18), pass (23), scoring (29).

49ers offense: overall (12), rush (25), pass (6), scoring (16).

49ers defense: overall (20), rush (12), pass (25), scoring (8).

Turnover differential: Titans minus-5; 49ers minus-4.

Titans player to watch

RB Tony Pollard. The veteran is coming off the best game of his NFL career after rushing for 161 yards and also scoring two touchdowns. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry last week.

49ers player to watch

DL Clelin Ferrell. The Niners signed Ferrell off the street in October and he has provided a needed boost to the pass rush. He had two sacks in his last game and four in his last four games to tie Bryce Huff for the team lead in sacks. San Francisco is last in the league with 20 sacks, while the Titans have allowed the second most with 49.

Key matchup

Titans rookie QB Cam Ward against the 49ers’ defense. He was sacked just once last week with the Titans finding ways to keep Myles Garrett out of his face. The No. 1 overall pick still isn’t happy with how Tennessee played in a rare win, determined to keep improving.

Key injuries

Titans: C Lloyd Cushenberry (injured foot) and CB Jalyn Armour Davis (Achilles’ tendon) both are practicing trying to return after missing two straight games. … DT Shy Tuttle practiced fully Wednesday after missing the last two games in the concussion protocol.

49ers: LB Tatum Bethune and DE Sam Okuayinonu are expected to miss the game with ankle injuries. … K Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) will return after missing two games. … DE Yetur Gross-Matos could be back this week for the first time since injuring his hamstring in Week 5.

Series notes

The 49ers have split two games against the Titans under coach Kyle Shanahan, winning at home in 2017 and losing on the road in 2021. … Tennessee’s last road win in the series came in 2009. … Titans interim coach Mike McCoy is 1-0 against San Francisco from his tenure coaching the Chargers.

Stats and stuff

Both of the Titans’ wins have come on the road this season. Tennessee has not won consecutive games since Nov. 13 and 17, 2022. … The Titans started five rookies for the third straight game last week and fourth overall this season. … Ward leads all rookie quarterbacks with 2,468 yards passing and is second with nine TD passes. … Rookie WR Chimere Dike had a TD catch last week and has a TD catch in two of his past three games. He also leads the NFL in all-purpose yards with 1,984. … The Titans have 23 sacks since Week 7, fifth-most in the NFL in that span. … DT Jeffery Simmons has a sack in three of his past four games and eight for the season. He needs one more sack for a career high. He had seven tackles, two for losses, 1 1/2 sacks and batted down a pass last week. … LB Cedric Gray had a team-high 10 tackles last week and a fumble recovery. … S Xavier Woods had an interception last week. … Rookie CB Marcus Harris forced his first career fumble last week. … San Francisco is seeking its first four-game winning streak since winning six straight in 2023. … The 49ers are 5-3 after the bye under Shanahan with wins the last three seasons. … San Francisco has won eight straight against rookie starting QBs since losing twice to Arizona’s Josh Rosen in 2018. … The 32.9 yard average starting field position for the 49ers is the best in the NFL. They have scored six of their 10 TDs the past three games on drives that started in opposing territory with four starting in the red zone. … San Francisco has held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 10 points for the first time since doing it three straight games from Weeks 5 to 7 in 2019. … Niners RB Christian McCaffrey has 838 yards rushing and 806 yards receiving. MarshallFaulk (1998) and Roger Craig (1985) are the only other players with at least 800 yards of each in a team’s first 13 games of a season. … Pineiro is 22 for 22 on FGs this season and San Francisco has matched a franchise record with 12 straight games without a missed FG.

Fantasy tip

Niners WR Jauan Jennings has gotten healthy in recent weeks and has caught a TD pass in four of his last five games. He has at least four catches in seven straight games. He also grew up near Nashville.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

SHERRONE MOORE’S FIRING LEAVES MICHIGAN AND ITS TROUBLED FOOTBALL PROGRAM SCRAMBLING TO FIND A COACH

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Sherrone Moore spent the night in jail awaiting arraignment while college football’s winningest school suddenly started searching for a new coach to lead the Wolverines.

Michigan has quite a mess on its hands.

The NCAA put the program on probation less than four months ago, stemming from a sign-stealing scandal, and athletic director Warde Manuel has said penalties will cost the department more than $30 million.

And now, the Wolverines are scrambling to find a new leader for their shaken football team.

Manuel informed the team of his decision to fire Moore on Wednesday afternoon for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

The move leaves Michigan looking for a third coach in four years, shortly after a busy cycle that included Lane Kiffin leaving playoff-bound Mississippi for LSU.

Without a coach in place for next season, the program may lose players in the transfer portal this winter.

Moore led the 18th-ranked Wolverines to a 9-3 record this year after going 8-5 in his debut season.

He signed a five-year contract with a base annual salary of $5.5 million last year. According to the terms of his deal, the university will not have to buy out the remaining years of his contract because he was fired for cause.

Michigan is set to play No. 14 Texas on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Biff Poggi, who filled in for Moore when he was suspended earlier this season in relation to the Harbaugh-era sign-stealing scandal, will serve as interim coach. Moore was suspended for two games as part of self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations related to the scandal. The NCAA added a third game to the suspension, which would have kept Moore off the sideline for next year’s opener against Western Michigan.

He was also suspended for the season-opening game during the 2023 national championship season as part of the the school’s self-imposed penalties for impermissible texts and calls to high school prospects during part of a pandemic-related dead period for contact with potential recruits.

Moore was arrested Wednesday night after his firing. In response to media inquiries about Moore, Pittsfield Township police issued a statement that said officers were called to investigate an alleged assault and took a person into custody without mentioning a name.

The police department said the suspect was scheduled for arraignment on Friday.

The 39-year-old Moore, who is married with three young daughters, did not return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment before he was taken into custody.

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MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS

NO. 4 IOWA STATE TAKES DOWN RIVAL IOWA IN NARROW COMEBACK

Joshua Jefferson scored a game-high 24 points to lead No. 4 Iowa State to a 66-62 comeback win over Iowa on Thursday night in Ames, Iowa.

Tamin Lipsey added 14 points and Milan Momcilovic contributed 10 points for the Cyclones (10-0).

Tavion Banks led Iowa (8-2) with 14 points and Cam Manyawu and Bennett Stirtz each scored 10 points.

Stirtz drilled a three with 1:38 left and the Hawkeyes trailed 62-61. On the next possession, a Nate Heise layup gave the Cyclones a 64-61 lead. Stirtz split a pair of free throws for the Hawkeyes and Iowa trailed 64-62.

Jefferson made a pair of free throws to extend the Cyclones’ lead to four with nine seconds to play. Stirtz missed a deep three in the closing seconds and the Cyclones held on to win against their in-state rivals.

With 16 straight points to open the second half, the Cyclones erased the Hawkeyes’ 33-25 halftime advantage. A reverse layup from Lipsey tied the game at 33-33. Moments later, Blake Buchanan’s steal led to Jefferson’s jumper and the Cyclones led for the first time since the game’s opening minutes

Overall, the Cyclones put together a 19-0 scoring spree that started with the last bucket of the first half and ended with a fadeaway jumper from Momcilovic for a 41-33 lead. Iowa finally cracked the second-half scoring column with a two-hand dunk off a baseline cut by Tate Sage at the 14:48 mark, which cut the Cyclones’ lead to 41-35.

After a Hawkeyes turnover, Momcilovic drained a three and Iowa State took a 47-37 lead with 11:59 to play.

An 8-0 run got the Hawkeyes back in the game as Manyawu’s offensive rebound and layup cut the Cyclones’ advantage to 47-45.

A back-and-forth first half gave way to a 10-0 Iowa run. The Hawkeyes took a 25-12 lead on Kael Combs’ putback.

But Iowa State closed the first half with an 8-3 rally that Jefferson capped with a 3-pointer 40 seconds before halftime.

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WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS

WOMEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP: CAMBRIDGE SISTERS FUEL NO. 21 OHIO ST.’S COMEBACK

Jaloni Cambridge tied her career high with 33 points, her sister Kennedy Cambridge compiled a career-best 10 steals and No. 21 Ohio State overcame a surprise halftime deficit to beat Northern Kentucky 94-62 on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.

The Buckeyes (8-1) trailed 17-5 early on and found themselves behind by five at halftime. They flipped the tables with a 26-2 run in the third quarter, fueled by Jaloni Cambridge’s eight points and her sister’s four steals.

The Norse (3-9) outshot their Big Ten foes 44.9% to 43.4%, but they committed an incredible 37 turnovers — 13 in the third quarter alone — that the Buckeyes converted into 46 points.

Ava Watson also applied pressure for Ohio State, finishing with 13 points and seven steals. Kylee Kitts scored 11 for the Buckeyes. Northern Kentucky freshman Karina Bystry scored a team-high 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

No. 9 Oklahoma 103, Little Rock 48

Raegan Beers posted 26 points and 15 rebounds, her Division I-best eighth double-double of the season, to lead the Sooners to a blowout of the Trojans in Norman, Okla.

Beers also tied her career high of five assists while Aaliyah Chavez added 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, as the Sooners (10-1) ran out to a 61-23 lead by halftime. They also got 19 points from Zya Vann and 13 from Caya Smith.

Mya Cotto and Jordan Holman scored 11 points apiece for Little Rock (3-6).

No. 19 Notre Dame 97, Morehead State 48

Hannah Hidalgo tallied 26 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and three assists to help the Fighting Irish roll past the Eagles in South Bend, Ind.

Cassandre Prosper joined Hidalgo with a double-double for Notre Dame (7-2), supplying 20 points and 13 boards, the latter a career high. Vanessa de Jesus had 16 points and five assists as Notre Dame scored 31 points off 24 Morehead turnovers and racked up 42 points in the paint.

Kate Dike scored 11 points for Morehead State (4-6).

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NBA NEWS

NBA ROUNDUP: PELICANS END 7-GAME SLIDE WITH ROUT OF BLAZERS

Trey Murphy III scored 24 points as the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a seven-game skid with a 143-120 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

Bryce McGowens added a career-high-tying 23 points — going 5-for-5 on 3-point attempts — and Jordan Poole contributed 22 off the New Orleans bench in his first game since Nov. 4 following a left quad strain.

McGowens scored 10 points without a miss in the fourth quarter, which New Orleans dominated 38-23 to seize control of the contest.

Shaedon Sharpe posted 21 and Sidy Cissoko finished with a personal-best 20 for Portland, which took its sixth loss in seven games.

Nuggets 136, Kings 105

Nikola Jokic poured 23 of his game-high 36 points into a first-half runaway as visiting Denver crushed Sacramento.

Despite failing to add to his league-league total of 11 triple-doubles, Jokic also found time for a game-high 12 rebounds and eight assists, helping Denver beat Sacramento for a third time in four meetings this season. Peyton Watson chipped in with 21 points for the Nuggets, who have won 11 consecutive road games.

Malik Monk had a team-high 18 points for the Kings, who lost for the sixth time in their past seven games. In a head-to-head with Jokic, one of his primary challengers for all-time triple-double leadership, Sacramento’s Russell Westbrook had 17 points but just three rebounds and five assists.

Bucks 116, Celtics 101

Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 31 points to lead Milwaukee to a win over visiting Boston.

Bobby Portis added 27 on 11-of-13 shooting off the bench for the Bucks, who snapped a two-game skid. Kevin Porter Jr. compiled 18 points, 13 assists and 10 boards as Milwaukee prevailed without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 30 points while Jordan Walsh added 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The Celtics had their five-game winning streak end.

Rockets 115, Clippers 113

Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson teamed up to spearhead a fourth-quarter rally that carried Houston to a victory over visiting Los Angeles.

Sengun (22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, four steals) contributed two critical post baskets down the stretch. Thompson posted 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, including a three-point play with 17.2 seconds left that broke a 110-110 tie.

Los Angeles’ Kawhi Leonard was dynamic on both ends, posting 24 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Ivica Zubac dominated the interior, producing 33 points on 13-of-14 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. James Harden (22 points, seven assists) drilled a 3-pointer with 37.1 seconds left that tied the game at 110-110, but the Clippers could not avoid their eighth loss in nine games.

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NHL ROUNDUP: ZACH HYMAN’S HAT TRICK PROPELS OILERS PAST RED WINGS

Zach Hyman netted a hat trick and Connor McDavid collected four assists to lead the host Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

Mattias Ekholm also scored for the Oilers, who are on a 5-2-2 run. Stuart Skinner made 27 saves, and Leon Draisaitl collected two assists.

