“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES/SCHEDULE
THURSDAY’S SCORES
BENTON HOMESCHOOL 65 ST. THOMAS MORE 43
BREMEN 46 NORTH MIAMI 30
CASTON 74 ARGOS 31
CENTERVILLE 82 NORTHEASTERN 29
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 49 GOOD NEWS CHRISTIAN 41
CHARLESTOWN 61 SCOTTSBURG 48
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 80 LEBANON 69
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 66 OREGON-DAVIS 54
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) 86 MACONAQUAH 64
GARY LIGHTHOUSE 68 HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH 15
INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 65 INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD 54
LAKELAND 64 EAST NOBLE 46
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 64 NEW PRAIRIE 57
NORTHWOOD 66 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 28
PRINCETON 77 PIKE CENTRAL 40
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 63 LALUMIERE REGIONAL 57
VINCENNES RIVET 78 DUGGER UNION 25
=========
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ALEXANDRIA AT WES-DEL 7:30 PM
ANGOLA AT CENTRAL NOBLE 7:30 PM
ARGOS AT WEST CENTRAL 7:30 PM
ATTICA AT NORTH WHITE 7:30 PM
AUSTIN AT PROVIDENCE 7:30 PM
BATESVILLE AT GREENSBURG 7:30 PM
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN AT DANVILLE 8:30 PM
BLOOMFIELD AT SHAKAMAK 7:30 PM
BLOOMINGTON NORTH AT CENTER GROVE 7:30 PM
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 7:30 PM
BOONE GROVE AT WASHINGTON TWP. 8:00 PM
BORDEN AT LANESVILLE 7:30 PM
BOWMAN ACADEMY AT GARY 21ST CENTURY 8:00 PM
BREBEUF JESUIT AT INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 7:30 PM
BROWNSBURG AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL 7:30 PM
CARMEL AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
CARROLL (FLORA) AT FRONTIER 7:30 PM
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) AT PENN 7:30 PM
CASCADE AT MONROVIA PPD.
CHICAGO LITTLE VILLAGE (ILL.) VS. HAMMOND CENTRAL 7:00 PM
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT BROWN COUNTY 7:30 PM
CHURUBUSCO AT WESTVIEW 7:30 PM
CLARKSVILLE AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY 7:30 PM
CLOVERDALE AT EDGEWOOD 7:30 PM
CORYDON CENTRAL AT NORTH HARRISON 7:30 PM
COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT COVINGTON 7:30 PM
COWAN AT TRI-CENTRAL 7:30 PM
CRAWFORDSVILLE AT LEBANON 7:30 PM
DELTA AT MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 7:30 PM
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN AT KOUTS 8:00 PM
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL AT VALPARAISO 8:00 PM
ELKHART AT CONCORD 7:45 PM
EVANSVILLE BOSSE AT BOONVILLE 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN AT PERRY CENTRAL 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE HARRISON AT NEW ALBANY 8:00 PM
FAIRFIELD AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 7:30 PM
FAITH CHRISTIAN AT DELPHI 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK AT NEW HAVEN 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE NORTH AT DEKALB 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE SOUTH AT FORT WAYNE SNIDER 7:45 PM
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL AT CLINTON CENTRAL 7:30 PM
FRANKFORT AT TIPTON 7:30 PM
FRANKLIN AT DECATUR CENTRAL 7:30 PM
FREMONT AT LAKELAND 7:30 PM
GEO NEXT GENERATION AT MUNCIE BURRIS 6:00 PM
GIBSON SOUTHERN AT JASPER 8:00 PM
GRIFFITH AT LOWELL 8:00 PM
HAMILTON AT ELKHART CHRISTIAN 6:00 PM
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN AT AVON 7:30 PM
HAUSER AT MORRISTOWN 7:30 PM
HENDERSON COUNTY (KY.) AT CASTLE 8:00 PM
HERITAGE HILLS AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 8:00 PM
HIGHLAND AT HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH 8:00 PM
HOMESTEAD AT WARSAW 7:45 PM
HORIZON CHRISTIAN AT MOORESVILLE CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE AT PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS HERRON AT PARK TUDOR 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS ROOTED AT INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 7:30 PM
INTERNATIONAL AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 7:30 PM
IRVINGTON PREP AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON PPD.
JAC-CEN-DEL AT SOUTH DEARBORN 7:30 PM
KNIGHTSTOWN AT UNION COUNTY 7:30 PM
KNOX AT NORTH JUDSON 8:00 PM
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN AT CULVER 8:00 PM
LAKEWOOD PARK AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER PPD.
LAPEL AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS 7:30 PM
LAPORTE AT PLYMOUTH 8:00 PM
LAVILLE AT JOHN GLENN 7:30 PM
LEO AT HERITAGE 7:30 PM
MACONAQUAH AT NORTHWESTERN 7:30 PM
MADISON AT JENNINGS COUNTY 7:30 PM
MANCHESTER AT WAWASEE 7:45 PM
MARION AT WESTERN 7:30 PM
MARTINSVILLE AT GREENWOOD 7:30 PM
MEDORA AT LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
MICHIGAN CITY AT GARY WEST 9:00 PM
MISHAWAKA AT BETHANY CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
MITCHELL AT CRAWFORD COUNTY 7:30 PM
MONROE CENTRAL AT DALEVILLE 7:30 PM
MOORESVILLE AT PERRY MERIDIAN 7:30 PM
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) AT NORTH POSEY 8:30 PM
MTI KNOWLEDGE AT MONROVIA 7:30 PM
MUNSTER AT ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 8:00 PM
NEW CASTLE AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS 7:30 PM
NEW PALESTINE AT EASTERN HANCOCK 7:30 PM
NOBLESVILLE AT FISHERS 7:30 PM
NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) AT INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH 7:30 PM
NORTH DECATUR AT SOUTH DECATUR 7:30 PM
NORTH NEWTON AT HEBRON 8:00 PM
NORTH PUTNAM AT SOUTH PUTNAM 7:30 PM
NORTHRIDGE AT CULVER ACADEMY 7:45 PM
NORTHWEST HOMESCHOOL VS. INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 7:00 PM
NORTHWOOD AT TRITON 7:45 PM
OLDENBURG ACADEMY AT EDINBURGH 7:30 PM
OWEN VALLEY AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) 7:30 PM
PAOLI AT HENRYVILLE 7:30 PM
PERU AT KOKOMO 7:30 PM
PHALEN ACADEMY AT RICHMOND 7:30 PM
PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 7:30 PM
RANDOLPH SOUTHERN AT UNION CITY 7:30 PM
RIVER FOREST AT WHEELER 8:00 PM
ROSSVILLE AT TRI-COUNTY 7:30 PM
RUSHVILLE AT CONNERSVILLE 7:30 PM
SETON CATHOLIC AT UNIVERSITY 7:30 PM
SHENANDOAH AT EASTBROOK 7:30 PM
SHERIDAN AT CLINTON PRAIRIE 7:30 PM
SHOALS AT NORTH DAVIESS 7:30 PM
SILVER CREEK AT COLUMBUS NORTH 7:30 PM
SOUTH ADAMS AT BLUFFTON 7:30 PM
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH AT CHESTERTON 7:30 PM
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON AT GOSHEN 7:30 PM
SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) AT ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 7:30 PM
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) AT TRINITY GREENLAWN 7:30 PM
SOUTH KNOX AT NORTH KNOX 7:30 PM
SOUTH SPENCER AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 8:00 PM
SOUTHERN WELLS AT ADAMS CENTRAL 7:30 PM
SOUTHMONT AT NORTH MONTGOMERY 7:30 PM
SOUTHPORT AT WARREN CENTRAL 7:30 PM
SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) AT SHAWE MEMORIAL 7:30 PM
SOUTHWOOD AT WABASH 7:45 PM
SPEEDWAY AT BEECH GROVE 7:30 PM
SPRINGS VALLEY AT ORLEANS 7:30 PM
SULLIVAN AT NORTHVIEW 7:30 PM
TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN AT EMINENCE 7:30 PM
TAYLOR AT NORTHFIELD 7:30 PM
TECUMSEH AT EVANSVILLE DAY 8:00 PM
TELL CITY AT FOREST PARK 8:00 PM
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH AT LINTON 7:30 PM
TRI AT BLUE RIVER VALLEY 7:30 PM
TRI-TOWNSHIP AT WESTVILLE 8:00 PM
VINCENNES LINCOLN AT EVANSVILLE REITZ 7:30 PM
WALDRON AT TRITON CENTRAL 7:30 PM
WASHINGTON AT SOUTHRIDGE 7:30 PM
WASHINGTON CATHOLIC AT CANNELTON 6:30 PM
WEST VIGO AT OWEN VALLEY 7:30 PM
WEST WASHINGTON AT EASTERN (PEKIN) 6:00 PM
WESTERN BOONE AT GREENCASTLE 7:30 PM
WHITE RIVER VALLEY AT DUGGER UNION 7:30 PM
WHITELAND AT PLAINFIELD 7:30 PM
WINAMAC AT ROCHESTER 7:30 PM
WINCHESTER AT WAPAHANI 7:30 PM
WOOD MEMORIAL AT LOOGOOTEE 8:00 PM
WOODLAN AT JAY COUNTY 7:30 PM
ZIONSVILLE AT WESTFIELD 7:30 PM
BANKS OF WABASH TOURNAMENT
NORTH VERMILLION VS. PARKE HERITAGE 6:00 PM R1
RIVERTON PARKE AT SOUTH VERMILLION 7:30 PM R1
LAFAYETTE TOURNAMENT
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC VS. RENSSELAER CENTRAL 6:00 PM CON
TWIN LAKES VS. BENTON CENTRAL 6:00 PM CON
MCCUTCHEON AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) 7:30 PM SF
WEST LAFAYETTE AT LAFAYETTE JEFF 7:30 PM SF
=========
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES/SCHEDULE
THURSDAY’S SCORES
BARR-REEVE 49 PIKE CENTRAL 15
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 64 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 14
BLUFFTON 74 BLACKFORD 32
BORDEN 69 NEW WASHINGTON 14
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 51 SEYMOUR 19
CARROLL (FLORA) 50 WESTERN 44
CASTLE 45 JASPER 37
CHRISTEL HOUSE 49 TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 23
CLAY CITY 37 RIVERTON PARKE 15
COLUMBUS NORTH 73 SHELBYVILLE 43
CORYDON CENTRAL 68 SCOTTSBURG 45
COVINGTON 42 SCHLARMAN (ILL.) 37
CRAWFORD COUNTY 60 PERRY CENTRAL 46
DELPHI 62 FRANKFORT 24
EASTERN (PEKIN) 52 CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 40
EDINBURGH 39 JAC-CEN-DEL 33
ELKHART CHRISTIAN 56 WAWASEE 15
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 57 VINCENNES LINCOLN 45
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 47 SOUTH ADAMS 36
FORT WAYNE WAYNE 59 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 18
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 39 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 31
FRANKLIN COUNTY 45 BATESVILLE 36
FREMONT 57 EDON (OHIO) 34
GARY WEST 44 GARY 21ST CENTURY 5
GREENSBURG 66 SOUTH DECATUR 11
GRIFFITH 42 LAKE STATION 35
HAGERSTOWN 57 COWAN 24
HENRYVILLE 43 LANESVILLE 29
HERITAGE HILLS 79 TECUMSEH 26
HERITAGE 33 FORT WAYNE SOUTH 31
HIGHLAND 54 EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 39
HILLCREST (ILL.) 58 BOWMAN ACADEMY 11
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 50 ZIONSVILLE 38
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY 52 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 19
JEFFERSONVILLE 50 FLOYD CENTRAL 47
JOHN GLENN 54 TRINITY GREENLAWN 13
KOUTS 59 SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) 35
LAKEWOOD PARK 38 NEW HAVEN 35
LEO 47 GARRETT 36
LINTON 46 EASTERN GREENE 26
MACONAQUAH 56 NORTHFIELD 54
MILAN 62 CROTHERSVILLE 24
MORRISTOWN 40 BLUE RIVER VALLEY 25
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 45 CONNERSVILLE 39
MUNCIE CENTRAL 60 INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH 19
NEW ALBANY 62 NORTH HARRISON 31
NORTH JUDSON 54 ARGOS 10
NORTH POSEY 63 SOUTH SPENCER 38
NORTHRIDGE 76 EAST NOBLE 42
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 43 NORTH DECATUR 38
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 51 BETHANY CHRISTIAN 33
PRINCETON 52 FOREST PARK 49
RENSSELAER CENTRAL 62 TWIN LAKES 19
ROSSVILLE 60 NORTH WHITE 32
SALEM 45 PAOLI 43
SEEGER 59 FRONTIER 25
SHAKAMAK 58 NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) 20
SPRINGS VALLEY 61 NORTHEAST DUBOIS 20
TELL CITY 55 SOUTHRIDGE 26
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 87 SOUTH VERMILLION 7
TRI-CENTRAL 65 MADISON-GRANT 17
TRINITY LUTHERAN 54 PROVIDENCE 41
UNIVERSITY 73 ANDERSON PREP 32
VINCENNES RIVET 44 BLOOMFIELD 20
WEST WASHINGTON 44 MITCHELL 21
WESTFIELD 59 BREBEUF JESUIT 18
WESTVIEW 44 WEST NOBLE 33
WHITKO 61 FORT WAYNE LUERS 30
WOOD MEMORIAL 50 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 6
YORKTOWN 46 RUSHVILLE 14
CASS COUNTY INVITATIONAL
PIONEER 40 LOGANSPORT 23
========
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ANGOLA AT CENTRAL NOBLE 6:00 PM
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN AT INDIANAPOLIS HERRON 6:00 PM
BOONE GROVE AT WASHINGTON TWP. 6:30 PM
BROWNSBURG AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL 6:00 PM
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) AT HOMESTEAD 7:30 PM
CHESTERTON AT MICHIGAN CITY 8:00 PM
CLOVERDALE AT EDGEWOOD 6:00 PM
CONCORD AT NORTHWOOD 7:45 PM
COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA 7:30 PM
COVINGTON AT BHRA (ILL.) 8:00 PM
CRAWFORDSVILLE AT LEBANON 6:00 PM
CROWN POINT AT PORTAGE 8:00 PM
DEKALB AT BELLMONT 7:30 PM
ELWOOD AT OAK HILL 7:30 PM
FISHERS VS. CASTLE 6:00 PM
FORT WAYNE DWENGER AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE SOUTH AT FORT WAYNE SNIDER 6:00 PM
FRANKLIN AT DECATUR CENTRAL 6:00 PM
FRANKTON AT ALEXANDRIA 7:30 PM
HAMILTON AT ELKHART CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN VS. EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
HAMMOND NOLL AT CALUMET 7:00 PM
HUNTINGTON NORTH AT NORWELL 7:30 PM
INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE AT PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 6:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI AT GUERIN CATHOLIC 7:30 PM
IRVINGTON PREP AT VICTORY PREP 6:00 PM
KIPP INDY LEGACY AT INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 6:00 PM
LAKE STATION AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (DYER) 8:00 PM
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN AT CULVER 6:00 PM
LOWELL AT KANKAKEE VALLEY 8:00 PM
MARTINSVILLE AT GREENWOOD 6:00 PM
MERRILLVILLE AT LAKE CENTRAL 8:00 PM
MISHAWAKA MARIAN AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 7:30 PM
MOORESVILLE AT PERRY MERIDIAN 6:00 PM
MORGAN TWP. AT DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
NORTH NEWTON AT HEBRON 6:30 PM
NORTH PUTNAM AT SOUTH PUTNAM 6:00 PM
NORTHEASTERN AT CENTERVILLE 7:30 PM
PENN AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 7:30 PM
PIKE AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 7:30 PM
RICHMOND AT LAWRENCEBURG 7:30 PM
RISING SUN AT SOUTH RIPLEY 7:30 PM
RIVER FOREST AT WHEELER 6:30 PM
SHERIDAN AT CLINTON PRAIRIE 6:00 PM
SOUTH BEND ADAMS AT NEW PRAIRIE 7:30 PM
SOUTH BEND RILEY AT ELKHART 7:30 PM
SOUTHMONT AT NORTH MONTGOMERY 6:00 PM
SOUTHPORT AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH 7:30 PM
SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) AT SHAWE MEMORIAL 5:00 PM
SPEEDWAY AT BEECH GROVE 6:00 PM
SULLIVAN AT NORTHVIEW 6:00 PM
TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN AT EMINENCE 6:00 PM
TRI-TOWNSHIP AT WESTVILLE 6:30 PM
VALPARAISO AT LAPORTE 8:00 PM
WALDRON AT TRITON CENTRAL 6:00 PM
WARREN CENTRAL AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 7:30 PM
WESTERN BOONE AT GREENCASTLE 6:00 PM
WHITELAND AT PLAINFIELD 6:00 PM
========
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WRESTLING RESULTS:
=======
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WRESTLING RESULTS:
=======
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES/SCHEDULE
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
=======
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
#3 SOUTH CAROLINA 79 #22 LOUISVILLE 77
#2 TEXAS 79 #11 NORTH CAROLINA 64
#5 LSU 93 DUKE 77
#13 OLE MISS 69 #18 NOTRE DAME 62
XAVIER 61 PROVIDENCE 47
VIRGINIA TECH 68 FLORIDA 64
SMU 78 ARKANSAS 63
ALABAMA 72 CLEMSON 48
MISSISSIPPI STATE 79 PITTSBURGH 44
SETON HALL 70 BUTLER 51
CREIGHTON 60 ST. JOHN’S 52
VILLANOVA 76 GEORGETOWN 69
MISSOURI 68 CALIFORNIA 67
UTAH 70 COLORADO STATE 58
GONZAGA 62 GRAND CANYON 58
MARQUETTE 85 DEPAUL 54
=======
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/SCORES
WEEK 15/CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
7 P.M. | KENNESAW STATE AT JACKSONVILLE STATE — CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP | CBSSN
7 P.M. | TROY AT JAMES MADISON — SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP | ESPN
8 P.M. | NORTH TEXAS AT TULANE — AMERICAN ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIP | ABC
8 P.M. | UNLV AT BOISE STATE — MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP | FOX
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
12 P.M. | TEXAS TECH VS. BYU — BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP (IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS) | ABC
12 P.M. | WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. MIAMI (OHIO) — MAC CHAMPIONSHIP (IN DETROIT) | ESPN
12 P.M. | VILLANOVA AT LEHIGH (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN+
12 P.M. | SOUTH DAKOTA AT MERCER (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN+
1 P.M. | ILLINOIS STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN+
1 P.M. | ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN+
1 P.M. | NORTH DAKOTA AT TARLETON STATE (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN+
2 P.M. | PRAIRIE VIEW A&M AT JACKSON STATE — SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP | ESPN2
2 P.M. | YALE AT MONTANA STATE (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN+
2 P.M. | SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT MONTANA (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN+
4 P.M. | GEORGIA VS. ALABAMA — SEC CHAMPIONSHIP (IN ATLANTA) | ABC
8 P.M. | VIRGINIA VS. DUKE — ACC CHAMPIONSHIP (IN CHARLOTTE) | ABC
8 P.M. | OHIO STATE VS. INDIANA — BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP (IN INDIANAPOLIS) | FOX
10 P.M. | RHODE ISLAND AT UC DAVIS (FCS SECOND ROUND) | ESPN2
WEEK 16
3 P.M. | ARMY VS. NAVY | CBS/PARAMOUNT+ (IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND)
=======
NFL
WEEK 14
THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 2025
DETROIT 44 DALLAS 30
SUNDAY, DEC. 7, 2025
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT BUFFALO BILLS, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX
TENNESSEE TITANS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW YORK JETS, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS
DENVER BRONCOS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS, 4:05 P.M. ET, CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS, 4:25 P.M. ET, FOX
CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS, 4:25 P.M. ET, FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 8:20 P.M. ET, NBC
MONDAY, DEC. 8, 2025
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, 8:15 P.M. ET, ABC/ESPN
=======
NBA SCORES
BOSTON 146 WASHINGTON 101
PHILADELPHIA 99 GOLDEN STATE 98
UTAH 143 BROOKLYN 110
LA LAKERS 123 TORONTO 120
MINNESOTA 125 NEW ORLEANS 116
=======
NHL SCORES
NY ISLANDERS 6 COLORADO 3
NASHVILLE 2 FLORIDA 1 OT
NY RANGERS 4 OTTAWA 2
BOSTON 5 ST. LOUIS 2
TORONTO 5 CAROLINA 1
PITTSBURGH 4 TAMPA BAY 3
COLUMBUS 6 DETROIT 5
CALGARY 4 MINNESOTA 1
EDMUND TO 9 SEATTLE 4
CHICAGO 2 LOS ANGELES 1
=======
NCAA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES LISTED IN ET
FIRST ROUND: DEC. 4-5
THURSDAY, DEC. 4
COLORADO 3 AMERICAN 0
BAYLOR 3 ARKANSAS STATE 2
UCLA 3 GEORGIA TECH 2
MIAMI FLORIDA 3 TULSA 1
INDIANA 3 TOLEDO 0
NORTH CAROLINA 3 UTEP 1
NORTHERN IOWA 3 UTAH 2
UTAH STATE 3 TENNESSEE 2
PURDUE 3 WRIGHT STATE 0
KENTUCKY 3 WOFFORD 0
KANSAS 3 HIGH POINT 0
WISCONSIN 3 EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
CREIGHTON 3 NORTHERN COLORADO 2
CAL POLY 3 BYU 2
ARIZONA STATE 3 COPPIN STATE 0
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 3 PRINCETON 0
=======
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
4 P.M. | NO. 7 WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. MARQUETTE
4 P.M. | NO. 8 XAVIER VS. MICHIGAN
5 P.M. | NO. 7 RICE VS. FLORIDA
5 P.M. | NO. 6 TCU VS. SFA
5:30 P.M. | NO. 5 IOWA STATE VS. ST. THOMAS (MINNESOTA)
5:30 P.M. | NO. 8 PENN STATE VS. SOUTH FLORIDA
5:30 P.M. | NO. 8 SAN DIEGO VS. KANSAS STATE
6:30 P.M. | LOYOLA CHICAGO VS. NO. 2 LOUISVILLE
6:30 P.M. | NO. 1 PITTSBURGH VS. UMBC
7:30 P.M. | NO. 2 SMU VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS
7:30 P.M. | NO. 7 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. ARIZONA
7:30 P.M. | NO. 3 TEXAS A&M VS. CAMPBELL
8 P.M. | NO. 4 MINNESOTA VS. FAIRFIELD
8 P.M. | NO. 1 NEBRASKA VS. LIU
8 P.M. | NO. 1 TEXAS VS. FLORIDA A&M
10 P.M. | NO. 2 STANFORD VS. UTAH VALLEY
=======
SECOND ROUND: DEC. 5-6
REGIONALS: DEC. 11 AND 13 OR DEC. 12 AND 14
SEMIFINALS: THURSDAY, DEC. 18
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3:30 P.M. ON SUNDAY, DEC. 21 | ABC
=======
MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER
NCAA TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINALS:
FRIDAY, DEC. 5
6 P.M. | NO. 7 GEORGETOWN VS. NO. 15 NC STATE
10 P.M. | NO. 8 PORTLAND VS. NO. 16 FURMAN
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
1 P.M. | NO. 14 AKRON VS. SAINT LOUIS
1 P.M. | NO. 4 MARYLAND VS. WASHINGTON
MEN’S COLLEGE CUP:
SEMIFINALS: FRIDAY, DEC. 12
FINALS: MONDAY, DEC. 15
=======
WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER
NCAA TOURNAMENT
WOMEN’S COLLEGE CUP
SEMIFINALS: FRIDAY, DEC. 5
TCU VS. FLORIDA STATE
DUKE VS. STANFORD
FINALS: MONDAY, DEC. 8
=========
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PLAYOFFS
CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY, DEC. 6: 2:30 P.M.
MIAMI VS. VANCOUVER
=========
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOTES: INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE
INDIANA NOTES:
GAME 13
Big Ten Championship Game
No. 1/1/1 Ohio State (12-0, 9-0 B1G) vs. No. 2/2/2 Indiana (12-0, 9-0 B1G)
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.
Setting The Scene
• No. 2/2/2 Indiana will head to the state capital to face No. 1/1/1 Ohio State in the Discover Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday (Dec. 6) at 8 p.m. inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on FOX.
• The game marks Indiana’s first appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game and the first time Indiana has won a share of the Big Ten regular season championship since 1967.
• Ohio State won last year’s game in Columbus, 38-15, and leads the series, 81-12-5. Indiana is seeking its first win over Ohio State since 1988.
• Saturday’s contest will be the 52nd time ever that the No. 1 and No. 2 team in the AP poll (since 1936) face off. It is the third time in a conference championship game and 10th time that two teams from the same conference will meet. The last No. 1 versus No. 2 game was in 2022 between Georgia and Tennessee. There have been two previous iterations amongst Big Ten teams (Iowa-Michigan, 1985; Ohio State-Michigan, 2006).
News & Notes
• Indiana’s ranking in the AP and USA Today/US LBM Coaches Poll is No. 2 for the seventh-straight week. The Hoosiers also have been ranked at No. 2 in each of the four editions of the College Football Playoff rankings this season.
• The 23 victories since the beginning of the 2024 season are the most in any two-year span in program history and rank tied for No. 4 nationally in that time. The 17 Big Ten wins during that span are also the most in a two-year stretch in IU history. MORE ON PAGE 4
• Curt Cignetti‘s 23 victories in his first two seasons at Indiana are the second most in Big Ten history by a coach in his first two seasons at a school. The victory over Purdue broke a tie with Fielding Yost (22, 1901-02; Michigan) and he trails only Urban Meyer (24, 2012-13; Ohio State).
• Cignetti’s 23 wins are tied for No. 6 in FBS history by a coach in his first two seasons at a school.
• Indiana capped the first perfect regular season in program history with a 12-0 record. The only other IU team to finish without a loss is the 1945 team at 9-0-1. The 12 victories are the most in a single season.
• The nine Big Ten wins are the most in program history and the 9-0 mark is the first time IU has won each of its conference games in a single season.
• Since 1980, there have only been 12 perfect regular seasons in the Big Ten (6, Ohio State; 3, Michigan; 1, Penn State; 1, Oregon; 1 Indiana).
• The Hoosiers are 43-27-1 all-time as a ranked team, which includes a 36-20-1 mark in Big Ten play.
• Indiana finished the regular season with an unblemished record on the road for just the third time in program history: 2025 (5-0), 1920 (3-0) and 1910 (2-0). The 1945 team went 5-0-1.
• The Hoosiers finished the regular season with an unblemished record at Memorial Stadium, its sixth such season since the venue opened in 1960. The other seasons include 1967 (5-0), 1987 (6-0), 1991 (5-0), 2020 (3-0), and 2024 (8-0).
• Head coach Curt Cignetti started a season with a 12-0 mark for the first time in his head coaching tenure, after he started back-to-back seasons at 10-0 (Indiana, 2024; James Madison, 2023).
• The 56-3 win over Purdue marked the sixth time in program history that Indiana has won by 50-or-more points with three of those coming in Big Ten play. The three 50-plus point wins in conference play are the only such wins in program history.
• Fernando Mendoza threw two touchdown passes in the win over the Boilermakers to move him to 32 on the year, the most of any Hoosier in a single season and is No. 1 in the FBS and Big Ten. MORE ON PAGE 7
• Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. are tied for the Big Ten lead with 11 touchdown receptions with Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Makai Lemon (USC). The Hoosier duo is also among the top-10 of the program’s career receiving touchdowns charts. MORE ON PAGE 9
• Stephen Daley had 4.5 tackles for loss versus the Boilermakers to put him at No. 1 in the Big Ten with 18.0. MORE ON PAGE 13
COMPLETE GAME NOTES: https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2025/12/1/football-football-gameday-big-ten-championship-game-PETE
OHIO STATE NOTES:
FIRST AND TEN
No. 1 and undefeated Ohio State (12-0; 9-0 Big Ten Conference) and No. 2 and undefeated Indiana (12-0; 9-0 Big Ten) meet Saturday in the 15th Big Ten Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Game time is 8 p.m. with FOX televising to a national audience.
This is the first Big Ten championship game featuring unbeaten teams and the first national No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.
The is the 64th overall 1 vs. 2 matchup in FBS history and the eighth such game for Ohio State. The team is 5-2 in its previous matchups.
With a win: the likely No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoffs and a first-round bye, and potential favorite status for the Heisman Trophy for one of several players in the running.
Ohio State is making its Big Ten-record seventh championship game appearance.
Ohio State is seeking its 40th Big Ten title and first since a conference record run of four consecutive outright Big Ten titles from 2017-20.
Ohio State, with a 26-2 record the past two seasons, and Indiana, at 23-2, are the Nos. 1 and 4 winningest teams in the FBS in 2024 and 2025.
Ohio State and Indiana last played Nov. 23, 2024, at Ohio Stadium, a 38-15 Buckeye win.
BY THE NUMBERS
50/50: Ohio State and Indiana each allowed only 50 cumulative points to their five common opponents this season: Illinois, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA and Wisconsin. Indiana scored 233 points; Ohio State scored 188.
10: Ohio State has won 10 consecutive games at road or neutral sites, including ranked wins over #3 Penn State, #1 Oregon, #3 Texas and #5 Notre Dame last year, and this year over #17 Illinois and #15 Michigan.
1: Texas (336) is the only team to top 300 yards of offense vs. Ohio State this season. This defense and the 2019 defense are the only units in school history to keep 11 consecutive teams from topping 300 yards.
.9891: Ryan Day has coached 92 games at Ohio State and in 91 of those games – 99 pct. – his team has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 10. His Buckeyes have been ranked in the Top 5 in front of 78 games.
SEVENTH BIG TEN TITLE GAME
Ohio State has surpassed Wisconsin for the conference lead with seven Big Ten championship game appearances.
Ohio State also has the most championship game wins with five, all coming consecutively after losing in its first appearance in 2013 against Michigan State.
Ohio State’s previous six Big Ten championship game results (5-1): 2013 – No. 10 MSU 34, No. 2 OSU 24; 2014 – No. 5 OSU 59, No. 13 Wisconsin 0; 2017 – No. 8 OSU 27, No. 4 Wisconsin 21; 2018 – No. 6 OSU 45, No. 21 Northwestern 24; 2019 – No. 1 OSU 34, No. 8 Wisconsin 21; 2020 – No. 4 OSU 22, No. 14 Northwestern 10
OHIO STATE/INDIANA NOTES
Ohio State and Indiana are playing for the 99th time in a series that started in 1901.
This is the second consecutive meeting, including 2024, where Ohio State and Indiana are each ranked in the Top 5 of the Associated Press poll.
This is the fifth time in the series that both teams are ranked in the national Top 25.
The teams are meeting for the 17th consecutive season and will play in the 2026 regular season at Bloomington.
Ohio State leads the all-time series in wins with 82 against 12 losses and five ties.
Ohio State’s last win came in 2024, 38-14, in Columbus while Indiana’s last win came in 1988, 41-7, in Bloomington.
Ohio State has won the last 29 games in the series dating back to a 27-all tie in 1990. (2010 win not included in records.)
Indiana’s last win in the series came in 1988 with consecutive wins in 1987-88.
This is the first game between the two schools played on a neutral site.
HOOSIERS
Ohio State’s roster features five from the state of Indiana.
Sr. DE Caden Curry (Greenwood, Ind.) leads the Buckeyes in TFLs (13.5) and QB sacks (9.0), has started every game this year and is a veteran of 52 games played.
Soph. WR Mylan Graham (Fort Wayne) has six catches for 93 yards and has played in eight games.
Jr. TE Max Klare (Guilford) is third on the team with 41 receptions and 420 yards.
Jr. DE Josh Mickens (Indianapolis) has seen action in eight games this year.
Soph. OL Ian Moore (New Palestine) has played in every game this season and made his first career start at right tackle three weeks ago vs. Purdue.
MIRROR EFFECT
Both Ohio State and Indiana each have terrific defenses.
Ohio State ranks No. 1 in scoring (7.8); IU is No. 2 (10.9).
IU is No. 2 in rush defense (79.2); Ohio Sate is No. 4 (81.7).
Ohio State is No. 1 in passing yardage (121.3); IU is No. 14 (172.5). And …
Ohio State is No. 1 in total defense (203.0); IU is No. 4 (253.5).
Both defenses will be pressed in this game. Indiana scores 44.3 ppg (No. 2 nationally) and Ohio State scores 37.0 (No. 13).
Indiana’s balanced attack nets 483.8 yards per game (No. 5) while Ohio State’s offense produces 438.5 (No. 24).
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced its 2025 football All-Big Ten teams and individual award winners on Wednesday and Thursday live on the Big Ten Network’s “B1G Today” program. The full list of honorees can be found below.