It is the 43rd time McDavid has recorded a four-point game. The Oilers captain has netted five goals and seven assists in a four-game point spree. Hyman recorded his sixth career hat trick.

Simon Edvinsson scored for the Red Wings, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped and lost in regulation for the first time in seven games. Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots.

Sharks 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT)

Alexander Wennberg scored at 2:49 of overtime as visiting San Jose came back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Toronto. Wennberg knocked in the rebound after a 2-on-1 with William Eklund.

San Jose’s John Klingberg tied the game late in the third period to force overtime. Wennberg added two assists and Klingberg also had an assist. Dmitry Orlov scored the other goal for the Sharks, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 28 shots.

Dakota Joshua and Auston Matthews scored for the Maple Leafs, who fell to 4-0-2 in the past six games. William Nylander added two assists and Dennis Hildeby made 29 saves.

Hurricanes 3, Capitals 2 (SO)

Seth Jarvis scored the only tally in the shootout to give Carolina a road win over Washington.

Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Ehlers each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who are on a 5-2-0 run. Brandon Bussi stopped 23 of 25 shots, improving to 10-1-0 record in his first 11 NHL starts.

Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who are on a 7-0-2 surge. Rasmus Sandin had two assists, Nic Dowd scored and Logan Thompson stopped 37 of 39 shots.

Wild 5, Stars 2

Marcus Johansson netted a pair of goals and Matt Boldy scored once in a three-point outing as Minnesota erased a pair of deficits to beat Dallas in Saint Paul, Minn.

Joel Eriksson Ek collected one goal and one assist while Zach Bogosian added a goal for the Wild, who have won two consecutive games. Minnesota’s Vladimir Tarasenko netted two assists and goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 16 saves.

Miro Heiskanen produced a goal and an assist for the Stars, who saw their four-game winning streak end. Jason Robertson also tallied, and Jake Oettinger stopped 27 shots.

Bruins 6, Jets 3

David Pastrnak recorded two goals and two assists in his second game back from injury, leading Boston past host Winnipeg for its fourth consecutive win.

Following a three-goal first period for the Bruins, Hampus Lindholm (one goal, one assist) netted the eventual game-winner in the second. Casey Mittelstadt, Sean Kuraly and Elias Lindholm each scored a goal, Morgan Geekie had three assists and Joonas Korpisalo made 26 saves en route to the victory.

Morgan Barron, Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi were the goal scorers for Winnipeg, which has lost three straight and ninth of the past 11 games (2-8-1). Eric Comrie stopped 18 shots.

Avalanche 6, Panthers 2

Gavin Brindley had a goal and an assist in his return to the lineup, Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Malinski also had a goal and an assist apiece, and Colorado beat Florida in Denver.

Brock Nelson, Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen scored goals, Josh Manson and Martin Necas added two assists apiece and Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 23 shots for the Avalanche, who improved to 3-0-1 in their past four games.

Mackie Samoskevich and Noah Gregor scored goals and Daniil Tarasov made 36 saves for the Panthers, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Senators 6, Blue Jackets 3

Tim Stutzle scored twice to lead the Ottawa Senators to a win over host Columbus.

Drake Batherson and Michael Amadio each had a goal and two assists while David Perron and Claude Giroux added a goal and an assist apiece for the Senators, who had lost five of their previous six games. Dylan Cozens logged three assists, and Linus Ullmark made 23 saves.

Boone Jenner posted a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who lost their fourth consecutive contest (0-3-1). Dmitri Voronkov and defenseman Dante Fabbro also scored, and defenseman Zach Werenski had two assists.

Islanders 5, Ducks 2

Despite losing Bo Horvat to a lower-body injury in the second period, New York secured a win over Anaheim in Elmont, N.Y., led by Anders Lee’s two goals and two assists.

Horvat, the Islanders’ leader in points, became tangled up with Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson before limping off the ice. Travis Mitchell, Simon Holmstrom and Ryan Pulock added goals and David Rittich made 31 saves in the win.

Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry responded with goals and Ville Husso recorded 32 saves in the Ducks’ first loss in four games.

Predators 7, Blues 2

Steven Stamkos scored four goals to lead Nashville past visiting St. Louis.

Ryan O’Reilly, Filip Forsberg and Michael Bunting also scored for the Predators, who won for the sixth time in eight games. Luke Evangelista earned three assists for Nashville, while Fedor Svechkov, Matthew Wood, Nick Blankenberg and Roman Josi had two assists each and Juuse Saros made 24 saves.

Hugh McGing and Robert Thomas scored for the Blues, who lost for the fourth time in six games. Jordan Binnington allowed six goals on 25 shots in two periods before Joel Hofer relieved him.

Sabres 3, Canucks 2

Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson each had a goal and an assist for Buffalo in a win at Vancouver.

Zach Benson scored and Alex Lyon made 30 saves for the Sabres, who have won two straight and picked up their first regulation road win. Buffalo played without winger Alex Tuch, who was scratched because of illness.

Kiefer Sherwood and Max Sasson scored for the Canucks, who have lost nine of their past 11 games (2-8-1). Thatcher Demko made 12 saves in his return after missing 12 games with an injury.

Canadiens 4, Penguins 2

Jacob Fowler made 35 saves in his NHL debut, leading Montreal over host Pittsburgh.

Alexandre Texier, Brendan Gallagher, Cole Caufield and Oliver Kapanen scored, while Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky each had two assists for the Canadiens, who ended a two-game skid. Fowler became the first goalie born in Florida to start an NHL game.

Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist, Erik Karlsson also scored and Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for the Penguins, who have lost three in a row (0-1-2).

Lightning 8, Devils 4

Oliver Bjorkstrand scored two goals and set up another and Nikita Kucherov notched four assists, fueling Tampa Bay to a victory at Newark, N.J.

Jake Guentzel collected one goal and two assists and Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Darren Raddysh had one of each. Nick Paul and Pontus Holmberg also tallied to propel the Lightning to their second straight win. Jonas Johansson made 33 saves.

Paul Cotter and Luke Hughes each had a goal and an assist while Jesper Bratt and Angus Crookshank also scored for the Devils. Simon Nemec registered two assists. Jake Allen turned aside 23 shots in relief of Jacob Markstrom, who yielded three goals on seven shots before exiting.

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NASCAR NEWS

NASCAR SETTLES FEDERAL ANTITRUST CASE, GIVES ALL ITS TEAMS THE PERMANENT CHARTERS THEY WANTED

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan and NASCAR chairman Jim France stood side-by-side on the steps of a federal courthouse as if they were old friends following a stunning settlement Thursday of a bruising antitrust case in which the Basketball Hall of Famer was the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit accusing the top racing series in the United States of being a monopolistic bully.

The duo was flanked by three-time Daytona 500 Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk, who co-own 23XI Racing with Jordan, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and over a dozen lawyers as they celebrated the end to an eight-day trial that ultimately led NASCAR to cave and grant all its teams the permanent charters they wanted.

“Like two competitors, obviously we tried to get as much done in each other’s favor,” Jordan said, towering over the 81-year-old France. “I’ve said this from Day 1: the only way this sport is going to grow is we have to find some synergy between the two entities. I think we’ve gotten to that point, unfortunately it took 16 months to get here, but I think level heads have gotten us to this point where we can actually work together and grow this sport. I am very proud about that and I think Jim feels the same.”

“I do feel the same and we can get back to focusing on what we really love, and that’s racing, and we spent a lot of time not really focused on that so much as we needed to be,” France said. “I feel like we made a very good decision here together and we have a big opportunity to continue growing the sport.”

A charter is the equivalent of the franchise model used in other sports and in NASCAR it guarantees 36 teams a spot in every top-level Cup Series race and a fixed portion of the revenue stream. The system was implemented in 2016 and teams have argued for over two years that the charters needed to be made permanent — they had been revokable by NASCAR — and the revenue sharing had to change.

NASCAR, founded and privately owned by the Florida-based France family, never considered making the charters permanent. Instead, after two-plus years of bitter negotiations, NASCAR in September 2024 presented a “take-it-or leave-it” final offer that gave teams until end of that day to sign the 112-page document.

23XI and Front Row refused and sued, while 13 other organizations signed but testimony in court revealed many did so “with a gun to our head” because the threat of losing the charters would have put them out of business.

Jordan testified early in the trial that as a new team owner to NASCAR — 23XI launched in 2021 — he felt he had the strength to challenge NASCAR. Eight days of testimony went badly for NASCAR, which when it began to present its case seemed focused more on mitigating damages than it did on proving it did not violate antitrust laws.

Although terms of the settlement were not released — NASCAR was in the process of scheduling a Thursday afternoon call with all teams to discuss the revenue-sharing model moving forward — both Jordan and NASCAR said that charters will now be permanent for all teams. 23XI and Front Row will receive their combined six charters back for 2026.

An economist has previously testified that NASCAR owes 23XI and Front Row $364.7 million in damages, and that NASCAR shorted 36 chartered teams $1.06 billion from 2021-24.

“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said from the front-row seat he’s occupied since the trial began Dec. 1 as he waited for the settlement announcement.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who had presided over two days of failed settlement talks before the trial began, echoed the sentiment. Bell told the jury that sometimes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.

“I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”

The settlement came after two days of France testimony and the Wednesday night public release of a letter from Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris calling for NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps to be removed.

The discovery process revealed internal NASCAR communications in which Phelps called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a “redneck” and other derogatory names; Bass Pro sponsors Childress’ teams, as well as some others, and Morris is an ardent NASCAR supporter.

Childress gave fiery testimony earlier this week over his reluctance to sign the charter agreement because it was so unfair to the teams, which have been bleeding money and begged NASCAR for concessions. Letters from Hall of Fame team owners Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, Jack Roush and Roger Penske were introduced in which they pleaded with France for charters to become permanent; France testified he was not moved by the men he considers good friends.

The settlement came abruptly on the ninth day of the trial. Bell opened expecting to hear motions but both sides asked for a private conference in chambers. When they emerged, Bell ordered an hour-long break for the two sides to confer. That turned into two hours, all parties returned to the courtroom and Kessler announced an agreement had been reached.

“What all parties have always agreed on is a deep love for the sport and a desire to see it fulfill its full potential,” NASCAR and the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. “This is a landmark moment, one that ensures NASCAR’s foundation is stronger, its future is brighter and its possibilities are greater.”

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BASEBALL NEWS

METS FRONT OFFICE TAKING HEAT WITH FAN FAVORITES ALONSO, DÍAZ AND NIMMO HEADED OUT OF TOWN

NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Nimmo went first. Then it was Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso on back-to-back days at baseball’s winter meetings.

Three fan favorites headed out the door in 2 1/2 weeks — a powerful gut punch to angry New York Mets fans wondering what on earth the front office is thinking.

As the club embarks on a major makeover, suffice to say owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns are not the most popular couple in Queens right now.

“I’m very optimistic about where our offseason is headed,” Stearns said Tuesday in Florida, before news of Alonso’s signing with Baltimore. “We certainly have work to do, but there are many good players out there. I’m confident we’ll like where our team is once we get to opening day.”

What a difference a year makes, though.

Cohen and Stearns were the toast of the town last December, beating out the crosstown New York Yankees for prized free agent Juan Soto with a record $765 million contract.

That came on the heels of an unanticipated thrill ride to the 2024 National League Championship Series, after Stearns scored big with several unheralded acquisitions during his first year in charge: Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Iglesias and Tyrone Taylor.

Surely with Cohen’s bankroll and Stearns’ brain, the Mets were poised to take a large bite out of the Big Apple for years to come.

Yankees, be damned. Dodgers, on notice. Phillies, fuhgeddaboudit!

But as their top rivals continued to flourish this year, the Mets finished 83-79 and missed the playoffs. Baseball’s second-biggest spenders, at $429 million in payroll and projected luxury tax, went 38-55 in a stunning collapse after building the best record in the majors (45-24) through June 12.

The day after the season ended, Stearns took the blame for failing at the trade deadline and Cohen apologized to fans on social media. The coaching staff under manager Carlos Mendoza was soon overhauled.

Many figured Cohen, one of the wealthiest owners in sports, would quickly reach into his robust wallet this winter — at least to keep Díaz and Alonso from leaving in free agency. But that hasn’t really happened.

“Steve gives us everything we need,” Stearns said this week. “We have a lot of resources. No team has unending resources.”

After the Mets signed two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams to a $51 million, three-year contract, Díaz agreed to a $69 million, three-year deal with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, subject to a successful physical.

Media reports indicated New York was outbid by only about $3 million for Díaz, who arrived in 2019 and ranks third in franchise history with 144 saves.

Then on Wednesday, news broke that Alonso agreed to a $155 million, five-year contract with Baltimore, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical.

The person said the Mets expressed interest in again retaining the slugging first baseman, which they did last offseason, but decided to wait and see what happened between Alonso and other teams rather than press a pursuit themselves.

“I’m flabbergasted,” Mets broadcast analyst and former pitcher Ron Darling said on MLB Network.

“Maybe they get in the Kyle Tucker race now, for a legit bat in the outfield. But it’s just, these last two days have to really be hard on Mets fans.”

All this after Nimmo, the ebullient outfielder who was the longest-tenured player on the team, waived the no-trade provision in his contract last month and accepted a deal to Texas for Gold Glove second baseman Marcus Semien.

“That’s three unbelievably great players, beloved by the fan base, have proven that they can pitch or play in New York. That’s not an easy thing, right?” Darling said. “And now, all gone.”

Alonso and Nimmo combined for 63 homers and 218 RBIs last season.

“They’ve now paid Soto ($765) million to walk 150 times next year,” Darling said.

Stearns grew up in Manhattan rooting for the Mets, and Cohen was a fervent fan even before buying the club five years ago. But they’ve shown little sentimentality when it comes to valuing core players, and Stearns said after trading Nimmo that “running back the exact same group wasn’t the right thing to do.”

Reports of clubhouse tension emerged in recent weeks, though Mendoza challenged that notion.

Alonso holds the franchise record with 264 home runs. He and Nimmo join a notable list of homegrown Mets stalwarts who eventually went elsewhere — from Tug McGraw, Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack to Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, José Reyes and Jacob deGrom.

David Wright remains one of the few star position players to spend his entire career in blue and orange.

The pressure on Stearns, a small-market success in Milwaukee, now increases exponentially to plug several big holes and rebuild a contender. Third baseman Mark Vientos could shift to first as Alonso’s replacement, but New York’s particular plans are unclear. And the more quality players who leave, the harder it becomes to convince free agents the Mets are currently equipped to win.

These things are certain:

Defense and baserunning are priorities for Stearns.

He seems very reluctant to give players in their 30s contracts longer than three years.

And he believes in putting youth on the field, seeking roster flexibility and space at positions that will provide playing opportunities for the promising hitters in a highly rated farm system such as Carson Benge, Jett Williams and Ryan Clifford.

“Our resources that we have here are an enormous advantage,” Stearns said. “And as long as we allocate those resources intelligently, they’re going to continue to be an enormous advantage.”

2-TIME ALL-STAR RELIEVER ROBERT SUAREZ AND ATLANTA BRAVES REACH $45 MILLION, 3-YEAR CONTRACT

ATLANTA (AP) — Two-time All-Star reliever Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves agreed Thursday to a $45 million, three-year contract.

He gets a $13 million salary in 2026 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons.

Suarez will donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

The 34-year-old was 4-6 with 40 saves and a 2.97 ERA this year and has 76 saves over the past two season.

He is 22-13 with a 2.91 ERA and 77 saves in four major league seasons, all with San Diego.

Left-hander Ryan Rolison was designated for assignment.

RIGHT-HANDER CODY PONCE, AL CHAMPION BLUE JAYS FINALIZE A $30 MILLION, 3-YEAR CONTRACT

TORONTO (AP) — Right-hander Cody Ponce and the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays finalized a $30 million, three-year contract on Thursday.

The 31-year-old was 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA for the Hanwha Eagles in South Korea this year. He set league records with 18 strikeouts in a game against SSG Landers and 252 for the season. He was selected the league’s MVP while winning a pitching triple crown.

Ponce was selected by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2015 amateur draft and was dealt to Pittsburgh for right-hander Jordan Lyles ahead of the 2019 trade deadline. He was 1-7 with a 5.86 ERA over five starts and 15 relief appearances for the Pirates in 2020 and ’21, then pitched in Japan for the Pacific League’s Nippon Ham Fighters (2022-23) and the Rakuten Golden Eagles (2024).

He joins a team with a rotation projected to include newly signed Dylan Cease along with Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and José Berríos.

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TOP INDIANA NEWS  RELEASES/HEADLINES

COLTS FOOTBALL NEWS

STRUGGLING COLTS COULD TURN TO RIVERS AGAINST SEAHAWKS

Indianapolis (8-5) at Seattle (10-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox.

BetMGM NFL odds: Seahawks by 11 1/2.

Against the spread: Seahawks 10-3; Colts 7-5-1

Series record: Colts lead 7-6.

Last meeting: Seahawks beat Colts 28-16 on Sept. 12, 2021 ,in Indianapolis.

Last week: Seahawks beat the Falcons 37-9, Colts lost to the Jaguars 36-19

Colts offense: overall (6), rush (6), pass (8), scoring (5t).

Colts defense: overall (23), rush (6), pass (29), scoring (13).

Seahawks offense: overall (9), rush (18), pass (9), scoring (2).

Seahawks defense: overall (6), rush (4), pass (11), scoring (2).

Turnover differential: Colts plus-3; Seahawks minus-2.

Colts player to watch

QB Philip Rivers. With Daniel Jones suffering a season-ending injury last weekend and rookie backup Riley Leonard hobbled, the Colts brought the 44-year-old Hall of Fame semifinalist out of retirement in hopes of making the playoffs. It wasn’t clear whether he’ll start — or even play — Sunday, but he could be the Colts’ best option to make a playoff push.

Seahawks player to watch

TE AJ Barner. The second-year player only snagged three passes for 27 yards last Sunday. But considering the Seahawks are likely to be without fellow tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee) after he was injured in Sunday’s game against the Falcons, Barner should garner more targets from Sam Darnold against a Colts defense that struggles against the pass.

Key matchup

Colts offensive line vs. Seahawks defensive line. With right tackle Braden Smith in the concussion protocol and the Colts starting either Rivers, Leonard or recently promoted Brett Rypien against a strong defense in a loud, hostile environment, pass protections will be essential. And it’s a good bet the Seahawks will dial up some exotic defenses to confuse and harass whomever the Colts start.

Key injuries

Colts: Pro Bowl CB Charvarius Ward was placed on injured reserve with a concussion. … It’s not yet clear whether two-time All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner will return from his strained calf. … Two-time Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner (neck) is eligible to return from injured reserve this week and he practiced Wednesday, opening the window for a return.

Seahawks: DT Johnathan Hankins (back) won’t return from the reserve/non-football injury list this season, coach Mike Macdonald said last month. … WR Tory Horton (shin) was placed on injured reserve last month. … Arroyo (knee) is not currently practicing and is doubtful to play Sunday. … G Jalen Sundell and TE Eric Saubert both returned to practice Wednesday as limited participants. Both players have been on injured reserve, with Sundell for the past four games due to a knee injury, and Saubert for the last six games due to a calf injury. Macdonald is optimistic both will be available for Sunday’s game.

Series notes

The Seahawks have won the last two in this short series and have won three of the last five. Indianapolis is 0-2 all-time at Qwest/CenturyLink Field. These franchises both played in the AFC from Seattle’s inception in 1976 until realignment in 2002 when league officials moved the Seahawks from the AFC West to the NFC West and the Colts from the AFC East to the AFC South.

Stats and stuff

The Colts are in their worst stretch of the season, losing three straight and four of five. They’ve surrendered the division lead to Jacksonville and are tied with Houston for second, one game back. The Colts also are seeded eighth in a seven-team playoff field entering Week 15. … Indianapolis has scored 20 or fewer points in all five of its losses this season. … Rivers has not taken a snap since announcing his retirement in January 2021 and has spent the last five seasons coaching a high school team in Alabama. … RB Jonathan Taylor continues to lead the league in rushing (1,356 yards) despite rushing for 217 yards and one TD during the losing streak. Taylor needs one TD run to pass Hall of Famer Lenny Moore (16) for the second-highest single-season total in franchise history. … WR Michael Pittman Jr. needs one catch to surpass his total from last season (69). … Tyler Warren needs 28 yards receiving to break John Mackey’s franchise record for most yards receiving by a rookie tight end. Mackey had 726 yards in 1963. … The Colts have a takeaway in a league-best 13 games this season and also are tied for the league lead with five takeaways in the red zone. … Nick Cross is tied for second in the NFL among safeties with 2 1/2 sacks. … K Blake Grupe made both of his field goal attempts and his only extra-point attempt last week in his Colts debut. … The Seahawks have 10 wins in their first 13 games for the first time since 2019. Seattle went 10-7 last season and hasn’t had a losing season since 2021 under Pete Carroll. … The Seahawks are 4-0 against AFC foes this season, including a 27-19 win against the Texans on Oct. 20. … Seattle has beaten its last two opponents, the Vikings and Falcons, by a combined score of 63-9. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL in receiving yards this season, tied a season high with two TD catches last Sunday. His 1,428 yards receiving are 242 more than Puka Nacua, the NFL’s second-leading receiver. … CB Devon Witherspoon had his first interception of the season last week. It was the second of his career and first since his rookie season on Oct. 2, 2023, against the New York Giants. … The Seahawks have 41 sacks, good for fourth in the NFL, while the offense has allowed just 17. … K Jason Myers has made 18 of his last 19 attempts, with the lone miss from 61 yards during a Nov. 16 loss to the Rams. He is 31 for 36 overall this season.

Fantasy tip

The Seahawks’ defense has been among the league’s best all season, and there is little reason to believe that will change against the reeling Colts. Indianapolis very well may turn to Rivers to get off the schneid, an enticing matchup for Seattle’s pass rush.

COLTS QB RILEY LEONARD HEALTHY, ON EDGE WITH ROLE IN LIMBO

Life is moving in fast-forward for rookie quarterback Riley Leonard since he grabbed his helmet and ran onto the field to replace injured Indianapolis Colts starter Daniel Jones in Jacksonville last Sunday.

Leonard, a sixth-round pick, had thrown only two passes — a pair of fourth-quarter incompletions against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 26 — before Jones’ injury shoved him into the thick of a game with first place in the AFC South on the line.

“It’s very difficult, but that’s the nature of the game. Obviously, your first thought is to pray for Daniel and hope he’s great because that’s not how you envision getting snaps, right?” Leonard detailed after Sunday’s game. “I always envision myself working and working and developing into a starter, (a position) that I earned. Whether I earned it or not is kind of irrelevant. Daniel went down; my turn was up. It’s super unfortunate to see that, but hopefully everything works out. We’ll be praying for him for sure.”

The Colts lost Jones, and 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve, so when Indianapolis lost Sunday’s game and Leonard left the stadium limping on his knee, head coach Shane Steichen gave 44-year-old Philip Rivers a ring. Rivers was at the team facility by Monday night and officially signed to the practice squad, studying the call sheet for Week 15. He was reviewing calls, plays and checks for the game at Seattle with Leonard, who was born a few days after Rivers threw five touchdown passes on 10 completions against Navy as a junior at North Carolina State.

Both quarterbacks practiced Wednesday and Thursday.

Last week, Leonard played the final three quarters and rushed for a 6-yard TD. His touchdown pass to Michael Pittman Jr. was taken off the board on an offensive pass interference call, but he completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards with an interception.

Leonard remains optimistic his first career start is coming this week. Steichen, though, did not rule out turning to Rivers instead in his 245th career game but first since 2021.

“As far as I know, I’m going to go out there and give it my best,” Leonard said.

Steichen, a former assistant coach with the Chargers, crossed over with Rivers for eight seasons, and they were in regular contact long after he joined the Philadelphia Eagles and took over as a first-time head coach with the Colts prior to last season.

When Steichen told of how the call to Rivers came about, it was clear he’s still a believer.

“He’s one of the most passionate players I’ve ever been around,” Steichen said. “The obsession for the game is off the charts.”

The Colts dropped to 8-5 last week and already lost to the Houston Texans (8-5) during the current three-game losing streak.

With four games to play, Indianapolis already has entered “playoff mode” and the schedule is relentless starting at Seattle on Sunday. The Colts are home on “Monday Night Football” against the San Francisco 49ers (9-4) next week and close the regular season at Houston on Jan. 4.