2025 All-Big Ten Football Team
As selected by Big Ten coaches
| OFFENSE | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Quarterback | Fernando Mendoza, Indiana | Julian Sayin, Ohio State | Jayden Maiava, USC |
| Running Back | Emmett Johnson, Nebraska | Bo Jackson, Ohio State | Justice Haynes, Michigan |
| Running Back | Kaytron Allen, Penn State | Antwan Raymond, Rutgers | Jordan Marshall, Michigan |
| Receiver | Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State | Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana | Hank Beatty, Illinois |
| Receiver | Carnell Tate, Ohio State | Elijah Sarratt, Indiana | Griffin Wilde, Northwestern |
| Receiver | Makai Lemon, USC | KJ Duff, Rutgers | Denzel Boston, Washington |
| Center | Logan Jones, Iowa | Iapani Laloulu, Oregon | Pat Coogan, Indiana |
| Guard | Beau Stephens, Iowa | Luke Montgomery, Ohio State | Gio El-Hadi, Michigan |
| Guard | Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon | Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State | Dave Iuli, Oregon |
| Tackle | J.C. Davis, Illinois | Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern | Gennings Dunker, Iowa |
| Tackle | Carter Smith, Indiana | Austin Siereveld, Ohio State | Trevor Lauck, Iowa |
| Tight End | Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon | Lake McRee, USC | Riley Nowakoswki, Indiana |
| Tight End | Max Klare, Ohio State | Lance Mason, Wisconsin | Max Bredeson, Michigan |
OFFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Josh Gesky, Luke Altmyer; INDIANA: Roman Hemby; IOWA: Hayden Large, Kade Pieper, Kamari Moulton; MARYLAND: Alan Herron, Dorian Fleming; MICHIGAN: Andrew Marsh, Andrew Sprague, Jake Guarnera, Marlin Klein; MICHIGAN STATE: Jack Velling, Nick Marsh; MINNESOTA: Jameson Geers; NEBRASKA: Luke Lindenmeyer, Rocco Spindler; NORTHWESTERN: Caleb Komolafe, Evan Beernsten, Ezomo Oratokhai, Hunter Welcing; OHIO STATE: Tegra Tshabola, Will Kacmarek; OREGON: Alex Harkey, Dakorien Moore, Dante Moore, Isaiah World, Jamari Johnson, Jordon Davison, Noah Whittington; PENN STATE: Drew Shelton, Khalil Dinkins, Nolan Rucci; RUTGERS: Ian Strong, Kwabena Asamoah; USC: Alani Noa, Ja’Kobi Lane, Justin Tauanuu,King Miller, Tobias Raymond, Walker Lyons; WASHINGTON: Carver Willis, Demond Williams Jr., Jonah Coleman.
| DEFENSE | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Edge | Derrick Moore, Michigan | Gabe Jacas, Illinois | Teitum Tuioti, Oregon |
| Edge | Anthony Smith, Minnesota | Caden Curry, Ohio State | Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State |
| Interior | Tyrique Tucker, Indiana | Aaron Graves, Iowa | Rayshaun Benny, Michigan |
| Interior | Kayden McDonald, Ohio State | Bear Alexander, Oregon | A’Mauri Washington, Oregon |
| Linebacker | Aiden Fisher, Indiana | Rolijah Hardy, Indiana | Mac Uihlein, Northwestern |
| Linebacker | Arvell Reese, Ohio State | Jimmy Rolder, Michigan | Mani Powell, Purdue |
| Linebacker | Sonny Styles, Ohio State | Bryce Boettcher, Oregon | Mason Posa, Wisconsin |
| Defensive Back | Louis Moore, Indiana | Zach Lutmer, Iowa | TJ Hall, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana | Jalen Huskey, Maryland | Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | Caleb Downs, Ohio State | Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern | Zeke Berry, Michigan |
| Defensive Back | Dillon Thieneman, Oregon | Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State | Koi Perich, Minnesota |
| Defensive Back | Bishop Fitzgerald, USC | Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon | Jermaine Mathews, Ohio State |
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Dylan Rosiek, James Thompson Jr., Matthew Bailey, Miles Scott, Tomiwa Durojaiye, Torrie Cox Jr.; INDIANA: Amare Ferrell, Isaiah Jones, Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley; IOWA: Karson Sharar, Koen Entringer, Max Llewellyn; MARYLAND: Cam Rice, Daniel Wingate, Dontay Joyner, Jamare Glasker, La’khi Roland; MICHIGAN: Brandyn Hillman, Ernest Hausmann, Jaishawn Barham, Jyaire Hill, TJ Metcalf; MICHIGAN STATE: Jordan Hall; MINNESOTA: Deven Eastern, Kerry Brown, Maverick Baranowski; NEBRASKA: Andrew Marshall, Ceyair Wright, Dasan McCullough, DeShon Singleton, Javin Wright; NORTHWESTERN: Josh Fussell, Michael Kilbane; OHIO STATE: Jaylen McClain, Kenyatta Jackson, Lorenzo Styles, Tywone Malone; OREGON: Jadon Canady, Matayo Uiagalalei; PENN STATE: A.J. Harris, Amare Campbell, King Mack, Zakee Wheatley, Zane Durant; PURDUE: Charles Correa, Tahj Ra-El; RUTGERS: Bo Mascoe, Jett Elad; UCLA: Andre Jordan Jr., Gary Smith III, JonJon Vaughns; USC: Anthony Lucas, Devan Thompkins, Eric Gentry, Kamari Ramsey; WASHINGTON: Alex McLaughlin; WISCONSIN: Christian Alliegro, Ricardo Hallman.
| SPECIAL TEAMS | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Kicker | Sean O’Haire, Maryland | Nico Radicic, Indiana | Ryon Sayeri, USC |
| Punter* | Ryan Eckley, Michigan State | Bryce McFerson, Maryland | Gabriel Nwosu, Penn State |
| Jack McCallister, Purdue | |||
| Return Specialist | Kaden Wetjen, Iowa | Jonathan Brady, Indiana | Kenneth Williams, Nebraska |
| Long Snapper | Mark Langston, Indiana | Luke Basso, Oregon | John Ferlmann, Ohio State |
SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Hank Beatty; IOWA: Drew Stevens; MICHIGAN: Dominic Zvada; MINNESOTA: Tom Weston; NEBRASKA: Jacory Barney Jr.; NORTHWESTERN: Jack Olsen, Luke Akers; OHIO STATE: Brandon Inniss, Jayden Fielding; OREGON: Atticus Sappington; PENN STATE: Nicholas Singleton, Ryan Barker; PURDUE: Spencer Porath; RUTGERS: Jai Patel; UCLA: Will Karoll; WASHINGTON: Denzel Boston; WISCONSIN: Vinny Anthony.
*Additional honorees due to ties
2025 All-Big Ten Football Team
As selected by conference media
| OFFENSE | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Quarterback | Fernando Mendoza, Indiana | Julian Sayin, Ohio State | Dante Moore, Oregon |
| Running Back | Emmett Johnson, Nebraska | Jordan Marshall, Michigan | Roman Hemby, Indiana |
| Running Back | Kaytron Allen, Penn State | Antwan Raymond, Rutgers | Bo Jackson, Ohio State |
| Receiver | Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State | Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana | Hank Beatty, Illinois |
| Receiver | Carnell Tate, Ohio State | Elijah Sarratt, Indiana | Ja’Kobi Lane, USC |
| Receiver | Makai Lemon, USC | KJ Duff, Rutgers | Denzel Boston, Washington |
| Center | Logan Jones, Iowa | Pat Coogan, Indiana | Carson Hinzman, Ohio State |
| Guard | Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon | Beau Stephens, Iowa | Kade Pieper, Iowa |
| Guard | Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State | Luke Montgomery, Ohio State | Tegra Tshabola, Ohio State |
| Tackle | Carter Smith, Indiana | J.C. Davis, Illinois | Phillip Daniels, Ohio State |
| Tackle | Gennings Dunker, Iowa | Isaiah World, Oregon | Austin Siereveld, Ohio State |
| Tight End | Max Klare, Ohio State | Riley Nowakoswki, Indiana | Jack Velling, Michigan State |
| Tight End | Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon | Lake McRee, USC | Lance Mason, Wisconsin |
OFFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Josh Gesky; IOWA: Hayden Large, Jacob Gill, Kamari Moulton, Trevor Lauck; MARYLAND: Alan Herron, Dorian Fleming; MICHIGAN: Andrew Marsh, Andrew Sprague, Gio El-Hadi, Greg Crippen, Jake Guarnera, Justice Haynes, Marlin Klein, Max Bredeson; MICHIGAN STATE: Matt Gulbin, Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly; MINNESOTA: Greg Johnson, Jameson Geers; NEBRASKA: Luke Lindenmeyer, Rocco Spindler; NORTHWESTERN: Caleb Komolafe, Caleb Tiernan, Evan Beernsten, Griffin Wilde, Hunter Welcing; OHIO STATE: Will Kacmarek; OREGON: Alex Harkey, Dakorien Moore, Dave Iuli, Iapani Laloulu, Jamari Johnson, Malik Benson, Noah Whittington; PENN STATE: Drew Shelton, Khalil Dinkins, Nicholas Singleton, Nick Dawkins; RUTGERS: Ian Strong, Kwabena Asamoah; UCLA: Garrett DiGiorgio; USC: Alani Noa, Jayden Maiava, Justin Tauanuu, King Miller, Tobias Raymond; WASHINGTON: Carver Willis, John Mills, Jonah Coleman; WISCONSIN: Joe Brunner.
| DEFENSE | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Edge | Gabe Jacas, Illinois | Derrick Moore, Michigan | Teitum Tuioti, Oregon |
| Edge | Caden Curry, Ohio State | Anthony Smith, Minnesota | Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State |
| Interior | Tyrique Tucker, Indiana | Aaron Graves, Iowa | Rayshaun Benny, Michigan |
| Interior | Kayden McDonald, Ohio State | Bear Alexander, Oregon | A’Mauri Washington, Oregon |
| Linebacker | Aiden Fisher, Indiana | Rolijah Hardy, Indiana | Isaiah Jones, Indiana |
| Linebacker | Arvell Reese, Ohio State | Jimmy Rolder, Michigan | Ernest Hausmann, Michigan |
| Linebacker | Sonny Styles, Ohio State | Bryce Boettcher, Oregon | Mac Uihlein, Northwestern |
| Linebacker* | Amare Campbell, Penn State | ||
| Defensive Back | D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana | Amare Ferrell, Indiana | TJ Hall, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | Caleb Downs, Ohio State | Louis Moore, Indiana | Zach Lutmer, Iowa |
| Defensive Back | Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State | Jalen Huskey, Maryland | Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern |
| Defensive Back | Dillon Thieneman, Oregon | Zeke Berry, Michigan | Jaylen McClain, Ohio State |
| Defensive Back | Bishop Fitzgerald, USC | Koi Perich, Minnesota | Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon |
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Dylan Rosiek, James Thompson Jr., Juice Clarke, Matthew Bailey, Miles Scott, Tomiwa Durojaiye; INDIANA: Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley; IOWA: Deshaun Lee, Jonah Pace, Karson Sharar, Max Llewellyn, Xavier Nwankpa; MARYLAND: Cam Rice, Daniel Wingate, Dontay Joyner, Jamare Glasker, Sidney Stewart, Zahir Mathis; MICHIGAN: Brandyn Hillman, Jaishawn Barham, Jyaire Hill, Trey Pierce; MICHIGAN STATE: Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews; MINNESOTA: Kerry Brown, Maverick Baranowski; NEBRASKA: Andrew Marshall, Ceyair Wright, DeShon Singleton, Javin Wright; NORTHWESTERN: Anto Saka, Braden Turner, Carmine Bastone, Josh Fussell, Michael Kilbane; OHIO STATE: Eddrick Houston, Jermaine Mathews, Kenyatta Jackson, Lorenzo Styles, Payton Pierce, Tywone Malone; OREGON: Aaron Flowers, Jadon Canady, Matayo Uiagalalei; PENN STATE: A.J. Harris, Amare Campbell, Audavion Collins, King Mack, Zakee Wheatley, Zane Durant; PURDUE: Charles Correa, Mani Powell, Tahj Ra-El; RUTGERS: Bo Mascoe, Dariel Djabome; UCLA: Andre Jordan Jr., JonJon Vaughns, Rodrick Pleasant; USC: Devan Thompkins, Eric Gentry, Kamari Ramsey; WASHINGTON: Alex McLaughlin, Ephesians Prysock, Tacario Davis; WISCONSIN: Christian Alliegro, Darryl Peterson, Mason Posa, Mason Reiger, Ricardo Hallman.
| SPECIAL TEAMS | FIRST TEAM | SECOND TEAM | THIRD TEAM |
| Kicker | Nico Radicic, Indiana | Sean O’Haire, Maryland | Drew Stevens, Iowa |
| Punter* | Ryan Eckley, Michigan State | Bryce McFerson, Maryland | Tom Weston, Minnesota |
| Jack McCallister, Purdue | |||
| Return Specialist* | Kaden Wetjen, Iowa | Kenneth Williams, Nebraska | Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska |
| Jonathan Brady, Indiana | |||
| Long Snapper | Mark Langston, Indiana | John Ferlmann, Ohio State | Greg Tarr, Michigan |
SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
ILLINOIS: Hank Beatty, Lane Hansen, David Olano; IOWA: Rhys Dakin; MARYLAND: Ethan Gough; MINNESOTA: Alan Soukup; NORTHWESTERN: Luke Akers, Jack Olsen; OHIO STATE: Brandon Inniss; OREGON: Gary Bryant Jr., Luke Basso, Atticus Sappington; PENN STATE: Ryan Barker, Gabriel Nwosu, Nicholas Singleton, Tyler Duzansky; PURDUE: Luke Raab, Michael Jackson III, Spencer Porath; RUTGERS: Jakob Anderson; UCLA: Salem Abdul-Wahab, Mateen Bhaghani; USC: Hank Pepper, Ryon Sayeri; WASHINGTON: Denzel Boston; WISCONSIN: Vinny Anthony.
*Additional honorees due to ties
2025 Big Ten Individual Award Winners
Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award: Will Shields, Nebraska
Named for Minnesota’s Tony Dungy and Indiana’s Anthony Thompson
Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award: Jack Campbell, Iowa
Named for Michigan’s Gerald Ford and Iowa’s Nile Kinnick
Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Named for Northwestern’s Otto Graham and Ohio State’s Eddie George
Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Named for Minnesota’s Bronko Nagurski and Michigan’s Charles Woodson
Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year: Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Named for Minnesota’s Darrell Thompson and Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El
Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches vote): Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Named for Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler
Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote): Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Named for Wisconsin’s Dave McClain
Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Named for Purdue’s Bob Griese and Drew Brees
Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Named for Wisconsin’s Pat Richter and Michigan’s Desmond Howard
Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year: Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Named for Wisconsin’s Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne
Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year: Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Named for Penn State’s Ted Kwalick and Iowa’s Dallas Clark
Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year: Carter Smith, Indiana
Named for Nebraska’s Dave Rimington and Ohio State’s Orlando Pace
Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Named for Michigan State’s Bubba Smith and Penn State’s Courtney Brown
Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Named for Illinois’ Dick Butkus and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald
Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Named for Ohio State’s Jack Tatum and Purdue’s Rod Woodson
Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year: Nico Radicic, Indiana
Named for Wisconsin’s Jim Bakken and Michigan State’s Morten Andersen
Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
Named for Illinois’ Dike Eddleman and Michigan State’s Brandon Fields
Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
Named for Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers and Iowa’s Tim Dwight
2025 Sportsmanship Honorees
Miles Scott, Illinois
James Bomba, Indiana
Mark Gronowski, Iowa
Ethan Gough, Maryland
Cole Sullivan, Michigan
Jordan Hall, Michigan State
Derik LeCaptain, Minnesota
Heinrich Haarberg, Nebraska
Cam Porter, Northwestern
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Zuriah Fisher, Penn State
Devin Mockobee, Purdue
Gus Zilinskas, Rutgers
Hudson Habermehl, UCLA
Tobias Raymond, USC
Jonah Coleman, Washington
Darryl Peterson, Wisconsin
SEC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES: GEORGIA VS. ALABAMA
GEORGIA NOTES:
- Kickoff: Saturday, December 6 – 4:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (75,000) | Atlanta, Ga.
- 2025 Records: Georgia (11-1, 7-1), Alabama (10-2, 7-1)
- 2025 Rankings: Georgia #3/3, Alabama #10/10
- TV: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe & Laura Rutledge)
Dominating Dawgs
Georgia’s 2025 Senior Class is 50-5 overall. They have won a national title (2022) and two SEC crowns (2022, 2024) in their career. They are the third straight class to register 50 wins, joining the 2023 group (50-4) and last year’s record-setting class (53-5). Simply The Best (Since 2021)
Georgia owns the best record in the FBS since 2021 at 64-6. This run includes back-to-back CFP national titles (2021-22) and two SEC titles (2022 & 2024).
Georgia and Ohio State are the only FBS schools to win 11+ games every season since 2021.