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INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL NEWS

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT 76ERS

The Indiana Pacers (6-18) head to Philadelphia for a matchup with the 76ers (13-10) on Friday as they seek to extend their two-game winning streak. Philadelphia enters the matchup looking to bounce back after a home loss to the Lakers on Sunday. The 76ers were winners of four of their last five contests before Sunday’s loss, and will shift their focus to the Pacers as they look to get back into the win column.

After starting the season with struggles on both sides of the ball, the Pacers have secured a top-six defensive rating in the NBA over their last 10 contests. The offense is flowing as Indiana gets healthier, and the lopsided early-season record is beginning to balance out.

Pascal Siakam’s remarkable consistency leads the Pacers in scoring, rebounds, and steals, while Andrew Nembhard is emerging as a leader on both ends of the floor. Nembhard leads Indiana in assists, and Jay Huff leads the entire league in total blocks.

The Blue and Gold is finding a rhythm, and the slower pace of the schedule over the last few days provided much-needed practice time. The Pacers look to leverage that rest and recalibration to build on their previous two wins.

Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey has been on a roll this season, and averages over 30 points per game and seven assists. His backcourt mate, VJ Edgecombe, is making a splash in his rookie season – he’s already posted scoring totals of over 20 points three times, including a 34-point NBA debut.

Joel Embiid is experiencing a down year compared to his production in previous seasons, but still tallies around 18 points for the 76ers nightly. Indiana’s center rotation will have its hands full with Embiid’s size and strength around the rim.

Indiana will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse following the clash with the 76ers as they host the Washington Wizards on Sunday, afternoon.

Projected Starters

Pacers: G – Andrew Nembhard, G – Ethan Thompson, F – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Jay Huff

76ers: G – Tyrese Maxey, G – VJ Edgecombe, F – Dominick Barlow, F – Paul George, C – Joel Embiid

Injury Report

Pacers: Quenton Jackson – questionable (right hamstring strain), Tyrese Haliburton – out (right Achilles tendon tear), Kam Jones – out (lower back stress reaction), Aaron Nesmith – out (left knee MCL sprain), Ben Sheppard – out (left calf strain), Obi Toppin – out (right foot stress fracture)

76ers: Joel Embiid – probable (left knee injury recovery), Tyrese Maxey – probable (illness), Johni Broome – questionable (G League assignment), Kelly Oubre Jr. – out (left knee sprain), Hunter Sallis – out (right shoulder sprain), Trendon Watford – out (left adductor strain)

Last Meeting

Mar. 14, 2025: The Pacers outlasted the 76ers in Philadelphia, 112-100, to end a four-game road losing streak.

Pascal Siakam led the way with 27 points on 60 percent shooting to spoil Jeff Dowtin Jr.’s career night for the Sixers. Dowtin recorded a career-high 24 points for Philadelphia, leading the injury-riddled 76ers in scoring on the evening. Tyrese Haliburton notched a double-double for Indiana with 14 points and 10 assists with just a single turnover.

The Pacers outscored the 76ers in three of four quarters, and by 16 points in the second half. Indiana recorded 31 assists to Philadelphia’s 13, and 15 fast break points to Philadelphia’s two. Those margins piled up in the second half, earning Indiana a critical 112-100 victory.

Noteworthy

Paul George was drafted by Indiana and played for the Pacers for the first seven years of his career (2010-2017).

Eric Gordon is a native Hoosier – he played his high school basketball at North Central High School where he won Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2007. Gordon went on to play one year at Indiana University before declaring for the 2008 NBA draft.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse coached Pascal Siakam in Toronto when the Raptors won the NBA title in 2019.

Indiana is scheduled to wear its gold statement uniform while Philadelphia will wear its black classic uniform.

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

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

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

Tickets

The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3:00 PM ET.

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INDY FUEL HOCKEY NEWS

FUEL FACE BLOOMINGTON BISON ON FRIDAY NIGHT

FISHERS- The Fuel will kick off the weekend in Bloomington, taking on the Bison on Friday night before heading home to host the Cincinnati Cyclones on Saturday night in their annual Teddy Bear Toss game. 

LAST TIME OUT

The last time these two teams met was on November 19, when the Fuel hosted the Bison for 317 Night and fell to Bloomington, 4-1. The lone goal scorer for the Fuel was Jordan Martin, who scored with under three minutes to go in the third period. Tyler Kobryn and Dustin Manz had the assists. 

BLOOM TO WATCH

Kyle Jackson currently leads the Bison in scoring with 23 points in 19 games. Him and Bison captain Eddie Matsushima are tied for most goals with nine. All three goaltenders for the Bison have a save percentage above .900 heading into this game. Defenseman Nikita Sedov leads defensemen in points with twelve (2g,10a). 

FRIDAY WINS

The Fuel have found a lot of success so far this year in games on Friday nights. Indy is 5-1-1-0 on Fridays and 1-0-0-0 on the road on Fridays. This is where most of their wins have come from so far this year, as they have struggled on Saturday nights. These teams have split the season series so far, going 2-2 each. The winner will have a temporary hold on the season series.

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NOBLESVILLE BOOM BASKETBALL NEWS

BOOM ERUPTS IN SECOND QUARTER TO ROUT HERD, 118-98

The Noblesville Boom (4-8), the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, picked up a dominating win over the Wisconsin Herd (3-8), 118-98, on Thursday night at The Arena at Innovation Mile.

Two-way player Taelon Peter led the Boom with a season-high 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, including 5-of-10 from behind the arc, along with four assists and three rebounds. In their season debut, Samson Johnson (15 points, five rebounds), two-way player Quenton Jackson (14 points, five assists) and Au’Diese Toney (13 points, five rebounds) made an immediate impact for the Boom. Kyle Guy and Jalen Slawson finished with 14 points apiece, while Guy added eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Herd were paced by former Indiana Pacer Victor Oladipo with 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Cormac Ryan tallied 14 points and four rebounds, while Kira Lewis Jr. contributed 13 points and four rebounds.

After a 0-for-5 start from the field, the Boom quickly pulled themselves out of an early seven-point deficit thanks to two-way player Taelon Peter, who scored 10 of his 24 points in the first quarter on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from the three-point line. The Boom continued the momentum into the second period to take a commanding 26-point lead after closing the half on a 31-9 run. Noblesville locked in defensively, holding Wisconsin to 37.5 percent from the field and 20 percent from beyond the arc in the second quarter.

The Herd came out of the break as the aggressor by using a 12-4 run, powered by Victor Oladipo, to chip away at their deficit early in the third period. Oladipo used a 12-point burst in the frame to narrow the gap to 15 points (86-71) after 36 minutes of action. The Boom responded by opening the fourth quarter with six consecutive points, pushing the lead up to 21 points en route to the victory despite several runs by the Herd.

NEXT UP

The Boom will conclude the Tip-Off Tournament slate with a back-to-back set against the Windy City Bulls, beginning on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. Coverage will be available live on the Roku Channel.

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INDIANA FOOTBALL NEWS

FERNANDO MENDOZA IS AP PLAYER OF THE YEAR AFTER LEADING INDIANA TO 13-0 RECORD AND TOP SEED IN CFP

Fernando Mendoza was named Associated Press player of the year on Thursday after leading unbeaten and top-ranked Indiana to its first Big Ten championship since 1967 and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

The redshirt junior quarterback was the overwhelming choice over fellow Heisman Trophy finalists Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame and Julian Sayin of Ohio State. Mendoza received 32 of 51 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of media members who cover college football. Pavia got nine to lead the rest of the group, which also included Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech.

“I’m shining now but only because there are so many stars around me,” Mendoza said, describing his rise from lightly recruited high school prospect in 2021 to a candidate for the sport’s most prestigious awards. “There’s an analogy that the only reason we’re able to see stars in the sky is because the light reflects from all different types of stars. I have so many stars around myself — whether it’s my teammates, my coaches, my family, support staff — that I’m able to shine now in this light, and I’m so happy for everyone to be a part of this.”

Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ first-year starter after transferring from California, is the triggerman for an offense that has surpassed program records for touchdowns and points set during last season’s surprise run to the CFP.

Mendoza has thrown for a Bowl Subdivision-leading 33 touchdowns and run for six, giving him a school-record 39 TDs accounted for.

He was the first Big Ten quarterback since 2000 with three straight games with at least four TD passes and no interceptions. His 21-of-23, 267-yard, five-touchdown passing day in a 63-10 win at Illinois in the conference opener established him as a serious contender for national honors.

Mendoza is among 10 FBS quarterbacks who have completed better than 70% of their passes. He ranks among the most accurate passers on attempts of at least 20 yards, hitting on 23 of 43 (53.5%), and when under pressure (52.1%), according to Pro Football Focus.

Ranked the No. 72 quarterback prospect by ESPN when he was a senior at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Mendoza was pledged to Yale for almost six months before he decommitted and signed with California.

He sat out as a redshirt in 2022 and won the starting job for the final eight games in 2023. He was 10th in the nation in passing in 2024 and ranked among the top transfer prospects after the season. He landed at Indiana, where his brother Alberto Mendoza was the No. 3 quarterback last year. This year Alberto is the top backup to his big brother.

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INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

HOT SCORING LEADS IU OVER ULM

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  –  Senior guard Shay Ciezki dropped her third 30-point game of the season as the Indiana women’s basketball team shot 64.2 percent from the floor in a 98-54 win over ULM on Thursday night.

KEY MOMENTS

Ciezki scored or assisted on the first 10 points for the Hoosiers, giving them a 10-2 lead with 4:51 into the first.

IU (9-2) went on a 20-10 run in the second quarter to extend the lead to 40-19 with 1:52 left in the quarter. Indiana held ULM (5-4) to a 25.7 field goal percentage (9-35) in the first half. 

Redshirt sophomore guard Lenée Beaumont highlighted the Hoosiers’ offensive efforts in the second half, scoring 16 of her 18 points after the break.

Indiana closed out the game on a 24-7 run in the last 7:30 of the fourth quarter and shot a blistering 68.8 percent from the floor and 60 percent from the 3-point line in the last 10 minutes alone.

NOTABLE

The Hoosiers went 34-for-53 (64.2%) from the field, notching the sixth-best field goal percentage in a single game in school history.

From three, Indiana knocked down a season-high 13 triples and shot 54.2 percent on the evening. 

Indiana’s 98 points was a season-high and most by the program since it scored 100 points against Northwestern on Jan. 28, 2024.

Freshman forward Maya Makalusky notched a season and career high 22 points, going 8-for-12 shooting and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc.  The Fishers, Ind. Native also made her first career start for IU.

Ciezki led the team with 31 points, her ninth-straight game scoring over 20, while going a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe and shooting 12-of-17 from the field. 

The home team totaled a season-high 20 assists Beaumont leading the team with five and sophomore guard Phoenix Stotijn, sophomore guard Valentyna Kadlecova and Makalusky each adding three.

UP NEXT

Indiana will entertain Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon in a 1 p.m. ET tip.

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INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 11 AT KENTUCKY

Opening Tip

• Indiana University renews one of college basketball’s best rivalries with a non-conference showdown against Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena. Dave O’Brien, Dick Vitale, and Charles Barkley are scheduled to be on the call.

• Kentucky (6-4) is under the direction of second-year head coach Mark Pope, a captain on the 1996 NCAA Champion UK team. The Wildcats boast a deep lineup with 11 players that average at least 16.0 minutes per night and five that provide at least 10.0 points per outing.

• Preseason All-American and senior guard Otega Oweh has put up 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. Senior guard Denzel Aberdeen (12.4 points), junior forward Mouhamed Dioubate (11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds), sophomore guard Collin Chandler (11.2 points, 23 made 3-pointers), and freshman center Malachi Moreno (10.1 points, 7.1 rebounds) all score in double figures.

• Kentucky has scored 85.5 points per game, grabbed 42.1 boards per night, and out-rebounded its opponents by an average of 8.8 per outing.

Game Information

Dec. 13, 2025 • 7:30 PM ET

Rupp Arena (20,500) • Lexington, Ky.

TV: ESPN (Dave O’Brien, Dick Vitale, Charles Barkley)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Series History: Indiana trails, 25-32

Last Meeting: IU 73, UK 67 on March 19, 2016, in Des Moines

Series History

• Indiana trails the all-time series with Kentucky, 25-32. The Hoosiers are 3-8 against the Wildcats in Lexington. The last IU win at UK came in a 75-52 game on Dec. 20, 1988. Big Ten Player of the Year Jay Edwards paced the Hoosier offense with 21 points.

• The Hoosiers and Wildcats both rank inside the top 12 historically in victories, NCAA Tournament bids, NCAA Tournament wins, Sweet Sixteen appearances, and Final Four berths. IU and UK are two of the six programs that have won at least five NCAA Division I men’s basketball championships.

• The two sides have not met on either of the campus sites since the infamous Christian Watford buzzer beater on Dec. 10, 2011. IU’s last trip to Lexington came on Dec. 11, 2010.

Last Time Out

• Indiana (8-2, 1-1 B1G) put on an offensive clinic against Penn State in a 113-72 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The 113 points were the most scored against a Big Ten foe since dropping 118 in a win over Iowa on Feb. 17, 1990.

• IU scored 1.57 points per possession, shot 42-of-61 (68.9%) from the floor, 17-of-31 (54.8%) from behind the arc, and 12-of-15 (80.0%) from the free throw line. The game was one of seven this season in which a Division I team scored 100-plus points on .600/.500/.800 shooting splits against another Division I team.

• Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson provided a night for the ages with a career-high 44 points, a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall single-game record. He knocked down a program-record 10-of-15 3-pointers. He also added four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in just 24 minutes of run.

• Senior forward Reed Bailey added 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the floor in his first game off the bench for the Hoosiers. Sixth-year senior guard Tayton Conerway provided 17 points and seven assists, while junior guard Nick Dorn (13 points) and redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries (12) each added double-figure scoring outputs.

Lamar’s Legendary Night in the Hall

• Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson torched the nets for a career-high 44 points, a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall record, on a program-record 10 made 3-pointers.

• Per OptaSTATS, Wilkerson is the only Division I or NBA player in the last 30 seasons to score 40-plus points and make 10-plus 3-pointers in a  game while playing less than 25 minutes.

• His scoring outburst marked the most by a Hoosier against a Big Ten opponent since Mike Woodson scored 48 points at Illinois on March 3, 1979, and the most in a Big Ten home game since Jimmy Rayl posted 44 points against Wisconsin on Feb. 12, 1962. He is the first Big Ten player since Luka Garza (44 on Dec. 6, 2019) to score at least 44 points in a single game.

• Wilkerson is one of eight players to score 40-plus points in a game this season and the only one to do so in less than 25 minutes. In the last 30 seasons of Division I men’s college basketball only 10 players have scored 40-plus points in under 25 minutes on the court.

• The school-record 10 made 3-pointers are the most by a Big Ten player since Jordan Bohannon (10) against Maryland on Feb. 10, 2022.

Hitting the Century Mark

• Indiana has scored 100 points or more in four games this season: vs. Marquette (100-77) on Nov. 9, vs. Milwaukee (101-70) on Nov. 19, vs. Bethune-Cookman (100-56) on Nov. 29, and vs. Penn State (113-72) on Dec. 9. The stretch of 100-point games marks the most in a single season since 2016-17 (5 games).

• IU has scored 100-plus points in at least four games during 12 seasons: 1964-65 (7 times), 1990-91 (6), 1974-75 (6), 1963-64 (6), 2016-17 (5), 1992-93 (5), 1970-71 (5), 2025-26 (4), 2015-16 (4), 1975-76 (4), 1962-63 (4), and 1961-62 (4).

• The Hoosiers back-to-back triple-digit offensive outputs against Marquette (Nov. 9) and Milwaukee (Nov. 12) marked the first time the program has scored at least 100 points in consecutive regulation games since Nov. 21-26, 2005. IU was the first team to put up 100 points on a Shaka Smart coached program.

Long-Distance Calls

• Indiana has averaged 11.0 made 3-pointers per game, third in the Big Ten and tied for 24th nationally. The Hoosiers have buried 10 or more triples in seven games. In those contests, IU holds a record of 6-1 and has averaged 96.6 points per game.

• The Hoosiers buried 14 triples in consecutive games against Marquette (Nov. 9) and Milwaukee (Nov. 12), the first time an IU team converted at least 14 3-point field goals in consecutive games since November of 2005.

• Indiana canned 17 3-pointers against Penn State (Dec. 9), the most in a game since 2016 (19). The Hoosiers have made 17-plus triples in five games in program history.

• Fifth-year senior Lamar Wilkerson and redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries are tied at the top of the Big Ten standings and 15th nationally in made 3-pointers per game at 3.5.

• Junior guard Nick Dorn (1.6) ranks 29th in the conference. The Elon transfer has made 11-of-17 attempts from long range over his last four outings.

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PURDUE VOLLEYBALL NEWS

NCAA TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

NCAA Regional Semifinals | Thursday, Dec. 11 | ESPN2

7 p.m. ET

#1 seed Pittsburgh def. #4 seed Minnesota 3-0

30 minutes following Match 1

#3 seed Purdue def. #2 seed SMU 3-1

NCAA Regional Finals | Saturday, Dec. 13 | TBA

TIME TBA

#1 Pitt vs. #3 Purdue

PITTSBURGH —  The No. 12/3-seeded Purdue Boilermakers are headed to the Regional Finals for the first time since 2021 with a 3-1 win vs. No. 7/ 2-seeded SMU Mustangs on Thursday night, 16-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22, 29-27. –     With the win, Dave Shondell ties Purdue men’s basketball legend Gene Keady as the all-time winningest head coach in Purdue Athletics history with 512 wins.

The victory moves Purdue to 27-6 (15-5 Big Ten) record, while SMU ends the year 27-6 (17-3 ACC). Two of SMU’s six losses were to Purdue.

With the win, the Boilermakers will take on host and No. 1 seed/No. 4  nationally-ranked Pittsburgh on Saturday. Time and TV is TBA. The matchup will be the first between the two teams since meeting in the Regional Finals, also in Pittsburgh, in 2021.

Boiler Notes

The win marked Purdue’s 10th win vs. a ranked team this season, setting a program record.

It will be the fifth Regional Finals appearance for Purdue under Dave Shondell, including the third in the last six seasons.

The Boilers had four match points in Set 4 at 24-23, 25-24, 26-25, 27-26, with Kenna Wollard and Akasha Anderson responsible for the last seven points (beginning with 23-23). Wollard posted the go-ahead point at 24-23, 26-23, 27-26 before Anderson put away the final two kills to clinch the match.

Taylor Anderson dished out 55 assists,

It was the second win of the season vs. SMU, with the win in September giving Purdue its 11th straight year with a top-10 win. The win tonight was Purdue’s second of the season.

Tied 17-17 in Set 3, Bianka Lulic entered the match, going on to post three block assists in the next five Purdue points, helping swing momentum to Purdue’s side as the Boilers went on to win the set, 25-22.

Kenna Wollard tied a career-high five blocks

Three Boilers reached double-digit kills in the match: Wollard, A. Anderson and Heaney

With the win, Dave Shondell ties Purdue men’s basketball legend Gene Keady as the all-time winningest head coach in Purdue Athletics history with 512 wins.

Kenna Wollard produced 23 kills on an extremely efficient .457 clip with just two errors in 46 attacks. Not only was it the most kills in a match since her 26 at Michigan State, it is the most in a four-set match for the junior. Meanwhile, she added a career-high tying five blocks and 10 digs for her 10th double-double this season.

Ryan McAleer led the back row with 23 digs, two shy of tying a program record for digs in an NCAA tournament match.

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NO. 6 PURDUE EYES BETTER START IN MARQUETTE MATCHUP

Sixth-ranked Purdue will be looking to build on a decisive bounce-back victory when it hosts Marquette in a nonconference game on Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue (9-1) defeated visiting Minnesota 85-57 on Wednesday, led by a dominant second half after holding a 35-32 edge at the break. The Boilermakers were coming off their first loss of the season, 81-58 to then-No. 10 Iowa State on Dec. 6, a result that dropped them out of the top spot in the poll.

“I didn’t walk away from the Iowa State game and say, ‘Well, we’re not No. 1 anymore,’” Painter said following the Minnesota game. “I walked away from the Iowa State game saying we got our ass kicked and how could I have stopped that?”

Purdue opened the second half against Minnesota with a decisive 21-0 run, the Boilermakers’ third run of 20-0 or longer this season.

“Obviously you can’t go on runs like that unless you get stops,” Painter said. “And so, I thought our attention to detail defensively was pretty good.”

Purdue’s Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff each finished with a double-double.

Smith had 15 points with 12 assists, six rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Kaufman-Renn recorded his fifth double-double this season with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Cluff had his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Purdue averages 85.2 points per game while allowing 67.9. The Boilermakers have been dominant on the glass, outrebounding opponents by 10.4 per game.

Fletcher Loyer averages a team-high 14.0 points per game for the Boilermakers, while Kaufman-Renn adds 13.9 points and 10.6 boards. Cluff averages 11.4 points and 9.1 rebounds, and Smith contributes 13.3 points and 8.8 assists — the latter figure ranking second in the nation.

Marquette (5-5) has been inconsistent in losing four of its past six games. The Golden Gophers are coming off a 96-76 nonconference road loss against in-state rival Wisconsin on Dec. 6.

The Golden Eagles hit just one of their first 13 shots against Wisconsin and one of their first 12 3-point attempts. In their previous game, a 75-72 overtime home win over Valparaiso, Marquette started 1 of 13 from beyond the arc.

Marquette scored eight of its 10 points in overtime from the free-throw line to beat the Beacons. Against the Badgers, the Golden Eagles made just 9 of 19 shots from the stripe.

The Golden Eagles average 80.9 points while giving up 76.4, but they are shooting just 42.5% on the season, including 31.1% from 3-point range.

Marquette shot 42% against Wisconsin after shooting just 35% against Valparaiso. In three of their losses, the Golden Eagles shot 38.5% or less.

“I thought we got a lot of good shots that did not go in,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said following the Wisconsin game. “So far the story of our season. So we’ve got to get better at making those, and we will.”

Chase Ross averages 19.5 points per game, freshman Nigel James Jr. adds 12.2 points and Ben Gold chips in with 9.5 points and team-best 7.2 rebounds.

Marquette defeated Purdue 76-58 last season in Milwaukee behind a triple-double by Kam Jones.

“We have been blessed and fortunate to have some really good teams of late, and this team’s behind those teams right now,” Smart said. “That’s a fact. And we need to get better and we will.”

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NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

NO. 19 IRISH DOMINATE EAGLES, 97-48

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 19 Fighting Irish returned to Purcell Pavilion for the first time in over two weeks and put on a dominant display, defeating Morehead State by a score of 97-48 to comfortably secure the victory. Notre Dame improves to 7-2 on the season, including a mark of 6-0 at home.

Hannah Hidalgo set the tone on the offensive end, scoring a game-high 26 points to go along with her season-high 11 rebounds (one shy of her career high), six steals, three assists and a block.

Cassandre Prosper joined Hidalgo with a double-double of her own, marking the first of her career. The junior posted 20 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and three steals.

Vanessa de Jesus also finished in double figures, scoring 16 points while dishing out five assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Notre Dame jumped out to a 12-point lead at 20-8 following the opening 10 minutes of play, as all seven Irish players registered at least one point. Notre Dame finished the first frame on an 8-0 run over the final three minutes of play to open up the double-digit lead.

The Fighting Irish continued to grow their advantage over the course of the second quarter, taking a 40-17 into the halftime break. In the middle of the second stanza Notre Dame went on a 15-0 lead to blow the game wide open.

Hidalgo led all scorers with 20 points after the first half, marking the third time this season she has scored at least 20 points in the first half of a game.

The Irish carried their momentum into the second half, scoring the first eight points of the third quarter to extend the lead to 31 points at 48-17. Notre Dame kept pushing the tempo and held a 66-26 lead by the end of the third.

Prosper and de Jesus combined for 17 points in the quarter to carry the offense in the third quarter.

Notre Dame outscored the Eagles 31-22 over the final 10 minutes of play to secure the 97-48 win.

NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE GAME

The Irish buried 13 threes in the victory, which is tied for the fourth most makes from beyond the arc in a game in program history. Notre Dame was led by de Jesus who finished with four three-pointers followed by three from Gisela Sanchez.

NOTRE DAME NOTES

Notre Dame improves to 2-0 against Morehead State in the all-time series.

The Irish have now won 26 straight non-conference home games.

Notre Dame has recorded double-digit steals in eight of nine games this season.

The Fighting Irish have recorded 10 or more steals in 52-of-78 games since the start of the 2023-24 season.