Georgia In The Rankings This Week
The Bulldogs (11-1, 7-1 SEC) are a consensus No. 3 in the Associated Press, US LBM Coaches and FWAA-NFF top 25 polls. The latest CFP rankings will be out Tuesday.
ESPN College GameDay & SEC Nation
The ESPN and SECN shows will be in Atlanta for the SECCG. This season, GameDay was in Athens for the victory over No. 5 Ole Miss and the road win over the No. 15 Vols. Georgia is 22-19 when it’s on site at a Bulldogs game. SEC Nation was on hand for the win over No. 10 Texas, the loss to No. 17 UA and the road win over MSU. Georgia is 31-13 with SEC Nation on site.
Fast Facts On The 2025 SEC Championship Game
Third-ranked Georgia (11-1, 7-1 SEC) joins Florida (1992-96) as the only teams to ever make a record five consecutive SEC Championship Games (SECCG). The Bulldogs face #10 Alabama (10-2, 7-1 SEC).
The Bulldogs have won the SEC title 15 times, which ranks second to UA’s 30.
Georgia aims to win back-to-back SEC titles for the first time since it won three in a row (1980-82).
Georgia has won the SECG five times (thrice in the Kirby Smart era) including in 2024 over #2 Texas.
The Bulldogs will be making their 13th appearance in the SECCG, tying the Gators for second most in SEC history. Georgia is 5-7 in the SECCG including 0-4 against UA.
In rematches during a season under Smart, the Bulldogs are 3-0 (2017 AU regular season loss/SECCG win, 2021 UA SECCG loss/CFP Title win, 2024 Texas regular season win/SECCG win).
“Hard To Kill”
Georgia went 7-1 in the SEC gauntlet this year, trailing early and/or late in seven of those contests. The Bulldogs rallied to beat No. 15 Tennessee and Auburn on the road for their ninth straight victory in those series. They outlasted No. 5 Ole Miss 43-35 in Athens and never had to punt. Georgia won its fifth straight over Florida in Jacksonville. Georgia erased an early 7-0 deficit at MSU with 38 unanswered points and eventually recorded a 41-21 decision for the program’s 900th all-time win. Georgia used a 21-point fourth quarter to defeat No. 10 Texas 35-10 to close out the SEC regular season.
Georgia is 40-3 in its last 43 SEC regular season games with two losses to UA and one to Ole Miss.
Georgia blanked then No. 17 UA and AU in the second half while Kentucky’s lone second half score came on a 23-yard drive with 1:51 left in the contest and the Bulldogs up 35-7. Trailing 35-26, Georgia outscored No. 5 OM 17-0 in the 4th quarter in that win. Against UF, Georgia fell behind 20-17 early in the 4th quarter, took the lead for good with 4:36 left and posted a pair of 4th-Down stops including one in the Red Zone as UF came in 22-for-23 there.
The only league contest where Georgia led wire-to-wire was a 35-14 home win over UK while the only comeback that fell short came to then No. 17 UA 24-21 in Athens.
Playing With FPE (Fire, Passion & Energy)
One of Georgia’s main themes in 2025 is to play with “FPE.”
Fifty-four percent of Georgia’s roster consists of players in their first or second season here.
Georgia’s scoring defense this year has allowed 16.7 ppg and posted 21 scoreless quarters.
Junior ILB CJ Allen, who ranks third in the SEC in average tackles per game at 7.3, is a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Butkus Award. He is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Redshirt junior QB Gunner Stockton is a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
Senior Brett Thorson (Ray Guy Award) is a finalist for the top punter award while junior PK Peyton Woodring (Lou Groza Award) and senior SN Beau Gardner (Patrick Mannelly Award) are semifinalists for their position awards.
Due to injuries, Georgia started six different offensive line units in the first six games and seven total.
Did You Know? Last Friday, Georgia defeated rival Ga. Tech 16-9 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Tech moved its home game there. It marked Georgia’s record eighth straight win in the series and retained the Governor’s Cup Trophy. The Bulldogs went 2-0 in this facility last year, winning their opener 34-3 over No. 14 Clemson and then beat No. 2 Texas for the SEC Championship to earn the No. 2 seed in the CFP.
The Elephant In The Room
UA leads the series with Georgia 44-26-6 dating to 1895. Georgia’s last win over the Crimson Tide came on Jan. 10, 2022 by a score of 33-18 and delivered the Bulldogs their first national championship since 1980. It capped a 14-1 season. Then, Georgia became the first team in the CFP-era to repeat as champions, going 15-0 in 2022. The Bulldogs went 12-0 in 2023 before falling to the Tide in the SEC Championship Game, ending a 29-game winning streak and missing the CFP. This year, UA came to Athens for the first time since 2015 and snapped Georgia’s record 33-game home winning streak.
2021 SECCG: #4 UA def. #1 UGA 41-24
2022 CFP Title: #3 UGA def. #1 UA 33-18
2023 SECCG: #8 UA def. #1 UGA 27-24
2024 @ UA: #4 UA def. #2 UGA 41-34
2025 in Athens: #17 UA def. #5 UGA 24-21
2025 SECCG: #3 UGA vs. #10 UA
Bulldogs Scoring With Stockton’s Arm and Legs
Redshirt junior Gunner Stockton is a 6-1, 215-pound native of Tiger, Ga.
11-2 Career Record as a starter including 5-2 versus ranked teams.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist and Semifinalist for Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
Accounted for 5 TDs in 35-10 win over No. 10 Texas, tying his career-high with four passing and one rushing, finishing 24-for-29 for 228 passing yards
Directed three 4th quarter comebacks in 2025 including over #5 Ole Miss, #15 Tennessee in Knoxville and versus Florida in Jacksonville.
Swept national weekly QB honors after Georgia’s win over No. 5 Ole Miss (26-of-31, 289 yards, 4 TDs, 59 rushing yards including 22-yard TD).
Led Georgia to scoring drives on each of its first 8 drives in win over #5 Ole Miss, the first team to do that against an AP Top-10 team since 2016.
Directed 2nd half comeback against #5 Rebels, going 12-for-12, 135 yards, 3 TDs including erasing a 35-26 deficit in the 4th quarter.
According to ESPN Research, Stockton is the first QB to go 12-for-12 or better in a half against an AP top-five opponent since California’s Aaron Rodgers did it versus then-No. 1 USC in 2004.
On pace to be only the second QB in school history to post a Completion Percentage above 70% for a Season (70.2); Carson Beck, record 72.4 in ’23.
Led 2nd half comeback in 20-10 road win over AU, finished as leading rusher (9-for-26, 1 TD) and was 24-for-37 for 217 yards through the air.
Directed 35-14 win over UK and completed 15-for-23 for 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and 48 rushing yards on six attempts with 2 TDs.
Won first SEC road start at No. 15 Tennessee in front of a crowd of 101,915.
Named Davey O’Brien National QB of the Week after 44-41 overtime win over #15 UT. Georgia trailed five times, including 21-7 after the 1st quarter, 38-30 with 6:40 left in regulation, and in OT.
Successful home debut in the 2025 opening win over Marshall as the team’s leading rusher (73 yards on 10 attempts with 2 scores) plus threw for 190 yards and 2 TDs…First Georgia player to have two passing TDs and two rushing scores in a season opener in the past 80 years per ESPN Stats.
Georgia Bulldog History In The SEC Championship Game
2002 (W): #4 Georgia d. #22 Arkansas 30-3 Att: 74,835 in Ga. Dome
2003 (L): #3 LSU d. #5 Georgia 34-13 Att: 74,913 in Ga. Dome
2005 (W): #13 Georgia def. #3 LSU 34-14 Att: 73,717 in Ga. Dome
2011 (L): #1 LSU d. #12 Georgia 42-10 Att: 74,715 in Ga. Dome
2012 (L): #2 Alabama d. #3 Georgia 32-28 Att: 75,624 in Ga. Dome
2017 (W): #6 Georgia d. #4 Auburn 28-7 Att: 76,534 in Mercedes-Benz
2018 (L): #1 Alabama d. #4 Georgia 35-28 Att: 77,141 in Mercedes-Benz
2019 (L): #2 LSU d. #4 Georgia 37-10 Att: 74,150 in Mercedes-Benz
2021 (L): #3 Alabama d. #1 Georgia 41-24 Att: 78,030 in Mercedes-Benz
2022 (W): #1 Georgia d. #14 LSU 50-30 Att: 74,810 in Mercedes-Benz
2023 (L): #8 Alabama d. #1 Georgia 27-24 Att: 78,320 in Mercedes-Benz
2024 (W): #5 Georgia d. #2 Texas 22-19 (OT) Att: 74,916 in Mercedes-Benz
Georgia MVPs: David Greene, QB, ’02; D.J. Shockley, QB, ’05; Roquan Smith, LB, ’17; Stetson Bennett, QB, ’22; Daylen Everette, DB, ’24
Frazier & Bowens Headline Ground Attack
Georgia is averaging 190.4 rushing yards per game with 28 TDs. Georgia’s five rushing TDs in the win over Charlotte was the most since the 2023 Orange Bowl rout of Florida State when the Bulldogs had five in a 63-3 win.
Sophomore Nate Frazier (team-high 809 yards, 5 TDs) has started eight games. He had a team-best 72 rushing yards plus a three-yard TD catch in the win over No. 5 OM. He went for a career-high 181 yards on just 12 carries (15.1 avg.) in a road win over MSU. It was the most yards by a Bulldog since 2018 when D’Andre Swift had 186 in a win at Auburn. Frazier’s big day included a career-best 59-yard TD run. He followed that up with a team-best 72 yards against No. 10 Texas. He went for 108 yards in a win versus #23 Tech.
Redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowens (493 yards, 6 TDs) made his first career start in the win over UK and provided 70 yards on a career-high 15 carries. Against No. 17 UA, he posted a career-best 119 yards on 12 carries (9.9 average). He had a 36-yard scamper for the go-ahead score in the 4th quarter in the win over UF. He has missed the final two games of the regular season.
Senior Cash Jones, redshirt senior Josh McCray, sophomore Dwight Phillips Jr., and freshman Bo Walker provide various looks too. Walker had a memorable day in the win over Charlotte, rushing for three TDs in his nine attempts and finished with 48 yards. With Bowens out versus #23 Tech, McCray saw his most extensive action of the season. He had 13 carries for 43 yards plus two catches for nine yards when rotating in for Frazier.
The Bulldogs had 55 rushes for 198 yard in the win at No. 15 UT. Frazier had a team-long 21-yard burst on the first play in overtime to set up the game-winning score by McCray who notched a pair of scores in the triumph.
Jones can break tackles, is a solid blocker and wideout. He had a 16-yard TD catch versus UK and recovered an onside kick versus No. 10 Texas.
Branch Setting The Tone For the Wideouts
The Bulldogs are averaging 225.7 receiving yards a game with 21 TDs.
Junior Zachariah Branch (68-for-691 yards, 3 TDs), the SEC leader in receptions, has moved into second in school history for most catches in a single season. Brice Hunter talllied a record 76 in 1993.
With senior Colbie Young (23-for-336 yards, 1 TD) sidelined with a leg injury (happened in the win over No. 5 OM), Branch and seniors Noah Thomas (16-for-254 yards, 4 TDs), Dillon Bell (23-for-234 yards, 1 TD) and junior London Humphreys (18-for-276 yards, 3 TDs) are the top targets.
Thomas has the longest catch of the season, a 64-yard TD against MSU. He got his first score as a Bulldog on a 22-yarder against UF for a 17-10 lead. With two TD catches against No. 10 Texas, he has four in the past three games.
Branch posted a career high 10 receptions for 112 yards in the neutral site victory over UF. He had a team-high eight catches for 71 yards in the win over No. 5 OM. Branch had five catches for 69 yards in the win at No. 15 UT, including a 36-yard TD and the game-tying 2-point conversion with 2:32 left.
Humphreys had THE catch of the season. Down 38-30 with 2:38 remaining in the game at No. 15 UT, it was 4th-and-6. He hauled in a 28-yard touchdown strike from Gunner Stockton.
For Whom The Bell Totes
Senior Dillon Bell has shown he can catch it, run it and even throw it.
As a wideout this year, he has 23 catches for 234 yards and one TD. In the win over No. 5 OM, he had two receptions for 57 yards. Bell has 10 career TD receptions. He had four catches for 43 yards and a TD in the win over UF.
Bell has flashed in the running game too with a 43-yard dash on a reverse against No. 17 UA. He had two scores in the win against UK. Against No. 5 OM, he had two rushes for 19 yards. For the year, he has 85 yards on 13 carries. Bell has five career rushing TDs in 47 attempts.
In 2023, he threw an 18-yard TD in a road win over Tennessee.
Ready Or Not, It’s Go Time
Due to injuries, Georgia used a different starting OL unit in its first six games, then had the same unit for the next four contests before resting a pair (C-Drew Bobo, RT-Earnest Greene III) in the win over Charlotte. Bobo left the game versus No. 23 Ga. Tech with a lower leg injury. Redshirt freshman C Malachi Toliver, who started versus Charlotte, filled in for Bobo against Tech.
Redshirt senior Micah Morris (LG) is the only linemen to start every game.
The Bulldogs have employed three different starting RGs, two different LTs, two different Cs and four different RTs.
Junior LT Monroe Freeling had the longest the starting streak at 10 games, but he left the UK game in the first quarter with a leg injury. He didn’t start at AU but did earn SEC OL of the Week honors and then again versus #10 Texas.
Bobo was named Outland Trophy National Player of the Week for his performance in leading the line in the road win over No. 15 UT.
Freshman Juan Gaston Jr. has started at RG and RT. Feshman Dontrell Glover has started the last eight games at RG. Bobo started the first 10 games.
Greene III, who has 30 career starts, has been hampered with a back issue during his career. He returned to his starting role in the win over No. 5 OM.
RS-freshmen Bo Hughley saw action at RT in the win at No. 15 UT, made his first career start there against No. 17 UA plus started at LT against AU.
The Bulldogs did not allow a sack in their first two games before the Vols collected four. Still, when the UT game was on the line, the offensive line came through. In overtime, it was three rushing plays for 25 yards that rallied the No. 6 Bulldogs to victory. Also of note, when Georgia trailed No. 15 UT 21-17 to start the 3rd quarter, the Bulldogs leaned on their running game, going 75 yards for a TD on 14 plays (13 rushes) to take their first lead.
Did You Know? Gaston joined Andrew Thomas (RT, 2017) as the only true freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener in the Smart era. Thomas went on to be a first round pick (fourth overall selection) in the 2020 NFL draft by the New York Giants. He remains a starter for the Giants.
Tight Ends Always In The Game Plan
Currently, six former Bulldog tight ends are in the NFL, most notably Brock Bowers (Las Vegas). The Bulldogs aim to continue that trend.
Junior Lawson Luckie (13 rec., 120 yards, 4 TDs) and senior Oscar Delp (17 rec., 235 yards, 1 TD) are playing the lead roles. Redshirt freshmen Jaden Reddell (1 rec., 9 yards) has appeared in every game this year while freshman Elyiss Williams (7 rec., 117 yards, 1 TD) has been targeted of late.
Williams’ lone catch in the win at MSU was a big one, covering 24 yards on a 3rd-and-11 play. He had one catch for 14 yards in the win over UF.
Against No. 5 OM, Luckie became the first Bulldog with three TD catches in a game since 2008 (Mohamed Massaquoi vs. Ga. Tech).
Highly-touted freshmen Ethan Barbour went down with a leg injury in game two (Austin Peay) and has been out since September. He joined Delp in the starting lineup in the opener while Williams notched a 23-yard TD on his first career catch. Delp also did that in 2022 against South Carolina.
In the road win over No. 15 UT, Luckie had three catches for 25 yards while Delp had one for 18 yards. Georgia posted a season-high 502 yards of offense.
A tight end did not have a catch against Austin Peay, marking the first time that happened since a 2021 win over Arkansas. Georgia was 7-for-11 that day.
Defense Steadily Improving
Georgia has had 55 players drafted over the past five seasons, including 30 on defense and 11 of those defenders have gone in the first round.
Opponents have scored 200 points this year (16.7 ppg/12th nationally).
In 2025, opponents have scored 65 points in the 1st quarter (21 of those at #15 UT) and 47 in the 2nd quarter. However, in the 2nd half, the Bulldogs have allowed a total of 85 points (plus 3 points in OT).
No. 23 Ga. Tech averaged 35.3 points and were held to three field goals.
No. 10 Texas averaged 29.6 points and managed just 10 points.
No. 5 OM scored 14 in the 3rd quarter and then were shut out in the 4th quarter.
Shut out Auburn in the 2nd half after trailing 10-3 at the half in a 20-10 win.
Blanked No. 17 UA in the 2nd half after it scored 24 points in the first half.