Hidalgo has now finished in double figures for scoring in 76 consecutive games (every game of her career), which ties Katryna Gaither’s program record of 76.

With 26 points in the victory, Hidalgo is now 11th for career points in program history with 1,784, passing Alicia Ratay (1,763) and Sonia Citron (1,774).

Hidalgo now has 58 career 20-point performances and is two shy of tying Arike Ogunbowale (60) for the program record.

Prosper’s double-double was the first of her career, finishing with 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds

De Jesus tied her career high for three-point makes in a game with four

UP NEXT

The Fighting Irish head back on the road, traveling to Harrisonburg, Virginia, for a matchup against JMU on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

MARK ZACKERY IV ADDED TO MEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry announced the roster addition of Mark Zackery IV on Thursday afternoon. Zackery IV is fresh off his freshman football season at Notre Dame, but is no stranger to the game of basketball. The former Indiana Class 4A state champion and Indiana All-Star will provide immediate depth to the point guard position.

“I think that Mark will be a great addition to our program,” Shrewsberry stated. “I have seen him play many times throughout his high school career. Whether competing with Team Teague, Indiana Elite, or Ben Davis High School, he always does things that help lead to winning. He will be an asset for us with his ball handling, playmaking, and defensive abilities. More importantly, he is a great young man that will add more value to our locker room and culture.”

A 5-11 guard out of Indianapolis, Zackery IV guided Ben Davis High to a 33-0 record as a sophomore, culminating in a state championship. The two-time Indy Star Super Team selection  scored 16 points in the state title game.

During said 2022-23 season, Ben Davis High defeated Penn & NorthWood to win the Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic for the second time in school history – Zackery IV was named the Tournament MVP. 

Zackery IV almost pulled off the two-peat as a junior, as Ben Davis finished as state runner-up. He averaged 11.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals over the course of the 2023-24 season, shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Zackery IV was also no stranger to the AAU scene, where he played with Indiana Elite in the summer of 2024 – the same AAU club as current Irish teammates Logan Imes and Braeden Shrewsberry. That same summer, Indiana Elite finished as Adidas 3SSB 17U national runner-up.

Furthermore, in the summers of 2021-23, Zackery IV played point guard with Team Teague. Some highlights there include: Big Foot 16U Classic champions in 2023, the Prep Hoops 15U national champion in 2022, AAU 14U national champion in 2021 and the 2021 Chris Paul Rising Stars Top 25.

The Fighting Irish return to the court on Saturday, Dec. 13, when they host Evansville at 2 p.m. ET inside Purcell Pavilion.

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BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

MILLER RECORDS CAREER-HIGH 16, BUTLER CRUISES TO 101-56 VICTORY OVER INDIANA STATE

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler defeated Indiana State 101-56 on Thursday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse behind a career-high 16 points from Mallory Miller. With the win, Butler improves to 5-6 on the season while Indiana State slides to 4-4.

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BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS

Mallory Miller led Butler with 16 points on an efficient 6-for-9 shooting performance from the floor. Miller added seven rebounds and two assists in the game.

Saniya Jackson (14), McKenna Johnson (13), Caroline Dotsey (11) and Addison Baxter (10) rounded out the Bulldogs in double figures.

Miller led the squad on the glass with her seven rebounds.

Butler held Indiana State to only six made field goals in the first half as the Sycamores shot 17.1-percent from the floor.

BU shot 37-for-64 from the floor (57.8%).

Butler forced 21 Indiana State turnovers, marking the 13th time in the last 14 games that BU has forced its opponents to commit double-digit turnovers.

INDIANA STATE HIGHLIGHTS

Tierney Kelsey led the Sycamores with 14 points on 4-for-16 shooting from the floor.

Clemisha Prackett led ISU on the glass pulling down 15 rebounds.

ISU shot 27.9-percent (19-68) from the floor and 10.5-percent (2-19) from beyond the arc.

The Sycamores pulled down 43 rebounds in the contest to Butler’s 39.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both sides traded buckets to start the game as Miller scored nine of Butler’s first 14 points of the game. Butler dominated the first quarter, shooting 60-percent from the floor taking the 22-10 lead into the second frame.

BU opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run fueled by four points from Caroline Dotsey. The Dawgs continued to dominate the Sycamores, as the BU lead grew to 20 at the 4:30 mark of the quarter. Butler closed the quarter on a 16-3 run, taking the 48-17 advantage into the break. ISU was unable to score a point over the final 4:05 of the quarter as Butler held the Sycamores to only six-made field goals in the first half.

ISU started the third quarter strong, putting together a 7-2 run while holding the Bulldogs scoreless for over two minutes. Indiana State continued to try and chip away at the deficit, hitting three-consecutive shots. Butler responded with a 3-pointer from Miller extending the advantage to 31 points with three minutes left in the quarter.

Butler continued its dominance in the fourth quarter, holding ISU to only four points through the first three minutes of the frame. Butler was able to cruise to a 101-56 victory over the final minutes of the contest, securing its fifth win of the campaign.

UP NEXT

Butler will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 14 as BU hosts Eastern Illinois in its final nonconference game of the season. Tip-off at Hinkle Fieldhouse is scheduled for 2 p.m. and fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.

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IU INDY MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

JAGUARS DROP HOME DECISION TO BALANCED GREEN BAY SQUAD

INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team dropped an 85-75 home decision to Green Bay inside the Jungle on Thursday night (Dec. 11) as the visiting Phoenix had three players finish with 20 points apiece. Micah Davis and Kyler D’Augustino tallied a team-high 17 points each for the Jaguars and Jaxon Edwards registered 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

The Jaguars (3-9, 0-3 HL) were limited to just 39 percent shooting from the field and 7-of-27 (25.9 percent) from three.

“We’ve got work to do,” head coach Ben Howlett said. “We just haven’t been consistent enough. We got some (defensive) stops tonight, but didn’t convert when we had opportunities. We rebounded better, but we gave up some rebounds in some key moments that hurt us.

“Winning league games is hard to do and we’re still learning. We’re not there yet but we’re going to keep working and keep practicing hard and doing things the right way and it’ll come.”

After leading 36-33 at halftime, IU Indy saw Green Bay outscore the hosts 17-5 to start the second stanza to build a 50-41 advantage. Preston Ruedinger and Max Wrecke connected on back-to-back threes to build the nine-point lead before Edwards stopped the bleeding with a tip-in dunk in traffic. Green Bay (5-7, 1-2 HL) led by as many as 11 in the second half before the Jaguars got within one in the final minutes. The Jags outscored Green Bay 16-6 over a five minute stretch to get within 69-68 with 2:44 to play on a pair of Kameron Tinsley free throws.

IU Indy then forced a miss, but C.J. O’Hara grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled while scoring in close, resulting in a three-point play. Offensively, IU Indy came up empty on its next two possessions as the Phoenix pushed their lead to seven with just over a minute to play.

D’Augustino connected on 7-of-13 shots and Edwards was 4-of-5 off the bench and no other Jaguar hit half of their field goal attempts. Tinsley scored all eight of his points from the charity stripe and JP Dragas finished with seven points and two steals off the bench. Senior Finley Woodward had six points, five rebounds and three assists.

Ruedinger, O’Hara and LeBron Thomas scored 20 points each with the latter hitting 14-of-16 from the free throw line. Ruedinger finished 4-of-8 from deep and delivered five assists. Green Bay shot 48 percent from the floor and 9-of-21 (42.9 percent) from three. The Phoenix also connected on 26-of-31 (83.9 percent) from the foul line.

The Jaguars will conclude the three-game homestand on Tuesday (Dec. 16) when they host Miami (Ohio) Middletown inside the Jungle at 6:30 p.m. That game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) and Hall of Famer Bob Lovell (analyst) describe the action. In addition, the game can be heard in Central Indiana on 1430 Indy’s Sports Ticket as Jimmy Cook (pxp) and Chaz Hinds (analyst) are on the call.

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INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

COLD SHOOTING SINKS SYCAMORES AT BUTLER

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State got off to a slow start Thursday night and never recovered, as the Sycamores were defeated 101-56 by Butler inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Tierney Kelsey paced the Blue and White with 14 points, while Clemisha Prackett tacked on 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Samiyah Briggs added eight points, five rebounds and three steals.

Indiana State attacked the basket early to take a two-point lead in the opening stages of the game, but a 17-1 Butler run had the Sycamores down by double digits early. The home side followed that by outscoring the Trees 26-7 in the second quarter and never looked back. Kelsey and Prackett combined for 17 points in the third quarter to give the Trees life, but Butler shot better than 50 percent in all four quarters to secure a lopsided win.

First Half

Briggs opened the scoring with a layup right off the opening tip, and Kelsey drove downhill for a quick basket to keep the Trees on even footing. Another bucket from Briggs gave the Blue and White a 6-4 lead just over three minutes into the first quarter, but the Sycamores’ early success was short-lived. Butler went on a 17-1 run to take a 21-7 lead, with a three-point play from Prackett late in the quarter momentarily ending the bleeding. Indiana State faced a 22-10 deficit after the opening 10 minutes of play.

Kennedy Claybrooks started the second quarter with a layup, but a 10-0 Butler run followed as the Sycamores found themselves down 32-12. Kelsey knocked down a pair of free throws to stop the run, while Jayci Allen added a three-ball near the midway point of the period, but the Trees went ice-cold from the field in the later stages of the frame. Indiana State went scoreless for the last five minutes of the half, as Butler took a 48-17 lead into the intermission.

Second Half

Prackett started the third quarter strong with a pair of baskets down low, while Kelsey added an early layup to give the Sycamores a sliver of momentum to start the second half. Kelsey hit jumpers on back-to-back possessions midway through the frame, while Amerie Flowers tacked on another basket down low as the Trees went on a 7-2 run. Layups from Kayla Smith and Prackett, along with free throws from Kelsey, gave the Sycamores a strong close to the quarter but Indiana State faced a 72-39 deficit after three.

Smith knocked down a trey early in the fourth, but the Sycamores’ struggles continued as Indiana State went nearly three minutes before its next basket, a layup from Briggs. Free throws from Smith and a jumper from Briggs added to the Trees’ tally past the midway point of the frame, but the game was well out of reach by then. Camariyana Tavares hit a pair of late baskets and scored five points in the final three minutes, as the Sycamores slumped to a 101-56 setback.

News and Notes

Clemisha Prackett’s 15 rebounds were a career high, and marked the second time this season that a Sycamore tallied 15 rebounds in a game (Amerie Flowers – 15 at IU Indy).

Prackett’s double-double was her team-leading fourth of the season, a figure which ranks second in the MVC.

Prackett’s eight offensive rebounds were the most by a Sycamore in a game this season.

Indiana State finished plus-four on the glass (43-39), despite the lopsided score going against the Sycamores.

The Trees finished with the top two rebounders in Thursday’s game (Clemisha Prackett – 15, Amerie Flowers – eight)

Indiana State entered Thursday’s game leading the MVC in field goal percentage and ranking second in scoring, but the Sycamores shot just 27.9 percent from the field and were held below 65 points for the first time since the season opener at IU Indy.

The Sycamores entered the day with a top-20 3-point defense nationally, but Butler hit 10 treys while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc, both season-highs against the Sycamores.

Camariyana Tavares tallied a season-high five points in less than five minutes of action, a number which was one off her career high set last season while at Alabama State.

Tierney Kelsey scored in double-figures for the eighth straight game and is the only Sycamore to hit double-digits in every game this season.

Indiana State head coach Marc Mitchell was whistled for a technical foul in the fourth quarter, which was his first as the Sycamores’ head coach.

Up Next

Indiana State opens MVC play Wednesday night, as the Sycamores welcome Drake for a 7 p.m. tip inside Hulman Center.

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INDIANA STATE TRACK

TREES OPEN 2025-26 INDOOR SEASON WITH JOHN GARTLAND INVITATIONAL

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State track and field begins its 2025-26 indoor campaign Friday and Saturday, as the Sycamores play host to the John Gartland Invitational inside the Indoor Track and Field Facility.

Friday’s proceedings begin at 4:50 p.m., while Saturday’s first event starts at 11 a.m.

The Dynasty

Indiana State’s sweep of the 2025 MVC Outdoor Championships gave the Sycamores 50 conference titles between the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track programs. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Indiana State has won 12 MVC Championships between indoor and outdoor track and field.