UK had seven points in the 1st half, and it’s final TD came courtesy of a 23- yard drive following a turnover with 1:51 left and Georgia up 35-7.
Georgia had a 38-7 lead at MSU before allowing 14 points in the 2nd half.
Stopping The Run Starts Up Front
Georgia ranks 6th nationally, allowing only 86.1 rushing yards a game. Against No. 10 Texas, UT managed only 23 yards on 17 attempts. UT entered the game averaging 135.3 yards on the ground. Most recently versus No. 23 Ga. Tech who averaged 215 rushing yards, it finished with 69 on 23 attempts.
No. 15 Tennessee averaged 252.5 rushing yards and 605 yards of total offense/ game and Georgia limited them to 125 rushing yards (34 att.) and 496 yards of total offense. Also of note, No. 5 OM had just 88 rushing yards.
No. 17 UA was held to 117 yards (38 att.) for a 3.1 average while UK averaged 188 yards and finished with only 45 yards on 22 attempts.
Redshirt junior Christen Miller and juniors Jordan Hall and Gabe Harris Jr., are the veterans up front with redshirt sophomore Xzavier McLeod now stepping in for the injured Hall the past five games. McLeod made his first career start at MSU and tallied three tackles.
Miller had two tackles and three QB pressures versus No. 15 UT and five tackles, a half sack and three QB pressuers against MSU.
Harris Jr., had a career-high five stops at AU and made four in the win at MSU.
Redshirt freshmen Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nnamdi Ogboko, redshirt sophomore Josh Horton (Miami) and freshmen Elijah Griffin and JJ Hanne are in the rotation. Griffin got his first career sack against Charlotte.
Jonah-Ajonye posted a career-high three stops versus Austin Peay. Griffin had two tackles each against UK and AU while Horton, who has shown an ability to win one-on-one battles, made three tackles against No. 17 UA. Ogboko got his first career sack versus UK.
Steady Linebacking Trio Sees Next Wave Emerging
Juniors CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson are the tackle leaders with sophomore Quintavius Johnson rounding out the trio that started the first 10 games until Allen missed the Charlotte contest due to injury. They combined for 2.5 of the team’s three sacks in the road win over MSU while Johnson and freshman Zayden Walker each had a sack against No. 10 Texas. Allen returned against No. 23 Ga. Tech following knee surgery as Smart said “he’s wired different.”
Allen (80 tackles, 8 TFL, 3.5 Sacks) ranks third in the SEC averaging 7.3 tackles per game. He has been the team’s leading tackler in seven of 12 games this year with a career-high 13 stops in the win over UF. He notched his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery in the win over UK and then forced a key fumble at the goal line at AU. He made a team-high 10 tackles, a sack, two TFL at AU and followed that with 10 stops versus No. 5 OM. He left the game versus No. 10 Texas in the first half due to a leg injury.
Allen is a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Butkus Award plus a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Wilson (65 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks) collected a career-best nine stops and three QB pressures in the road win over No. 15 UT and made six tackles plus 1.5 sacks and four QB pressures in the road victory over MSU.
Johnson made a career-best six tackles in the win over No. 23 Tech. He had five stops in the win over UK, forced a fumble at MSU and finished with five stops.
Sophomore Chris Cole, who has a team-high four sacks, saw extensive playing time against No. 10 Texas when Allen left in the first half with an injury. Cole set a career-high with a team-best seven stops in the win over the Longhorns. He made his first start against Charlotte and tallied four stops and a sack. He made six tackles with one sack and two QB pressures against No. 15 Tennessee.
Sophomore Justin Williams posted a career-high six stops versus UK, collected five tackles at MSU and made four stops against No. 10 Texas. He had a team-best five tackles against Charlotte.
Freshman Zayden Walker has come on of late. He made an impact at MSU, tallying a career-high three stops. Then, he picked up his first career sack in the win over No. 10 Texas plus forced a fumble.
A Passing Grade
Georgia’s opponents are averaging 204.8 passing yards per game and have thrown for 11 TDs this season. Recently, No. 23 Ga. Tech finished with 181 passing yards and no TDs with just two completions over 25 yards. Redshirt freshman Ellis Robinson IV notched his team-best fourth INT, which ties him for the SEC lead with Bray Hubbard (UA) and Ty Bryant (UK).
The Bulldog defense has eight interceptions and generated 17 sacks.
Georgia was tested often in SEC play. Against No. 10 Texas, the Longhorns had 251 yards on 43 attempts but only one catch was more than 25 yards. The Bulldogs had three sacks against UT who finished 2-for-12 on 3rd Downs and 2-for-3 on 4th Downs.
Georgia limited MSU to 173 passing yards and no TD catches. MSU was averaging 250.6 passing yards and posted just two explosive plays (20+ yards) with only one of those via the pass and that was late in the 4th quarter.
The top passing attack to date came at No. 15 Tennessee as the Vols were averaging 352 yards, and Joey Aguilar tallied 371 yards in a shootout. Coming in to that game, the Bulldogs had not allowed a passing TD, and the Vols collected four on the day including three big ones that covered 32, 56 and 72 yards.
Junior Joenel Aguero, who made a career-best seven tackles versus the Vols, and sophomore KJ Bolden came up with interceptions in the road win. This duo was tested in the road win over MSU. Bolden made a career-high 10 stops and recovered a fumble while Aguero tied his career high with seven tackles.
Ty Simpson and No. 17 UA netted 280 passing yards, completing 25 of 39 attempts plus featured a 68% conversion rate (13-of-19) on 3rd Down.
Kentucky completed 25-of-41 passes for 225 yards and two scores. Robinson IV had an INT plus a career-high four tackles. Robinson had his team-high fourth INT in the win over No. 23 Tech.
In Georgia’s win at Auburn, the Tigers were 19-for-31 for 137 yards and one sack. Their longest completions was 18 yards. No. 5 Ole Miss threw for 263 yards and one TD (a 75-yard strike to start the 2nd half for a 28-20 lead).
Senior Daylen Everette, the MVP of the 2024 SEC Championship Game, entered 2025 with a team-best 28 consecutive starts but that was snapped when he missed the opener due to an injury and returned for week two. He made six stops against No. 17 UA and five against AU to lead the secondary.
Sophomore Kyron Jones, senior JaCorey Thomas, junior Daniel Harris, redshirt freshman Demello Jones and true freshman Rasean Dinkins have seen the most action.
Kyron Jones, who started the first six games and posted a career-high 10 stops at UT, injured his foot the week of the Ole Miss game and has been out. Thomas has started the past six games. Against UF, Zion Branch made six stops while Thomas had five. After missing the MSU game, Demello Jones returned and made four stops and a PBU versus No. 10 Texas.
We’re Going For It!
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down Conversion attempts (92-for-144) with 17 TDs.
In 2025, Georgia is 11-for-15 with 3 TDs on 4th Down to rank 6th nationally at 73%. One impressive conversion came against #5 Texas with Georgia leading 14-10 late in the 3rd quarter on a 4th-and-1 at the UGA 36. Gunner Stockton completed a 10-yard pass to Chauncey Bowens. The Bulldogs would later score on the drive and go on to win 35-10.
The Bulldogs were 2-for-3 on 4th Down in the win at Auburn including a 4th-and-1 at the AU 37 that helped set up the go-ahead 53-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter. Also, there was a 4th-and-3 at the AU 40 with 5:14 left in the contest. It was part of the clinching go-ahead TD drive that lasted a school record-tying eight minutes and 45 seconds.
Down 38-30 with 2:38 remaining in the game against No. 15 Tennesseee in Knoxville, Georgia converted a 4th-and-6 at the UT 28 for a TD (Stockton pass-to-Humphreys). Also that day, Georgia trailed 21-7 in the 1st quarter and converted a 4th-and-3 at the UGA 48.
Did You Know? The only other fourth quarter 4th down conversion featuring a TD pass when Georgia was behind under Smart came in 2016 at Missouri. The Bulldogs trailed 27-21 with 1:31 left in the game and faced a 4th-and-10. Jacob Eason hit Isaiah McKenzie for a 20-yard TD in a 28-27 win.
In 2024, Georgia led the SEC and ranked 16th nationally in 4th Down Conversions at 67% (18-for-27 with 4 TDs).
G’day Mate! Thorson Proving To Be Among Nation’s Elite
With elite distance, hang time, placement and a strong coverage unit, All-America senior punter Brett Thorson and the Bulldogs rank 9th nationally in Net Punting at 43.1. On Nov. 25, Thorson was named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation’s top punter, for the second straight year.
Boomed a season-long 66-yarder versus Florida in Jacksonville and 60-yarders versus UK, at AU, versus Charlotte and at No. 23 Tech to give him eight of those in his career. Four times in his career, Georgia hasn’t had to punt in a game, the most recent time was in the win over No 5. Ole Miss this season.
Thorson’s career average of 45.5 (6,604/145) is very close to the school record held by Jake Camarda (45.8 from 2018-21). Also, Camarda holds the school record for Career Net Average at 41.5, and Thorson could own that mark as he currently owns a 42.8 average.
Against No. 23 Tech last Friday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Thorson posted a 51.2 average on four punts with a long of 61, no returns and one touchback.
In his first two games in 2025, Thorson was named to the “Ray’s 8,” the weekly Ray Guy Award group. At #15 Tennessee, he had three punts for a 47.7 average including a long of 52 with two placed inside the 20 and no return yards.
In the 2024 SEC Championship Game, Thorson’s season ended due to a knee injury during a return after a punt. He missed the 2025 opener while still recovering with redshirt freshman Drew Miller serving as the punter. Thorson returned to his starting role in week two versus Austin Peay.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Thorson was a 2024 finalist for the Ray Guy Award (47.6 avg. on 42 punts, the second best mark in school history).
Thorson’s social media features a comedic slant about his lack of playing time because the Bulldogs punted a record low 32 times in 2023 (14 games) and 36 punts in 2022 (15 games), the two lowest totals dating to at least 1948.
Along with Cole Speer, gunners in 2025 have included KJ Bolden, London Humphreys, Daniel Harris, Jeremy Bell and Talyn Taylor.
Single Game Career Highs For Thorson
Punts: 6 (UK24)
Long: 75 (Tenn22)
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 54.0 on four (@ #1 Texas24) with minus 5 PR yards
Single Game Career Highs For Miller
Punts: 6 (MU25)
Long: 54 (MU 25)
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 48.0 on six (MU25) with 14 PR yards
#at least two punts
Geaux Dawgs
Junior All-SEC specialist Peyton Woodring, a native of Lafayette, La., is a three-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist. This year, he has twice been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Woodring’s Career FG% of 89.06% (57-of-64) is on track for a school record as the current mark belongs to Rodrigo Blankenship who posted an 82.47% from 2016-19, making 80-of-97 attempts. Blankenship holds the Georgia and SEC record for Career PATs, going 200-for-200. Woodring ranks second in school history as he’s 165-for-165 in PATs.
In 2025, he has a team-high 91 points (15-16 on FGs, 46-for-46 on PATs, 72 Kickoffs, 52 Touchbacks, 4 Out of Bounds).
Scored 10 points (3 FGs, 1 PAT) in 16-9 win over No. 23 Ga. Tech
Successful onside kick against No. 10 Texas when No. 5 Georgia led 21-10 in the 4th quarter on its way to a 35-10 victory, first one recovered since 2013.
Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after Georgia’s 41-21 rout of MSU in Starkville, scoring 11 points including a 46- and 49-yard field goals.
Scored 13 points in 43-35 win over #5 OM, hit a 51-yard FG on opening drive, a 35-yarder to end the first half to cut the deficit to one and nailed a 42-yarder to extend lead to eight with 2:06 left to play.
Tallied eight points and hit a season-long 53-yard FG in the 20-10 win at AU. Missed a 45-yarder which snapped a streak of 10 straight field goals made.
Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in 44-41 OT win at #15 Tennessee with 12 points including a 48-yard FG plus eight kickoffs, all touchbacks.
Returns have been rare but Cash Jones, Kyron Jones, Raylen Wilson, Justin Williams and Chris Cole have made special teams tackles.
Did You Know?
After missing three of his first seven field goal attempts as a freshman in 2023, he’s been good on 53 of his past 57 FG (3 of those misses were from 50+ yards while one was from 45 yards).
Single Game Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 9 (vs. FSU23, Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
FGA: 3 (10x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS ’25)
FGM: 3 (8x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS ’25)
LG: 55 (vs. Clemson ’24 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Redshirt senior Liam Badger and freshman Connor Ferguson are options too. Ferguson made his debut with the final kickoff versus Marshall.
Did You Know?
Georgia’s last game-winning field goal with two minutes or less to play came in the 2021 Peach Bowl against undefeated and No. 8 Cincinnati. Jack Podlesny hit a 53 yarder with three seconds left for a 22-21 lead. The Bulldogs would register a safety on the last play for a 24-21 final.
Georgia’s All-Time Overtime Record (11-7)
Home: 2-2; Away: 5-2; Neutral: 4-3
Bowl Game/CFP: 3-2 !SEC Games: 4-4
!Includes SECCG & CFP National Championship)
The Bulldogs are 3-2 in overtime games under Kirby Smart. Georgia’s complete overtime history can be found on page 110 of the media guide.
Overtime In The Kirby Smart Era (4-2)
Home: 1-1; Away: 1-0; Neutral: 2-1
(Bowl Game/CFP: 1-1; *SEC Games: 2-2)
Includes SECCG & CFP National Championship)
Jan. 1, 2018: #3 Georgia beat #2 Oklahoma 54-48 (2-OT) in Pasadena, Calif. (CFP Semifinal: Rose Bowl Game)
Jan. 8. 2018: #4 Alabama beat #3 Georgia 26-23 in Atlanta, Ga. (CFP National Championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Oct. 12, 2019: S.C. beat #3 Georgia 20-17 (2-OT) in Athens, Ga.
Nov. 29, 2024: #7 Georgia beat Ga. Tech 44-42 (8-OT, SEC Record) in Athens, Ga.
Dec. 7, 2024: #2 Georgia beat #5 Texas 22-19 in Atlanta, Ga. (SEC Championship, Mercedez-Benz Stadium)
Sept. 13, 2025: #6 Georgia beat #15 Tennessee 44-41 in Knoxville, Tenn.
2025 SEC Legends Class Features Randy Johnson
On Oct. 22, the Southeastern Conference announced its 2025 SEC Football Legends class presented by T-Mobile, an assemblage of former football standouts who will be honored at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta in December. The 2025 Legends class includes 16 former stars who excelled on the gridiron for their respective school.
Randy Johnson (UGA 1973-75), a native of Rome, Ga., was a standout offensive lineman who earned consensus All-America honors in 1975. He was a two-time First Team All-SEC selection, earned the Jacobs Blocking Award and was named the SEC Lineman of the Year in his career. After playing three seasons in the NFL, he dedicated 30 years to teaching and coaching before retiring. He was inducted into Georgia’s Circle of Honor in 2021.
Big Plays (25+ yards) In 2025
Georgia has 22 big plays. Opponents have 19.
The longest each game is listed below.
G1: 3 (47-yd. TD pass Stockton-Branch);
MU: 2 (44-yd. pass, Turner-Bradshaw)
G2: None;
AP: 2 (34-yd. pass Parson-Robinson)
G3: 5 (45-yd. pass Stockton-Young);
UT: 5 (72-yd. TD pass Aguilar-Brazzell II)
G4: 4 (43-yd. rush by Bell & Bowens);
UA: 1 (27-yd. pass Simpson-Riley)
G5: 4 (36-yd. pass Stockton-Delp);
UK: 2 (38-yd. pass Boley-Law)
G6: 1 (30-yd. pass Stockton-Thomas);
AU: 1 (27-yd. rush by Arnold)
G7: 3 (36-yd. pass Stockton-Young; Stockton-Bell)
OM: 2 (75-yd. TD pass Chambliss-Stribling)
G8: 2 (42-yd. pass Stockton-Branch)
UF: 4 (40-yd. TD pass Lagway-Wilson III)
G9: 6 (64-yd. TD pass Stockton-Thomas)
MSU: 1 (57-yd. pass Taylor-Thompson)
G10: 4 (44-yd. KOR Branch)
UT: 1 (40-yd. pass Manning-Mosley V)
G11: 3 (38-yd. pass Stockton-Thomas)
CHAR: 2 (38-yd. pass Loftis-Mason)
G12: None
GT: 2 (30-yd. pass King-Seither)
Points Off Turnovers In 2025
Georgia is -1 in Turnover Margin.
Georgia has 27 points off 11 turnovers.
Opponents have 32 points off 12 turnovers.
MU: No turnovers by either team
AP: No points off 1 TO; AP got 3 points off 2 TO
UT: 3 points off 2 TO; UT got 3 points off 2 TO
UA: No Turnovers; UA got 3 points 1 TO
UK: 7 points off 2 TO; UK got 7 points off 2 TO
@ AU: 3 points off 1 TO; AU did not force any TO
#5 OM: No TO by either team
vs. UF: No TO forced; UF got 3 points off 1 TO
@ MSU: 7 points off 1 TO; MSU no points off 1 TO
#10 UT: No points off 1 TO; TX got 7 points off 1 TO
CHAR: 7 points off 2 TO; CHAR 3 points off 1 TO
@ #23 GT: No points off 1 TO; GT 3 points off 1 TO
ALABAMA NOTES:
INSIDE THE SERIES Overall: 76th Meeting (Alabama leads, 45-26-4) In SEC Championship Games: Alabama leads, 4-0 Current Streak: Alabama, Won 3 Last Meeting: Sept. 27, 2025 – Athens (W, 24-21) Series Notes: Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 76th time in series history and second time this season when the two teams square off on Saturday afternoon inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Crimson Tide owns a 45-26-4 all-time advantage in the series, including a 4-0 mark in SEC Championship Games. Alabama came out on top, 24-21, earlier this season when the Tide and Dawgs met in Athens and claimed a 27-24 victory in the most recent pairing in Atlanta in 2023. Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is 2-0 against the Bulldogs, while UGA head coach Kirby Smart is 1-7 all-time against the Tide.
RANKED ON RANKED: Head coach Kalen DeBoer owns a 15-3 (.833) record in 18 career games as a head coach in ranked matchups at the Division I level. DeBoer’s .833 winning percentage stands as the best winning percentage among all active head coaches that have appeared in at least 10 ranked matchups. NEUTRAL SITES: Alabama is 99-53-4 (.647) all-time in 156 neutral site contests. The list includes all AlabamaAuburn games not played on campus, including Legion Field from 1948-88. Head coach Kalen DeBoer has produced a 4-2 record in six career neutral site games at the FBS level. DOME SWEET DOME: The Crimson Tide is 35-8-1 (.806) all-time in domed stadiums. Since 2008, Alabama owns a 27-5 (.843) record in domes, including a 26-2 (.928) mark since 2009. In five career FBS games inside a domed stadium, head coach Kalen DeBoer is 4-1. ALABAMA IN THE ATL: Alabama boasts an 18-1 record in games played in Atlanta since 2007, including 17 straight wins. The Crimson Tide is 7-0 in Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games, 9-1 in SEC Championship Games, 1-0 in the Peach Bowl and 1-0 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game during that stretch with the lone loss coming to UF in 2008. TIDE TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS: Alabama produced four consecutive victories over Associated Press Top 25 conference opponents in as many weeks following the Tide’s 37-20 win over then-No. 11 Tennessee on Oct. 18. UA’s streak of ranked wins over SEC foes also included a 27-24 win at then-No. 14 Missouri on Oct. 11, a 30-14 win over then-No. 16 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4 and a 24-21 victory at then-No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27. The Crimson Tide is the first team in SEC history to defeat four straight ranked opponents with no open dates. Alabama also became the fourth team in SEC history to defeat four consecutive ranked opponents including open dates, with the Tide also accomplishing the feat in 2016. BUILDING A RÉSUMÉ: Alabama boasts a superlative résumé entering Week 15. The Crimson Tide stands as one of just four teams in the nation with three wins over opponents ranked in the current AP Top 25. The Tide is also on a shortlist of four teams nationwide with five wins over Power 4 opponents that currently hold a winning record. As well, Alabama represents one of five teams in the country to produce at least four wins over opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 at time of the game. The Tide is also one of only four programs responsible for three wins over teams currently ranked in the CFP Top 25 and is one of only three teams with two defeats to own a win over an opponent currently situated in the Top 10 of the CFP rankings. TEN WIN PLATEAU: Alabama secured its 10th win of the 2025 season following the Tide’s 27-20 victory at Auburn on Nov. 29, marking UA’s 17th 10-win season over the last 18 years. In the 16 previous 10-plus win seasons, the Crimson Tide finished with a 12-2 record in 2008, 2014 and 2023; 14-0 in 2009; 10-3 in 2010; 12-1 in 2011; 13-1 in 2012 and 2017; 11-2 in 2013, 2019 and 2022; 14-1 in 2015, 2016 and 2018; and 13-0 in 2020. ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: The Crimson Tide’s No. 10 ranking in the Week 15 edition of the Associated Press Poll marked the 293rd consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 293 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 147 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 293 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 105 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid1990s.
ALABAMA IN THE AP SINCE 2008: Alabama began the 2008 season at No. 24 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide opened the year with a dominant 34-10 win over then-No. 9 Clemson in Atlanta, and since that win over the Tigers, UA has not exited the 292 polls that have followed. According to the College Poll Archive, the Tide is the only team to be represented on all 293 editions of the poll from the start of the 2008 season to the current week. The next closest team is Ohio State with 278 appearances followed by Oklahoma at 259. Alabama has spent 91.8 percent of the 18-plus years ranked in the top 10. A whopping 76.5 percent of that time Alabama has been ranked in the top five. The Crimson Tide has also been ranked No. 1 a total of 110 times since 2008. Only 15 other teams have earned the No. 1 ranking over that time, with the second-most appearances coming from Georgia at 40, while Ohio State owns the third-most appearances at 27. ALABAMA HAS THE MOST WINS SINCE 2008: Dating back to the start of the 2008 season, Alabama has won 218 games, which is the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. That sum is 14 more than Ohio State, who owns the next-closest win total over that stretch at 204.
DEBOER NAMED TO “BEAR” BRYANT WATCH LIST: Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was named to the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List, the AHA announced Oct. 15. DeBoer is among 28 head coaches within college football named to the “Bear” Bryant Award Watch List, an honor given to a coach whose contributions make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field. The winner of the 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, during the Association’s annual Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony, in Houston, Texas. The ceremony, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System, will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. Alabama has had two previous winners of the Bryant Award, first with Gene Stallings in 1992 followed by Nick Saban in 2020. WOMMACK TABBED BROYLES AWARD SEMIFINALIST: Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Broyles Award, the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation announced Dec. 2. Wommack is one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles, an award recognizing college football’s top assistant coach. The winner of the 30th annual Broyles Award will be announced live during a formal ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Hot Springs, Ark. Alabama has produced three Broyles recipients in its history, including Steve Sarkisian (2020), Mike Locksley (2018) and Kirby Smart (2009). NOT SINCE 1931: Head coach Kalen DeBoer produced a 9-4 record in his inaugural season at the Capstone. DeBoer’s nine wins finished tied for the most by a first-year head coach at Alabama, sharing the feat with Frank Thomas, who won nine games in his initial season leading the Crimson Tide in 1931. ALWAYS IN THE HUNT: Since the 2008 season, Alabama has played in 207 of 213 regular season games that have had national championship implications. The final three games of the 2010 campaign and the final three weeks of the 2022 schedule marked the only six regular season contests without direct national championship implications over the last 17 seasons.
WEEKLY HONORS FOR SIMPSON AFTER UGA: Quarterback Ty Simpson garnered numerous weekly honors following Alabama’s 24-21 victory at then-No. 5/3 Georgia on Sept. 27. The Tide’s starting signal-caller completed 24-of-38 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding 12 rushing yards and a touchdown on four carries in the road win. Simpson’s week began by being named the SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29. That same day, Simpson earned Panini Senior Bowl Player of the Week honors while also being chosen among eight quarterbacks as one of the Manning Award’s ‘Stars of the Week’. On Sept. 30, the Martin, Tenn., native picked up additional accolades, including being recognized as the Maxwell Player of the Week as well as the Davey O’Brien National Player of the Week. PERFECT FROM THE POCKET: Ty Simpson finished a perfect 17-of-17 for 226 yards and three touchdowns in Alabama’s 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. Simpson became just the third quarterback in SEC history to manage a perfect 100 percent completion percentage following a minimum of 10 passing attempts, as his 17 completions on as many attempts are the most by a quarterback in league history. Simpson surpassed LSU’s Rohan Davey, who completed 11-of-11 passes against Western Carolina in 2000. CONSECUTIVE COMPLETIONS: After a perfect weekend against ULM, Ty Simpson carried his streak of 17 consecutive completions into the following week’s contest against Wisconsin on Sept. 13. Simpson completed his first pass against the Badgers to extend his streak to 18 consecutive completions before an incompletion on his second attempt. Simpson’s 18 consecutive completions trail only Mac Jones’ program record of 19 consecutive completions that spanned Oct. 17-24, 2020, against Georgia and Tennessee. MIDSEASON AA HONORS FOR TY: Ty Simpson garnered multiple Midseason All-American honors from various outlets for his play over the Tide’s fist six contests. On Oct. 15, Simpson was named a First Team Midseason All-American by the Associated Press, Athlon Sports and The Sporting News, in addition to earning second-team honors from Sports Illustrated. MR. RELIABLE: Germie Bernard was one of the most consistent wideouts in college football a season ago and has maintained his form in 2025. After leading all Tide receivers in receptions (50) and finishing second in receiving yards (794) last season, Bernard currently paces UA wideouts in receptions (51) and receiving yards (700) while ranking second in receiving touchdowns (6). The Nevada native has also produced 101 rushing yards on 17 carries with two rushing scores while completing two passes for 15 yards on his only two attempts. The senior’s six receiving touchdowns are tied for seventh in the SEC while his eight total touchdowns are tied for 14th among all SEC players. Additionally, Bernard leads all Tide pass-catchers with a 63.6 receiving yards per game mark. HORTON KEEPS SCORIN’: Isaiah Horton has turned into an impact player for the Tide after transferring from Miami this summer. In 12 games, Horton has accumulated 34 receptions for 418 yards with a team-leading eight touchdowns. The Tennessee native’s eight touchdown catches are third-most among SEC pass-catchers and rank 21st in the nation. Horton managed three touchdown receptions at Auburn on Nov. 29, becoming the first Alabama player since Jameson Williams in 2021 to reel in three receiving scores, while also becoming just the third player in the last 30 seasons to produce three receiving touchdowns in the Iron Bowl, joining Jaylen Waddle (2019) and Amari Cooper (2014).
ANOTHER ONE FOR BRAILSFORD: Alabama’s Parker Brailsford was named the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced Nov. 10. The honor was the second of the 2025 campaign for Brailsford, who picked up identical honors following Alabama’s 30-14 win over then-No. 16/17 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4. Brailsford provided key blocks in the Crimson Tide’s 20-9 win over LSU on Nov. 8, playing all 64 snaps at center. The redshirt junior did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure against the Tigers’ defensive front, registering six knockdown blocks in the win. The weekly honor is the second of Brailsford’s Alabama tenure. NO BETTER CENTER: Center Parker Brailsford was named to The Sporting News’ Midseason AllAmerica Team, the outlet announced on Oct. 15. At the time of the announcement, Brailsford had yet to allow a sack across 245 pass blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus, in addition to providing key blocks for an offense that was averaging 126.5 rushing yards per game. BRAILSFORD NAMED SEC O-LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Parker Brailsford was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Oct. 6 following the Tide’s 30-14 win over then-No. 16/17 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4. Brailsford played all 69 offensive snaps against the Commodores without surrendering a sack, pressure or quarterback hit in the victory. The weekly SEC honor was the first in the collegiate career of the Arizona native. THE BIG GUY: Alabama left tackle Kadyn Proctor has been among the most impactful offensive lineman in the country so far in 2025. Since Week 2, Proctor has allowed just two quarterback hits over his last 435 passing snaps while manning Ty Simpson’s blind side. The intimidating left tackle has amassed an 83.6 overall grade from PFF, the second-highest grade among all SEC offensive tackles and the 10th-best grade among all Division I tackles. Proctor has also managed five carries for 16 yards, with three of the five runs converting Tide first downs. PROCTOR NAMED LOMBARDI FINALIST: Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor was selected as a finalist for the Lombardi Award, the Rotary Club of Houston announced Nov. 18. Proctor is one of four finalists for the Lombardi, which is presented annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi. The winner of the 2025 Lombardi Award will be announced during a formal dinner and awards ceremony in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Alabama has had three Lombardi winners in program history including Cornelius Bennett (1986), Jonathan Allen (2016) and most recently Will Anderson Jr. (2022). MIDSEASON HONORS FOR KP: Kadyn Proctor received numerous Midseason All-America honors leading into the Tennessee matchup. On Oct. 13, Proctor was first named a First Team Midseason All-American by CBS Sports before being bestowed identical honors from the Associated Press, Athlon Sports and Sports Illustrated on Oct. 15. Prior to the All-American reveal, Proctor had allowed just one quarterback hit and quarterback hurry over his last 190 passing snaps, including three notable carries for 15 yards with all three runs converting a trio of Alabama first downs.
CRIMSON COUNTDOWN: The Alabama offense owns an average time of possession of 33:07 over its first 12 games, the second-best time of possession average in the SEC and the 10th-best figure in the country. RAIDING THE AIR: The Alabama quarterback room is averaging 278.3 passing yards per game over its first 12 contests, the fourth-highest average in the SEC and the 17th-best figure in the nation. BORN TO RUN: The Crimson Tide produced eight rushing touchdowns en route to a 56-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Nov. 22. Alabama’s eight rushing scores were the most in a single game since producing nine rushing touchdowns at Vanderbilt in 1979. AERIAL ASSAULT: Alabama saw three different quarterbacks produce seven touchdown passes in the Tide’s 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. The seven touchdowns through the air matched UA’s program record for touchdown passes in a single game previously set against Southern Miss on Nov. 11, 1950. 400+ YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE: Alabama has gained 400-plus yards of total offense in 78 of its last 108 games, dating back to the start of the 2018 season. The Crimson Tide produced 400-plus yards of total offense for the fifth time this season against Eastern Illinois, posting 539 total yards on Nov. 22. Earlier this season, the Tide managed 406 yards of offense against then-No. 11/11/10 Oklahoma, 486 yards of offense against thenNo.16/17 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4, 454 yards against Wisconsin on Sept. 13, as well as finishing with 583 total yards against ULM on Sept. 6. In the 30 instances where the offense did not go over 400 yards, Alabama is 22-8. 500+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: Alabama has eclipsed 500 yards of offense in 62 games since the start of the 2015 season, including twice in 2025. The Tide managed 539 yards of offense in the Tide’s 56-0 win against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 22, having also produced 583 yards of offense in the 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. The 62 instances include three games in 2024 when UA went for 500-plus against Western Kentucky (600), Georgia (547) and Mercer (508). The Crimson Tide accumulated 500-plus twice in 2023 along with seven times apiece in both 2022 and 2021. Additionally, the Tide went for 500-or-better eight times in 2020 and nine times in 2019, with the 2018 roster setting the Alabama single-season record with 500-or-more yards in 12 contests. 600+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: Alabama totaled 600 yards of offense in the 63-0 win over Western Kentucky to open the 2024 campaign. The 600-plus yard performance marked the 15th instance in program history that the Tide has been at or above 600 yards. MOST PPG SINCE 2018: Alabama has produced a scoring average of 40.5 points per game in 108 games since 2018, the highest scoring margin among all Division I teams in that span. Ohio State owns the next highest points per game mark over that time, managing a 40.3 points per game average.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES: TEXAS TECH VS. BYU
TEXAS TECH NOTES:
#4 TEXAS TECH vs. #11 BYU
Arlington, Texas | AT&T Stadium (80,000)
Dec. 6, 2025
ABC | 11 a.m. CST
LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 4 Texas Tech (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) and No. 11 BYU (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) will face each other for the second time this season Saturday at 11 a.m. when the two teams meet in the Edward Jones Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, vying for their first Big 12 title, respectively, and an automatic berth to the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders, who previously downed the Cougars, 29-7, less than a month ago, are seeking their 12th conference championship in program history and their first outright title since claiming the Border Conference crown in 1955.
The national television broadcast on ABC will feature play-by-play commentator Joe Tessitore and analyst Jesse Palmer in the booth; meanwhile, Kris Budden and Katie George will be reporting from the sideline. The broadcast can also be accessed using the ESPN App, from any desktop or laptop computer, personal cellular device, or television streaming service.
Texas Tech Sports Network will also broadcast the game over 46 affiliates throughout the state of Texas and New Mexico, as Brian Jensen will have the call alongside analyst John Harris and sideline reporter Chris Level. The home radio broadcast can be heard on SiriusXM channel 84, while the national radio broadcast featuring Mike Couzens, Max Starks, and Mike Peasley will air on SiriusXM channel 80. The Varsity app can also be used to find the home radio broadcast by searching for “Texas Tech”.
THERE’S ALWAYS A FIRST TIME
In the now 101 seasons of Texas Tech Football, the Red Raiders have not faced an opponent twice in the same year. BYU will become the first school to do so when the Red Raiders and Cougars meet Saturday with a Big 12 title on the line.