Indiana State has swept the last two MVC Outdoor Championships, while the Sycamore women have also won the last two MVC Indoor Championships.

Back For More

Indiana State returned nearly all of its 2025 individual indoor conference champions, with throwers Noah Bolt and Wyatt Puff being the only departures among the Sycamores’ first-place finishers at Gately Park last season.

The Sycamores’ returning indoor conference champions from last season are Casey Hood Jr. (60m and 200m), Rachel Mehringer (60m hurdles), Janiya Bowman (long jump), Jahnel Bowman (triple jump) and Niesha Anderson (weight throw).

Hood Jr. was a Second Team All-American during the 2025 indoor season, while Mehringer was a Second Team All-American during the 2025 outdoor season.

Top-Tier Trees

Indiana State’s 2025 indoor season was a story of depth, as the Sycamores finished the season with the top-ranked athlete in eight different events. Casey Hood Jr. (60m and 200m), Rachel Mehringer (60m hurdles), Will Staggs (pole vault), Brooklyn Pfaff (pole vault), Jahnel Bowman (triple jump), Noah Bolt (weight throw) and Niesha Anderson (weight throw) all recorded the top mark in the MVC in their respective events last year.

Half of those top-ranked marks came from athletes who are back in the fold for the Blue and White for the 2025-26 campaign (Hood Jr., Mehringer, Bowman and Anderson).

Strength In Numbers

Indiana State has taken pride in its overall depth, as the Sycamores earned 22 all-conference honors at the 2025 MVC Indoor Championships and followed that with 29 all-conference accolades as part of their 2025 MVC Outdoor Championship sweep.

The vast majority of those all-conference honors came from returning athletes, as the Sycamores return 14 indoor all-conference and 24 outdoor all-conference honorees. Every event discipline is represented by multiple returning all-conference accolades for the 2025-26 campaign.

The Namesake

Now in his 37th season on the staff at Indiana State, John Gartland is one of the most decorated coaches in Missouri Valley Conference history. He served as the women’s head cross country coach from 1988-2014 and the head women’s track & field coach from 1988-2010 before handing over the reins to his former pupil and current director of the cross country and track and field programs, Angela Martin. Although he officially retired in 2015, Gartland has remained on staff as an assistant, focusing on the high jumpers.

Gartland is one of only 11 coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference to be named to the league’s track and field All-Centennial Team. The veteran women’s head coach joins John McNichols on the list to form the only coaching tandem in the league on the all-time list. His teams won 12 conference titles and have finished in the top-10 at the NCAA Championships three times, including a fifth-place finish at the 1993 NCAA Indoor Championship and a sixth-place finish at the 1994 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

As a head coach, Gartland coached 11 NCAA Champions, six NCAA runners-up, 50 All-Americans, 88 NCAA qualifiers, 200 MVC individual champions and 212 MVC Scholar-Athletes. He has been named the Conference Coach of the Year 10 times and the NCAA District V Coach of the Year four times (indoor track & field and outdoor track & field in both 1993 and 1994). Gartland was inducted into the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame in January 2025.

Up Next

Indiana State’s next meet comes after the calendar turns to 2026, as the Sycamores face longtime rival Illinois State for the annual Coughlan-Malloy Cup dual meet January 17 inside the Indoor Track and Field Facility.

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PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL NEWS

MASTODON MVB WELCOMES TWO 2026 SIGNINGS

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball head coach Donny Gleason announced the signing of Mateo Foronda and Nolan Cocat for the 2027 season.

“We are excited to welcome these two players into the Mastodon MVB program,” Gleason said. “Mateo brings a high level of volleyball IQ to the gym and just has a knack for putting his attackers in spots to be successful. He brings a creativeness and passion to the court that will help elevate our gym. Nolan has the potential to be great at the next level. His combination of size and quickness allows him to be a force as a blocker, and his desire to learn and improve is a natural fit in our gym environment. We are looking forward to working with both young men next fall.”

Foronda is a 6-foot-4 setter from Weston, Florida. Foronda led Cypress Bay to back-to-back District Champion runs in 2024 and 2025. He was selected for Broward County’s Most Valuable Player in 2022, All-Broward County First Team twice (2024, 2023), 2024 Miami Volley Classic All-Tournament Team and a spot on Team Florida in 2022. Foronda played club ball for Tribe Volleyball (2024-25) and Miami United (2021-24). He earned a 2022 So-Cal Classic All-Tournament Team selection during Miami United’s third-place finish at the So-Cal Classic.

Cocat is a 6-foot-10 middle blocker from Roselle, Illinois. He recorded 218 blocks and 209 total kills in his career with Lake Park. Cocat led the Lancers to Sectional and Regional champions in 2025, finishing in the State Qualifiers. Lake Park was also 2024 regional champions. Cocat was named All-Conference twice (2025, 2024) and All-State Honorable Mention in 2025. He played club ball for Future VB Club from 2023-26.

Foronda and Cocat will join the Mastodons in the fall of 2026.

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PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS

WOMEN’S SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2026 SIGNING CLASS

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s soccer team adds six players to the 2026 roster: Aimee Abraham, Reese Alexander, Soraya Flading, Dalia Sabet, Lexi Toporcer and Ellie Ulrich.

“We are thrilled to welcome this class of amazing players to Fort Wayne.”, Mastodon head coach Jason Burr stated. “Our staff worked incredibly hard to find players that would bring a blend of strong technical ability on the ball, great work rate off the ball, a competitive mindset, and terrific attitudes and personalities to fit with our returning players. This is a group that is positionally diverse and will add depth to each area on the field for our team. We can’t wait to begin working with them and seeing the impact they have on our program next year!”

Abraham is a keeper from McLean, Virginia. She was a four-year starter for the Highlanders, notching over 100 saves each year. Abraham was selected for the All-Liberty District First Team twice (2024, 2023), All-Region First Team twice (2024, 2023), Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention Team twice (2024, 2023) and All-Liberty District Honorable Mention in 2022. She played club for Arlington ECNL from 2024-26. Abraham won the National Merit Commended Scholar Award, was named an AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Match National Honor Society. She also competed in two years of varsity indoor track and field for McLean.

Alexander is a defender from Glen Allen, Virginia. She played for three club teams while in high school: Richmond United (2025-26), Northern Virginia Alliance (2024-25) and Richmond United (2019-23). Alexander was selected for the Imyouthsoccer top player class of 2026. During her time in club competition, she was a Mid Atlantic Champion, Jefferson Cup Top Bracket Champion and made it to the ECNL Round of 16. Alexander was a part of the National Honor Society, Rho Khappa National Social Studies Honor Society and Mu Alpha Honor Society at Glen Allen. She also was the Class Historian and a wrote for the school’s Jaguar Journal.

Flading is a defender from Northville, Michigan. She played club for the Michigan Hawks from 2017-25, being crowned ECNL Conference Champions in four consecutive seasons. Flading maintained higher than a 3.5 GPA on the way to three years of honor roll at Northville. She was a varsity track and field athlete for the Mustangs in 2023.

Sabet is a midfielder from Twinsburg, Ohio. She recorded 18 goals and 21 assists as an upperclassman at Twinsburg, leading the Tigers to a 58-7-12 record in her career. Sabet aided the team to two Suburban League Championships, three District Championships, and a Regional Finals while collecting four Team OSSCA Academic Awards. She was selected for All-Ohio D2 First Team, All-Greater Cleveland District First Team twice (2025, 2024) and honorable mention in 2023, Suburban National Conference First Team three times (2025, 2024, 2023), Ohio Olympic Development Program First Team, was listed in USA Today’s 2025 Ohio Top 25 High School Soccer Players and finished her high school career as a Topdrawer Soccer three-star Recruit. Sabet won the All-Ohio Academic Award for owning a 3.7 GPA all four years and was inducted into the National Honors Society and National Spanish Honors Society. Played club for Cleveland Force ECNL (2022-26) and qualified for the 2025 ECNL Champions League in San Diego.

Toporcer is a forward from Canfield, Ohio. She scored 44 goals and 31 assists in her career at Canfield. Toporcer was selected All-Ohio First Team twice (2025, 2024), All-Districe First Team twice (2025, 2024), AAC All-Conference First Team twice (2025, 2024), Steel Valley Soccer Elite XI Team twice (2025, 2024), 2023 All-District Second Team and 2022 Mahoning/Columbiana All-County during her time with the Cardinals. She aided Canfield to a 2025 District Finalist finish, Regional Semi-Finalist twice (2023, 2022) and AAC Conference Champions three times (2025, 2023, 2022). Toporcer was in the National Honors Society at Canfield. She played club ball for Century United GA Team and FC Evolution.

Ulrich is a defender from Springboro, Ohio. She scored nine goals and had 18 assists for Springboro. The Panthers won the 2024 Ohio DI State Championship and the 2025 District Championship. She was named an All-Conference Special Mention twice (2024, 2025) and Academic All-Conference all four years. She played club ball for Ohio Elite Soccer Academy (2019-2025) and Cincinnati United Premier in 2026. 

Abraham, Alexander, Flading, Sabet, Toporcer and Ulrich will join the Mastodons in the fall of 2026.

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SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS

USI RETURNS TO LIBERTY FOR THREE-STRAIGHT

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball will begin a three-game homestand Monday when the Screaming Eagles host the Phantoms of East-West University. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.

The final two games of the homestand include the start of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule. USI opens the conference campaign by hosting Little Rock at 7:30 p.m. December 18 and Morehead State at 3:30 p.m. December 18. Fans attending the USI-Little Rock game have a chance to receive a schedule magnet and coupons to Penn Station.

The Screaming Eagles are forecast to place ninth in the OVC this year, while Little Rock was picked to win the league and Morehead State was predicted to place fifth.

All of the Eagles’ action is being streamed on ESPN+ and aired live on ESPN 97.7FM and The Spin 95.7FM (Saturday only).

The Screaming Eagles (3-7) are hoping to rebound and get back on track after a tough 0-2 road trip last week. USI had a tough loss to Western Michigan, 88-74, and a setback at Indiana State, 77-55. Senior guard Cardell Bailey led the way for the Eagles on the road trip with 19.5 points per game.

For the season, senior guard Ismail Habib has been posting 18.2 points per game and leads the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring. Habib has hit for 20 or more points in four of the last seven games.

Bailey follows with 13.6 points per contest, while junior guard Kaden Brown is posting 12.1 points per outing.

The East-West Phantoms, currently, are 2-7 overall this season. USI leads the all-time series, 2-0, after taking last year’s meeting at Liberty University, 104-46.

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UINDY MEN’S SOCCER NEWS

FORMER UINDY MEN’S SOCCER PLAYER SIGNS WITH INDY ELEVEN

INDIANAPOLIS – Former two-time GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, Makel Rasheed, signed a contract with the Indy Eleven, Indianapolis’ United Soccer League (USL) affiliate, on Thursday. The terms of the deal will not be released per club policy.

Rasheed was a standout defender for the Greyhounds in his three seasons with the team, playing in 52 games with 47 starts for UIndy. He also racked up a plethora of awards in his time with the Greyhounds, earning two GLVC Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021, two All-GLVC First-Team honors, a D2CCA All-Midwest Region First-Team recognition in 2021, garnered a 2021 D2CCA All-American Second-Team nod, and was selected to the 2021 NCAA DII All-Tournament team.

Even as one of the teams’ primary defenders, Rasheed still found ways to make an impact on the stat sheet, tallying nine goals and five assists on 46 shots over his final two seasons with the Greyhounds. A goal against Ashland that sparked a late 3-2 comeback win for the Greyhounds to conclude an unbeaten weekend in Columbus, Ohio to start the team’s 2021 run to the Final Four, was one of the many highlights in Rasheed’s stellar tenure with the Hounds.

Rasheed was selected in the MLS SuperDraft Third Round, 65th overall, by Nashville SC in 2023, and later joined the likes of Tormenta FC, after spending seasons with Huntsville City FC and Asheville City SC.

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MARIAN FOOTBALL NEWS

REECE BYERLY AND KEAGAN LA BELLE NAMED AFCA NAIA ALL-AMERICANS

WACO, Texas – On Thursday, December 11, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced its 2025 NAIA All-America teams. The Marian football team was represented on both the First and Second Team All-America lineups, with Reece Byerly being named to the First Team, while Keagan La Belle was named to the Second Team.