TEXAS TECH VS. BYU: PART I
Preceded by College Gameday hosting its first show in Lubbock since 2008, Stone Harrington kicked a school-record five field goals and standout Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had two takeaways as then-No. 9 Texas Tech beat then-No. 8 BYU 29-7. The Red Raiders held the previously undefeated Cougars to a season-low 255 total yards.
Texas Tech’s Behren Morton passed for 216 yards and threw a 9-yard touchdown to Caleb Douglas while Cameron Dickey ran for 121 yards and a 1-yard score.
Harrington kicked field goals of 47, 39, 34, 29 and 27 yards.
Rodriguez, the FBS leader with seven forced fumbles, had an interception midway through the third period, leading to Harrington’s fourth field goal. He recovered a backward pass late in the fourth quarter that set up Harrington’s final kick.
BYU’s 10-game winning streak dating back to 2024 was snapped, but it avoided its first shutout since 2017 when Bear Bachmeier threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Roberts midway through the fourth quarter.
The Cougars went into the game third in the FBS in turnover margin at plus-1.25. They lost two fumbles, threw an interception, and muffed a punt.
Bachmeier was 23 of 38 passing for 188 yards. The true freshman also had two turnovers, the interception and a backward pass for a fumble.
THE NATION’S MOST DOMINANT TEAM
Texas Tech’s path to the Big 12 Championship has seen the Red Raiders become one of the most dominant teams in recent memory, with 11 wins by at least 20 points this season.
Texas Tech is only the sixth team in the past 100 years (since 1925) to win at least 11 regular-season games by at least 20 points, joining Nebraska (1971), Florida (2008), Florida State (2013), Alabama (2018) and Ohio State (2019).
The Red Raiders currently lead the nation with an average margin of victory of 35.2 points, ahead of fellow top-five team Indiana (33.4).
GET HIM TO NYC: J-ROD FOR HEISMAN
They say Heisman contenders play their best in November. If that’s so, count Jacob Rodriguez in already meeting that criteria as he has been responsible for nine takeaways in Big 12 play alone, including five during Texas Tech’s current five-game winning streak.
Rodriguez, who is the only FBS player since 2005 to have five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions in the same season, is the driving force behind one of the nation’s top defenses that ranks tied for second with 27 takeaways and third with only 11.3 points allowed.
FIRST GOAL ACCOMPLISHED
Texas Tech began this season with the ultimate goal of finding its way to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the site of this weekend’s Big 12 Championship game. Texas Tech ultimately earned a trip to the league title game after finishing 8-1 in Big 12 play, marking the most conference wins in program history.
This is only the third time Texas Tech has boasted seven or more conference wins as the Red Raiders finished with a 7-1 record in both 1976 and again in 2008. The Red Raiders had won six or more games only once – last season – since the Big 12 moved to a nine-game conference schedule in 2011.
Prior to last season, Texas Tech had only two seasons with six or more Big 12 victories, which came during the 2005 (6-2) and 2008 (7-1) campaigns under Mike Leach when the conference maintained an eight-game league schedule.
RED RAIDERS SEEKING 12TH LEAGUE TITLE
Texas Tech will be searching for its 12th conference title in program history Saturday and its first outright league crown since the Red Raiders were champions of the Border Conference in 1955. Texas Tech won nine Border Conference titles before departing for the Southwest Conference beginning with the 1960 football season.
The Red Raiders shared two Southwest Conference championships during his 30-plus years in the league, splitting the league crown with Houston in 1976 and then with the likes of Texas, Baylor and TCU in 1994. Since joining the Big 12 Conference in 1996, the Red Raiders have only shared a South Division crown in 2008.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
1: Texas Tech is the only team to rank in the top five in the FBS this season in scoring offense, scoring defense and takeaways per game. Florida was the last team to do so in 2008.
2: Texas Tech has two victories over 10-win teams this season in Utah and BYU, matching the total for Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon and Texas A&M combined.
4: Texas Tech has held three different conference opponents to single-digit point totals this season, which matches the most in school history.
10: Texas Tech is 10-0 this season when senior quarterback Behren Morton starts in 2025.
85: Texas Tech enters this weekend as the FBS leader with 85 offensive plays from scrimmage that have gone for 20 or more yards, including 57 through the air.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Despite meeting for the second time this season, this will be only the fourth contest all-time between the Red Raiders and BYU. Texas Tech is now 2-1 against the Cougars, with a 21-20 victory all the way back in 1940 and then a 29-7 victory at home earlier this season with College Gameday on hand. BYU’s lone win in the series came via a 27-14 victory in 2023 during the Cougars’ debut season as Big 12 members.
Texas Tech’s victory over BYU in 1940 was part of a memorable 9-1-1 season for the Red Raiders in their final season under then head coach Pete Cawthon. It was the third of eight consecutive victories that season for the Red Raiders, who would not face the Cougars again for 80-plus years.
Texas Tech had never played a football game in the state of Utah prior to their trip to Provo midway through the 2023 season. The Cougars jumped out to a 24-7 lead at halftime en route to dropping the Red Raiders to 3-5 on the season thanks to a 27-14 victory. Texas Tech responded by winning its next three games to finish the regular season at 6-6 overall before a victory over Cal in the Independence Bowl.
The two teams have both started a true freshman at quarterback in the two meetings since BYU joined the Big 12 in 2023. Jake Strong became the seventh true freshman in school to start a game at quarterback and the fifth to do so against a conference opponent when he led the Red Raiders in the 2023 meeting. BYU has started a true freshman in Bear Bachmeier, in all 12 games this season, including in the earlier matchup in Lubbock less than a month ago.
TEXAS TECH-BYU CONNECTIONS
Texas Tech outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You has several family ties to BYU as his father, Charles Ah You, and his two brothers, Matt and Charles, all played for the Cougars. C.J. Ah You began his playing career at BYU before transferring to Oklahoma, where he was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2005. In addition to his two brothers and father, C.J. Ah You has also had numerous other cousins and other family members play for the Cougars, including a nephew, Chaz, who was part of the BYU program when the Red Raiders traveled to Provo in 2023.
C.J. Ah You will have his brother, Jasen Ah You, on the opposite side of Saturday’s game, as he is currently an Assistant Athletics Director of football academics for the Cougars. In his role, Jasen Ah You oversees the academic progress of each Cougar football student-athlete. He also plays a pivotal role in celebrating the BYU legacy as part of the BYU Varsity Club before each home game.
Texas Tech running backs coach Garret McGuire also has one tie to the BYU staff in tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride, as the two were part of Matt Rhule’s staff with the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Gilbride was the tight ends coach for the Panthers that season, while McGuire was in his second year with the organization as an offensive assistant.
BYU NOTES:
THE SERIES. BYU and Texas Tech are facing off for just the fourth time in the series, with Texas Tech winning the matchup during the regular season, 29-7 in Lubbock earlier this year. Texas Tech won back in 1940 while the Cougars won the lone game in Provo 27-14 win in 2023. This is the first matchup at a neutral site. BYU’S CFP RESUME. The Cougars are currently ranked No. 11 in the College Football Playoff Rankings, awaiting Tuesday’s update. BYU has earned its 11-1 record with consistent and resilient complementary football in 2025 to build its playoff resume. • BYU is one of two teams (Oregon) in the FBS with 4 or more road wins against bowl-eligible teams this season. Oklahoma (2), Alabama (2), Notre Dame (1). • BYU has 6 wins vs. FBS teams with winning records, tied for the most among teams ranked in the CFP. Ohio State (6), Indiana (5), Notre Dame (5), Alabama (5), Miami (4), Ole Miss (3) Vanderbilt (3). • BYU has more double-digit margin wins with 8 than Alabama (6) and Oklahoma (6). • BYU is one of two teams in nation with its only loss coming on the road against a CFP top-10 ranked team (BYU and Ole Miss). • BYU owns the No. 6 Strength of Record (ESPN Power Football Index), ranking just behind Georgia (No. 5) and ahead of Ole Miss (No. 7), Alabama (No. 8), Oklahoma (No. 9), Texas Tech (10), Vanderbilt (11), Texas (12), Notre Dame (No. 13) and Miami (No. 14). • BYU’s Strength of Schedule ranks No. 35 (ESPN Power Football Index), ahead of Ole Miss (40), Notre Dame (42), Indiana (45), Ohio State (46) and Texas Tech (59).
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS. BYU is playing for its 24th conference championship in school history, and would be its first in the Big 12 Conference. The last time BYU won a conference title was 2007 in the Mountain West Conference. The last time BYU played in a conference championship game was back in 1998 in the Western Athletic Conference against Air Force. REMATCHES. BYU is getting a second chance at Texas Tech after falling int he regular season. The last time BYU played a team in a rematch from the regular season was 2007 against UCLA. The Cougars lost to the Bruins in September 27-17 and faced them again in the Las Vegas Bowl that same season. BYU won the rematch 17-16 thanks to a blocked field goal by defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna.
BY THE NUMBERS: 17.8 BYU is No. 14 nationally in scoring defense at 17.8 points allowed per game. The Cougars are No. 2 in the Big 12 in scoring defense. 16 The Cougar defense has 16 interceptions on the year and ranks No. 9 nationally. BYU led the nation with 22 picks in 2024 and have finished in the top 20 in three of the past four seasons. 324.6 BYU is the No. 29 total defense in the country, allowing an average of 324.6 yards per game after 12 games and No. 3 the Big 12. 32.3 BYU has allowed a third down conversion rate of 32.3 after 12 games, ranking No. 16 in the country and No. 2 in the Big 12. The Cougars have allowed 51 conversions in 158 attempts. BYU held TCU to 1 of 10 (10 percent), it’s worst percentage since 2016. 41.86 BYU’s red zone TD defense ranks No. 8 nationally and tops in the Big 12, allowing a TD rate of 41.86 percent. Opponents have reached the red zone 43 times scored touchdowns just 18 times. Overall, BYU ranks No. 8 in red zone defense, allowing points on 31 of 30 red zone trips (72.1 percent). 205.6 The Cougar passing defense ranks No. 46 in passing yards allowed per game at 205.6 BYU held TCU to a season-low 183 passing yards, the Horned Frogs lowest since the 2022 season against No. 1 Georgia in the national championship. 28 BYU’s 28 sacks this year has already topped 2024’s total of 20. It is tied for the most in a season by a BYU defense since 2016 (29 in 12 games). 26 sacks currently ranks No. 37 nationally. 194.5 BYU is No. 23 in rushing yards nationally with 194.5 yards per game. BYU ran for 468 vs. Portland State. It was the second-most in school history (550 vs. Texas, 2013). BYU ran for 208 at Colorado, 258 at AZ, 202 against Utah and 265 at Cincinnati. 1.17 BYU is No. 17 in sacks allowed per game at 1.17. 33:13 The Cougars have held the ball an average of 33:03 through 12 games, ranking No. 9 nationally. 49-8 BYU is 49-8 with a positive turnover margin under Kalani Sitake. Most recently +2 against UCF. BYU has had seven games without a turnover. BYU is No. 11 nationally with only 10 total turnovers lost in 2025. O/D BYU is has a scoring offense and scoring defense both ranked in the Top 25. BYU’s offense at 34.0 points per game ranks No. 22 and defensively, the Cougars allow 17.8 to rank No. 14.
INDIVIDUAL BY THE NUMBERS: 14 Fourteen different players have scored a touchdown in 2025, including 8 in the game against Portland State. 17 different BYU players scored touchdowns in 2024. The school record is 20, set in 1996. 100s LJ Martin topped 100 yards in the first three games, and now has 6 games of 100+ this year. He has eight in his career. 222 Martin’s 222 rushing yards set a new career high and his first 200-yard game. It was the 8th-most rushing yards in a game by a BYU Cougar and 18th 200-yard game in school history. 1,000 LJ Martin’s crossed 1,000 rushing yards (1,229) and leads the Big 12 in total rushing yards, ranking No. 12 nationally. It is the 21st 1,000-yard season at BYU. 102.4 LJ Martin’s 102.4 rushing yards per game ranks No. 14 nationally and leads the Big 12. 7 Bear Bachmeier has had seven games with both a rushing and passing touchdown. 150 Bear Bachmeier has been responsible for 150 total points, ranking No. 42 nationally. 37 Chase Roberts has a reception in 37 consecutive games dating back to the 2022 season, the 4th longest streak nationally. 85 The 85-yard pitch and catch from Bear Bachmeier to Chase Roberts was career-bests for both and the longest pass play at BYU since 1996. 112 Kicker Will Ferrin has scored 101 points (46-46) PAT, 22-28 on FG) and is currently No. 7 nationally among all players in total points. His 15 points vs. Portland State are the third-most by a kicker in a single game in school history. 9.0 Jack Kelly’s 9.0 sacks per game leads the team and ranks tied for No. 13 nationally. 97 Bear Bachmeier went 97 consecutive passing attempts before an interception on his 98th attempt to begin his career. 11 Bachmeier’s 11 rushing touchdowns set a BYU record for rushing TDs by a BYU quarterback.
BIG 12 COACHES SELECT BYU RB MARTIN AND TEXAS TECH LB RODRIGUEZ FOR TOP HONORS
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Big 12 coaches selected BYU running back LJ Martin as the league’s top offensive player and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez as the top defender before the two players go head to head in the conference championship game.
The awards determined by the votes of the league’s 16 coaches were announced Thursday, and include BYU’s Kalani Sitake being chosen by his peers as the top coach.
No. 5 Texas Tech (11-1, No. 4 CFP) and No. 11 BYU (11-1) play in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday. The Cougars have at least 10 wins for the fourth time in six seasons, and their only loss this year was at Tech four weeks ago.
Martin is the Big 12 rushing leader with 1,229 yards (102.4 per game) and has run for 11 touchdowns.
Rodriguez is the first FBS player in 20 years to have five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions in the same season. He is fourth in the league with 104 tackles.
Texas Tech senior defensive end David Bailey, a transfer from Stanford who has an FBS-high 12 1/2 sacks, was named the defensive newcomer of the league. Utah quarterback Devon Dampier was picked as the offensive newcomer.
The top freshmen, according to the coaches’ votes, are BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier on offense and Oklahoma State linebacker Wendell Gregory on defense.
ACC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOTES: VIRGINIA VS. DUKE
VIRGINIA NOTES:
INSIDE SATURDAY’S MATCHUP • Virginia will make its second appearance in the ACC Championship game, its only other appearance coming in 2019 against Clemson, whose co-offensive coordinator was Tony Elliott. • The Cavaliers are amid their second 10-win season in the 136-year history of the program. The only other 10-win campaign came in 1989 under Hall of Fame Coach George Welsh. Current UVA defensive ends coach Chris Slade, the ACC’s all-time leader in sacks, was a first year on the ’89 squad. • The Cavaliers finished 7-1 in the ACC with its lone blemish coming at home against Wake Forest (Nov. 8), a game in which quarterback Chandler Morris exited in the second quarter due to injury. • At 7-1 in the ACC, Virginia matched its best record in league play and marked the first time ever UVA has finished alone atop the league standings. The Cavaliers have never won the league outright, winning shares in 1989 (6-1) and 1995 (7-1) before the ACC title game began determining the league champion in 2005. • Virginia and Duke will play for the second time this season. UVA has not played an opponent twice in one season since defeating Richmond both times in 1906. The other five occasions in which UVA played the same team two times in the same season occurred in the 1890s. • The Cavaliers became bowl-eligible by winning six of their first seven games. The last time Virginia was bowl-eligible was in 2021, when the Fenway Bowl was canceled due to COVID issues. UVA’s last bowl appearance was the 2019 Orange Bowl against Florida. • For the first time since 2019, Virginia appeared in the AP Poll on Sept. 28 after its upset win over then-No. 8 Florida State and has been nationally ranked for 10 consecutive weeks, its longest tenure in the AP Top 25 since 2004. • Virginia returns to Bank of America Stadium for the first time since the 2019 ACC Championship and boasts a 3-1 record in the home of the Carolina Panthers, with wins in the 2018 Belk Bowl and the 2003 & 2004 Continental Tire Bowls. The Cavaliers have played in an NFL Stadium in seven of the last eight seasons, a span that includes a signature win by Elliott over then-No. 23 Pitt last season at Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh, Pa.). • Virginia is 4-1 in games away from Scott Stadium this season, and over the past two years owns a 7-4 mark on the road. The Cavaliers have won four straight games away from Charlottesville, including a 34-17 win over Duke (Nov. 15) in Durham.