Reece Byerly had a dominant season for the Knights in his third year in the program, leading Marian’s offensive line as the lone player to start in all 12 games. Stepping in as the team’s starting left tackle in his first season seeing snaps for the Knights, Byerly helped pave the way for Keagan La Belle’s scoring record, and aided Marian’s offense in rushing for 220.0 yards per game. The left tackle was named as a member of the MSFA Midwest League First Team, and earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors this season. Marian had the sixth-most rushing yards in single season history in 2025 behind the work of Byerly and the other four members of the offensive line.

Keagan La Belle ended his career as Marian’s third all-time leading rusher, and was named to the AFCA NAIA All-America Second Team. The senior’s first-career AFCA All-America nod, La Belle had a career-year in 2025, rushing for 1296 yards and 22 touchdowns on 241 carries, while catching eight passes out of the backfield for 73 yards and two scores. La Belle set Marian’s single season rushing touchdown record, breaking the mark held by Tevin Lake and Charles Salary in the team’s win over St. Francis (Ill.) on November 1. A native of McCordsville, La Belle finished his Marian career second all-time in rushing touchdowns, third all-time in rushing yards, fifth all-time in total scoring, fifth all-time in all-purpose yardage, and 10th all-time in total offense. The senior was named the MVP of the MSFA Midwest League, and was a First Team all-conference selection this year.

Marian was the lone school in the MSFA Midwest League to receive an NAIA First Team All-America honor, and was one of three schools in total from the MSFA to receive a first team honoree, joining Indiana Wesleyan and Taylor from the Mideast League. Marian and Indiana Wesleyan were the only schools to receive both First- and Second-Team All-America honors, and in total, five schools from the MSFA earned AFCA All-American honors. St. Francis (Ill.) and Siena Heights each received one second-team honor.

ISAIAH STREET, LOGAN CARRINGTON NAMED NAIA THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

WACO, Texas – In addition to the release of the American Football Coaches’ Association’s (AFCA) release of the NAIA Football First and Second Team All-Americans on Thursday, the NAIA released the AFCA’s Third Team All-America list. Joining Marian’s already announced All-Americans Reece Byerly and Keagan La Belle are Isaiah Street and Logan Carrington, who were each named as Third Team NAIA All-Americans.

With the addition of Carrington and Street, Marian produced an MSFA-best four NAIA All-Americans. Indiana Wesleyan had a total of three to lead the MSFA Mideast League, while Siena Heights had two recipients. Carl Bew of St. Francis (Ill.) (Second Team) and Blake Lamb of Olivet Nazarene (Third Team) were the only other members of the MSFA Midwest League to earn NAIA All-American honors.

Isaiah Street had a dominant season for the Knights, leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss as he was named an NAIA Third Team All-American for the first time. Street made 60 total tackles on the season, with 13.5 coming behind the line. The defensive end recorded seven total sacks on the season, and forced two fumbles, ranking in the top-30 in the NAIA in both categories this season. The end broke up five passes, and pressured the quarterback with 15 hurries, and was named as a First Team MSFA Midwest League member.

Logan Carrington finished his career on a high note for the Knights, leading the team in interceptions as the starting safety. Carrington poached eight interceptions and broke up another six passes, finishing the regular season second in picks as he earned Third Team All-America honors. The safety made 39 tackles with one being a sack, and also forced one fumble on the season. Carrington ended his Marian career as a First Team All-MSFA honoree, and ranks fourth in program history in career interceptions.

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SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES

UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/

MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

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TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Dec. 12

1937 — Rookie Sammy Baugh throws second-half touchdown passes of 55, 78 and 33 yards to overcome a 14-7 Chicago lead and give the Washington Redskins a 28-21 victory over the Chicago Bears for the NFL championship.

1953 — Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens becomes the NHL’s all-time leading scorer with a goal and two assists in a 7-2 victory against the New York Rangers. Richard finishes the game with 611 points, one more than injured linemate Elmer Lach, who has held the record since February 1952.

1965 — Chicago’s Gale Sayers scores six touchdowns with 336 combined yards to lead the Bears to a 61-20 rout of the San Francisco 49ers. The six TDs give Sayers an NFL-record 21 for the season. Sayers’ first touchdown is a reception, the next four rushing and the final, an 85-yard punt return.

1971 — Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks scores his 1,000th point with an assist in the first period of a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota North Stars.

1977 — NBA Commissioner Larry O’Brien fined Kermit Washington $10,000 and suspends the Los Angeles Lakers forward for at least 60 days (26 games) for punching Houston’s Rudy Tomjanovich during a game on Dec. 9. The suspension is the longest ever in NBA history and the fine is the maximum permissible under league rules.

1986 — James “Bonecrusher” Smith knocks out Tim Witherspoon in the first round to win the WBA heavyweight title in New York.

1987 — Guard Mookie Blaylock leads Oklahoma to an NCAA-record 33 steals with 13 in a 152-84 victory over Centenary.

1990 — Connecticut uses a stifling press and quickness to jump to a 32-0 lead en route to an 85-32 victory over New Hampshire. New Hampshire plays 11 minutes and 48 seconds before scoring its first point.

2015 — Keenan Reynolds ends his Navy career with a clean sweep against Army. Reynolds rushes for two touchdowns and throws for another score to lead the No. 21 Midshipmen to their 14th straight win over the Black Knights, 21-17. Reynolds is the first quarterback over the 116-game series to go 4-0.

2015 — The Golden State Warriors’ NBA-record start ends at 24 wins when the Milwaukee Bucks beat them 108-95.

2016 — Tom Brady connects with Chris Hogan for a 79-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to help the New England Patriots overcome a sloppy second half and claim a 30-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Brady throws for 406 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the fourth NFL quarterback with at least 450 career touchdown passes. He also throws just his second interception of the season.

2021 – Dutchman Max Verstappen wins Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship

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TV SPORTS TODAY

(All times Eastern)

Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts

Friday, Dec. 12

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)

7 p.m.

TRUTV — Missouri St. at Xavier

8 p.m.

FOX — Texas at UConn

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

9 p.m.

ESPN — FCS Tournament: TBD, Quarterfinal

COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN’S)

6 p.m.

ESPNU — NCAA College Cup: TBD, Semifinal, Cary, N.C.

8:30 p.m.

ESPNU — NCAA College Cup: TBD, Semifinal, Cary, N.C.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

Noon

ESPN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Semifinal

2:30 p.m.

ESPN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Semifinal

7 p.m.

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Semifinal

9:30 p.m.

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Semifinal

GOLF

5 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Second Round, Royal Johannesburg Club, Johannesburg, South Africa

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, First Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla.

4:30 a.m. (Saturday)

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Third Round, Royal Johannesburg Club, Johannesburg, South Africa

_____

Saturday, Dec. 13

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)

Noon

ACCN — UMass at Florida St.

BTN — Michigan St. at Penn St.

ESPN2 — Arkansas vs. Texas Tech, Dallas

ESPNU — DePaul at Wichita St.

TNT — Iona at St. John’s

12:30 p.m.

USA — Old Dominion at George Mason

1 p.m.

FOX — Oklahoma St. at Oklahoma

2 p.m.

ACCN — Evansville at Notre Dame

BTN — Jackson St. at Northwestern

CW — SC-Upstate at North Carolina

ESPNU — Cincinnati at Georgia

PEACOCK — Marquette at Purdue

TNT — Providence at Butler

2:30 p.m.

ESPN2 — George Washington vs. Florida, Sunrise, Fla.

3 p.m.

FOX — Kansas St. at Creighton

3:30 p.m.

ESPN — Memphis at Louisville

4 p.m.

ACCN — Hofstra at Syracuse

BTN — UC Davis at Oregon

PEACOCK — Nebraska at Illinois

4:30 p.m.

TNT — Pittsburgh at Villanova

SECN — Chattanooga at Auburn

5:30 p.m.

ESPN — Kansas at NC State

6 p.m.

BTN — S. Utah at Washington

6:30 p.m.

SECN — Cent. Arkansas at Vanderbilt

7 p.m.

CBSSN — Stanford at San Jose St.

TNT — Arizona St. at Santa Clara

7:30 p.m.

ESPN — Indiana at Kentucky

8 p.m.

ESPNU — Ohio St. vs. West Virginia, Cleveland

FOX — Michigan at Maryland

FS1 — Rutgers at Seton Hall

8:30 p.m.

SECN — SMU at LSU

9:30 p.m.

ESPN — Arizona at Alabama

10 p.m.

ESPNU — Mississippi St. at Utah

11:30 p.m.

ESPN — UCLA vs. Gonzaga, Seattle

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)

4 p.m.

ESPNU — Oklahoma at Oklahoma St.

5:30 p.m.

FOX — UConn at Southern Cal

6 p.m.

ESPNU — Louisiana Tech at LSU

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Noon

ABC — Cricket Celebration Bowl: TBD, Atlanta

ESPN — FCS Tournament: TBD, Quarterfinal

3 p.m.

CBS — Army vs. Navy, Baltimore

3:30 p.m.

ABC — FCS Tournament: TBD, Quarterfinal

7 p.m.

ABC — Heisman Trophy Celebration: From New York

8 p.m.

ABC — Bucked up L.A. Bowl: TBD, Los Angeles

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

5 p.m.

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Final

7:30 p.m.

ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Final

GOLF

4:30 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Third Round, Royal Johannesburg Club, Johannesburg, South Africa

2 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Second Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla.

3 p.m.

NBC — PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Second Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla.

4:30 a.m. (Sunday)

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Final Round, Royal Johannesburg Club, Johannesburg, South Africa

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

9:30 p.m.

ESPN2 — UFC Fight Night Prelims: Undercard Bouts, Las Vegas

10 p.m.

ESPN2 — UFC Fight Night Main Card: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (Flyweights), Las Vegas

NHL HOCKEY

12:30 p.m.

NHLN — Anaheim at New Jersey

SOCCER (MEN’S)

10 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Everton at Chelsea

Noon

CBS — Serie A: Lazio at Parma

12:30 p.m.

USA — English Premier League: Fulham at Burnley

3 p.m.

USA — English Premier League: Wolverhampton Wanderers at Arsenal

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Sunday, Dec. 14

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)

1 p.m.

BTN — Texas Southern at Minnesota

2 p.m.

SECN — Bethune-Cookman at Missouri

3 p.m.

BTN — W. Michigan at Iowa

ESPN2 — Troy at UAB

7 p.m.

SECN — Jacksonville St. at Texas A&M

7:30 p.m.

FS1 — Washington St. at Southern Cal

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)

1 p.m.

ABC — Texas vs. Baylor, Fort Worth, Texas

3:30 p.m.

ESPN — Penn St. at South Carolina

FS1 — Kansas St. at Creighton

4 p.m.

ACCN — Louisville at North Carolina

SECN — Jackson St. at Alabama

5:30 p.m.

FS1 — Michigan St. at DePaul

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

3 p.m.

ABC — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Final

5 p.m.

ESPNU — NCAA Division II Tournament: TBD, Championship, Sioux Falls, S.D.

7:30 p.m.

ESPN — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Regional Final

GOLF

4:30 a.m.

GOLF — DP World Tour: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, Final Round, Royal Johannesburg Club, Johannesburg, South Africa

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Final Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla.

2 p.m.

NBC — PGA Tour: The Grant Thornton Invitational, Final Round, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla.

LACROSSE (MEN’S)

5 p.m.

ESPN2 — NLL: Rochester at San Diego

NFL FOOTBALL

1 p.m.

CBS — Regional Coverage: Baltimore at Cincinnati, L.A. Chargers at Kansas City, Buffalo at New England, N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville

FOX — Regional Coverage: Cleveland at Chicago, Washington at N.Y. Giants, Las Vegas at Philadelphia, Arizona at Houston

4:25 p.m.

CBS — Regional Coverage: Green Bay at Denver OR Indianapolis at Seattle

FOX — Regional Coverage: Detroit at L.A. Rams, Carolina at New Orleans, Tennessee at San Francisco

8:20 p.m.

NBC — Minnesota at Dallas

PEACOCK — Minnesota at Dallas

NHL HOCKEY

12:30 p.m.

NHLN — Vancouver at New Jersey

7 p.m.

NHLN — Edmonton at Montreal

SNOWBOARDING

4 p.m.

NBC — FIS: World Cup, Steamboat Springs, Colo.

SOCCER (MEN’S)

9 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Newcastle United at Sunderland

11:30 a.m.

USA — English Premier League: Leeds United at Brentford

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