TOP STORYLINES • Virginia was picked to finish 14th in the league’s preseason media poll and will now compete for its first outright ACC Championship in program history. The Cavaliers were 5-7 last season and its five-win improvement from last season is tied for the fourth best in FBS this year and tied for the best year-to-year improvement in school history (1986-87 & 1892-1893). • Virginia and Duke will play for the second time in 21 days. The Cavaliers never trailed in a dominant 34-17 win in Durham (Nov. 15). The Cavaliers held the Blue Devils to season lows in total offense (255) rushing yards (42), passing yards (213), pass completions (18), points scored (17) and first downs (11). On offense, UVA doubled Duke’s total yardage (540 to 255), led by 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Charlotte native J’Mari Taylor. • The Cavalier defense has been dominant in the back half of the season. Over its last five games, all ACC contests, UVA has held opponents to 15.4 points per game. The Cavaliers have forced turnovers in nine of its 12 games this season and are 9-0 this season when forcing at least one turnover. • Led by Taylor, the Cavaliers boast the third-best rushing attack in the ACC, averaging 188.7 yards per game. Taylor won the ACC’s regular season rushing title with 997 yards and is looking for his second-straight 1,000-yard season (1,146 at NC Central in 2024). The Cavaliers haven’t had a 1,000-yard back since Jordan Ellis in 2018, who went over the 1K mark at Bank of America Stadium in the shutout win over South Carolina at the 2018 Belk Bowl.
A WIN FOR THE CAVALIERS WOULD… • Mark Virginia Football’s first-ever outright ACC Championship, including first ACC Championship game victory. • Be UVA’s 11th victory of the season and set the program’s single-season wins record. • Mark Virginia’s largest overall win improvement from year to year in its 136-year history. • Be the program’s 699th all-time win. UVA’s first season of football was 1888. • Give Tony Elliott his seventh ACC championship (2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) between his tenures as UVA head coach (2022-pres.) and assistant at Clemson (2011-21). • Be Virginia’s seventh victory of the season while ranked in the AP poll. The last time UVA had six or more wins while ranked in the AP top-25 was in 2004, when it was ranked in every game that year. • Mark UVA Athletics’ second ACC team championship this academic year. The Cavalier men’s cross country team won the championship meet – the program’s fifth overall – in Louisville, Ky. on Oct. 31. • Be Virginia Athletics’ 100th ACC team championship since the spring of 2002, the most of any ACC school in that span. • Also be the University’s 158th overall ACC championship. • Be UVA’s fourth all-time at Bank of America Stadium.
UPCOMING MILESTONES • Tailback J’Mari Taylor needs three yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He would become UVA’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Jordan Ellis (1,026) in 2018. • Taylor is also 115 rushing yards shy of 3,000 for his career. • Quarterback Chandler Morris needs 110 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for his career. He is also four carries shy of 200 career rushes. • Receiver Cam Ross needs six receptions to reach 200 for his career. He also needs 41 yards receiving for 500 this season. • Receiver Trell Harris’ next touchdown reception would mark the 10th of his career. • Receiver Jahmal Edrine’s next touchdown reception would mark the 10th of his career. • Defensive end Mitchell Melton needs two sacks for the 10th of his career. • Defensive tackle Jacob Holmes needs 1.0 TFL for the 20th of his career. • Linebacker James Jackson needs seven total tackles to reach 250 for his career, and just two solo tackles to record his 100th. • Safety Antonio Clary needs seven tackles to reach 200 total for his career. He also needs 10 solo tackles to reach No. 100.
Game 11 • Virginia 34, Duke 17 Saturday, Nov. 15 • Durham, N.C./Wallace Wade Stadium Virginia Team Notes • Virginia won its ninth game of the season, the ninth time in program history and first time since 2019 that the Cavaliers have won nine games in a season. • The 9-2 start to the season is the best 11-game start since 2007. • Virginia has won four-straight road games to match a school record set in 1984 and 1990. The Cavaliers finished the regular season 4-1 on the road. • UVA improved to 6-1 in the ACC, the first time UVA has won six of its first seven ACC games since 2007 and only the fourth time ever (1989, 1995, 2007, 2025). • The Cavaliers are assured of at least a 6-2 record in ACC regular-season games for the first time since 2019. That year, UVA went on to face Clemson and Tony Elliott, who at the time served as the Tigers’ offense coordinator, in the ACC championship game. • Virginia tallied its fifth win of the season while ranked in the AP poll (No. 20). The last time UVA had five or more wins while ranked in the AP top-25 was in 2004, when it was ranked in every game that year. • Virginia improved to 42-34 in the all-time series with Duke, which was first contested in 1890. UVA’s 42 wins over the Blue Devils are third-most against any other opponent in program history. The Cavaliers have won nine of the last 10 meetings against Duke. • UVA has totaled at least 30 points in eight games this year, a feat not achieved since the 2021 season. • The Cavaliers started the game with their longest opening drive of the season, which spanned 6:47 and ended with a five-yard touchdown by J’Mari Taylor. • Duke’s first touchdown in the fourth quarter marked the first surrendered by UVA in a play from scrimmage in its last seven quarters of action (123 minutes and 34 seconds). The last touchdown from scrimmage by a UVA opponent was Cal (Nov. 1), which score early in the fourth quarter. • UVA has scored first in 10 of its 11 games and is 9-1 when scoring first this season. • UVA held the Blue Devils to season lows in several categories, including total offense (255) rushing yards (42), passing yards (213), pass completions (18), points scored (17) and first downs (11). • Duke entered Saturday’s game as the No. 4 passing offense (312.9) in the country, while also averaging 35.2 points per game, good for fourth in the ACC and No. 22 in FBS. • The Virginia defense held the Blue Devils to 16 yards of total offense in the first quarter. This is the lowest Duke has had in a quarter this season. • Virginia held Duke to three first-downs in the opening half. Duke is the third UVA opponent to be held to less than five first-downs this season. • Virginia held the Blue Devils to 50 yards of total offense in the first half. Duke is the fifth opponent that UVA has held to under 100 yards in a half this season. • For the sixth time this season, UVA held its opponent to without a touchdown in the first half. • UVA doubled its opponent’s total yardage (540 to 255) for the second time this season (W&M; 700 to 263). Virginia Individual Player Notes • Trell Harris (8 rec, 161 yards, 1 TD) is the first Cavalier wide receiver with at least 150 yards receiving since Malik Washington against Louisville in 2023. Harris’ eight receptions and 161 yards are career bests. • Harris’ third reception of the game, a 29-yard catch in the second quarter, marked the 100th of his career. • J’Mari Taylor (18 rushes, 133 yards 2 TD) has scored at least one rushing TD in 19 of last 22 games dating back to his time at NC Central. Taylor now has 13 touchdowns this season, the most by a Cavalier in a season since Keith Payne had 14 in 2010. Taylor also now has 36 career rushing touchdowns. • Taylor broke a 78-yard TD rush in the third quarter, which is tied for the 11th-longest rush in school history (Alvin Pearman vs. Virginia Tech in 2004). • For the fourth time this season, Taylor rushed for multiple touchdowns. The last UVA player to record four multi-rushing TD games was Brennan Armstrong in 2021. • With Taylor and Harris’ performances, UVA had a 100-yard pass catcher and 100-yard rusher in the same game for the first time since 2023 against William & Mary. Perris Jones (134 yards rushing) and Malik Washington (112 yards receiving) were the last duo to accomplish that feat. • Taylor and Harris combined for a total of 319 all-purpose yards, the most by a Cavalier duo since Keytaon Thompson (151) and Ra’Shaun Henry’s (179) 330 all-purpose yards at Louisville (Oct. 9, 2021). • Chandler Morris (23-35, 316 yards, 2 TD) went over the 300-yard mark for the second time this season (the other was against Stanford, when he had 380) and the 11th time of his career. • Morris’ touchdown pass in the second quarter to Sage Ennis was the 60th touchdown pass of his career. Morris now has 61 career passing TDs. • Fisher Camac (6 tackles, 3 solo, 2 sacks, 2.5 TFL, 1 QBH) is the third Cavalier to record a multi-sack game this season, joining Mitchell Melton (2 vs. Louisville) and Daniel Rickert (2 vs. Stanford). Camac upped his season total to 4.5 and now has 13 career sacks. • On fourth down in the third quarter, defensive end Mitchell Melton recorded a strip sack and recovered his own forced fumble. It was Melton’s third forced fumble this season, which leads the team. Melton is one three Cavaliers in the last 10 years with at least three forced fumbles in a season. Jonas Sanker had three in 2023, and Micah Kiser had five in 2016. • Defensive tackle Jacob Holmes matched his career high of six tackles. Holmes also had one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. • Cornerback Emmanuel Karnley finished with a career-high three pass break-ups. Karnley also started in Saturday’s game at Durham, his seventh of the season and fifth consecutive start. • With two catches, receiver Jahmal Edrine reached 100 receptions for his career. • Linebacker and team captain James Jackson appeared in his 50th career game. • With 10 points, Will Bettridge (2-2 FG, 4-4 PAT) is now tied for third on UVA’s career scoring list with Gene Mayer (1912-15). Bettridge has 293 career points.
DUKE NOTES:
Duke returns to the ACC Championship Game for the second time in program history and first since 2013. The Blue Devils face No. 16 Virginia for the second time in four weeks with kick set for 8 p.m. on ABC. • The Blue Devils finished 6-2 in league play and claimed six ACC victories for just the fourth time in program history, joining the 1962, 1989 and 2013 squads. • Duke has won the ACC seven times, doing so in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1989. Duke was named co-champion in 1953, 1955 and 1989. • Virginia leads the all-time series 42-34 as it has won nine of the last 10. Duke has not beaten the Cavaliers since a 38-17 triumph in Durham in 2022. • Duke can set the record for wins in a four-year span in program history with one more triumph. The 2022-25 stretch has already accumulated 33 victories, good for the fourth most in the league over the four years. • Duke quarterback Darian Mensah has thrown for 3,450 yards this season, the second most in a year by a Blue Devil. With his two touchdown passes last Saturday, he broke a tie for the Duke single-season record and now owns the mark with 28. Mensah is also on pace to shatter the school touchdown:interception ratio record as he sits at 7:1. Mensah went the entire ACC regular season without throwing an interception. • Nate Sheppard paces the Blue Devils in rushing yards with 865, the most by a rookie in program history. Sheppard also set the Duke freshman record with his nine rushing scores. The Mandeville, La., product has added 30 receptions to tie for the seventh most by a Duke rookie in program history and the most by a Blue Devil freshman running back.
DUKE-VIRGINIA SERIES >> Saturday’s game will mark the 77th between the two with Virginia leading the series 42-34. The Cavaliers hold a 9-1 edge over the last 10 meetings. >> Duke has topped the Cavaliers just once since 2015, with a 38-17 triumph in Durham in 2022. >> In the last meeting, on November 15, Duke mounted a 14-point rally in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the Blue Devils dropped a 34-17 decision to No. 20 Virginia. The Blue Devils trailed 31-3 at the start of the fourth and made it a 31-17 contest with 9:30 to play, but could not close the gap. BLUE DEVILS IN CHARLOTTE >> The ACC Championship Game tilt will be Duke’s third neutral site contest in Charlotte and its first since the 2013 ACC Championship Game versus Florida State. >> Duke faced Cincinnati in the 2012 Belk Bowl as well as Davidson in 1922. SEVEN WINS AND BOWL ELIGIBLE >> The Blue Devils own four consecutive seasons with seven or more victories, a first for the program since a four-year stretch in 1952-53-54-55. >> The Blue Devils are bowl eligible in four consecutive campaigns for the first time since 2012- 13-14-15.
WINS AGAINST BOWL OPPONENTS >> Of Duke’s nine games versus bowl eligible opponents, it captured four victories, defeating NC State, Cal, Clemson and Wake Forest. >> Virginia also downed four bowl eligible foes in Louisville, Washington State, Cal and Duke. >> Among other ACC foes, Miami and NC State also defeated four bowl eligible opponents, Pitt three and Georgia Tech two. >> Duke’s five losses are to teams that combined to go 46-14 (.767), the highest winning percentage within losses among ACC teams with seven or more wins.
ANOTHER STATE TITLE CAPTURED >> Duke captured its second consecutive state title last Saturday. Before sweeping North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest in 2024, Duke had not beaten each member of the trio in the same season since 2013. >> The victory against Wake Forest last Saturday marked the program’s first time with consecutive state titles since 1961 and 1962, the 21st state crown in school history and just the fourth state title since 1963. >> Diaz is the first Duke football head coach to win the state title in each of his first two seasons.
MANY POINTS IN ACC GAMES >> Duke has reached 45 or more points in four ACC games, lighting up the scoreboard against NC State, at Cal, at Clemson and versus Wake Forest. >> The 49 points versus Wake Forest are the most in a regulation ACC contest for Duke since posting 55 against Pitt on September 21, 2013. >> Since 1996, the Blue Devils have surpassed 45 points in a league game just nine times. >> Since joining the ACC in 1953, Duke has scored 40 or more points in three or more ACC games just twice, in 1994 and 2025. >> Duke won four or more ACC games by 10 or more points for just the sixth time, joining the 1953, 1956, 1957, 1960 and 1989 squads. >> Duke averaged 36.3 points per regular season ACC game, which ranks eighth nationally and fourth among Power Four programs.
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NFL NEWS
JAHMYR GIBBS SCORES 3 TDS AS LIONS RUN OVER COWBOYS FOR KEY WIN
Jahmyr Gibbs scored three rushing touchdowns and the host Detroit Lions won a pivotal NFC game, downing the Dallas Cowboys 44-30 on Thursday.
Gibbs, who also caught seven passes for 77 yards, gained 43 yards on 12 carries. Jared Goff produced 309 yards and a touchdown on 25-of-34 passing for the Lions (8-5) in a matchup of teams fighting for a playoff spot.
Detroit’s David Montgomery rushed six times for 60 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown. Jameson Williams had seven catches for 96 yards, while Amon-Ra St. Brown made six receptions for 92 yards.
Dak Prescott passed for 376 yards and one touchdown but was also intercepted twice for the Cowboys (6-6-1). He completed 31 of 47 passes.
Dallas’ Ryan Flournoy caught nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Javonte Williams rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts.
Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb was ruled out of the game during the third quarter after sustaining a concussion. He caught six passes for 121 yards.
Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey kicked five field goals and became the first player in NFL history to have three field goals of 55 yards or more in a single game.
The Lions led 20-9 at halftime and extended the margin early in the second half.
Derrick Barnes picked off a Prescott pass on the first play from scrimmage and Detroit cashed in two plays later on Goff’s 12-yard touchdown toss to Isaac TeSlaa.
The Cowboys clawed back with Williams scoring on a 1-yard run to cap a nine-play, 65-yard drive. After Detroit’s Jake Bates had a 52-yard field-goal attempt blocked, Aubrey blasted a 63-yardrt later in the third to make it 27-19.
Bates made a 46-yard field goal with 11:50 remaining to give the Lions an 11-point advantage.
A busted coverage allowed Flournoy to get wide open on a 42-yard scoring pass from Prescott. Jake Ferguson then caught a two-yard conversion pass to cut the Lions’ lead to 30-27.
Gibbs scored on a 10-yard run with 7:17 left to give Detroit some breathing room. Aubrey’s 29-yard field goal with 3:42 left pulled Dallas within 37-30.
Gibbs’ 13-yard scoring run with 2:19 remaining clinched Detroit’s victory.
NFL MANDATES NEW PLAYING SURFACES FOR ALL STADIUMS BY 2028 TO ENHANCE PLAYER SAFETY
Each NFL stadium will have to install a new playing surface by the start of the 2028 season to meet standards set through lab and field testing.
NFL field director Nick Pappas detailed the plans for the program on Thursday that will provide each team “a library of approved and accredited NFL fields” before the start of next season. Teams will then have two years to install the new approved playing surfaces, whether they are grass, synthetic or a hybrid.
Pappas said the fields will have undergone extensive testing and been approved by a joint committee with the NFLPA. He compared to the testing that has led to new standards for helmets.
“It’s sort of a red, yellow, green effect, where we’re obviously trying to phase out fields that we have determined to be less ideal than newer fields coming into the industry,” he said. “This is a big step for us. This is something that I think has been a great outcome from the Joint Service Committee of the work, the deployment and development of devices determining the appropriate metrics, and ultimately providing us with a way to substantiate the quality of fields more so than we ever have in the past.”
Pappas said fields have been tested in labs and on site using two main tools with one called the BEAST that is a traction testing device that replicates the movements of an NFL player and another called the STRIKE Impact Tester that helps determine the firmness of each field.
The goal of the league is to find fields that are as consistent as possible across all 30 NFL stadiums, as well as at each stadium throughout the season. Pappas said the “key pillars” for a field are optimized playability, reducing injury risk and player feedback.
The NFL has no plans to require natural grass fields across the league with the league’s chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills saying there is no “statistically significant differences” in lower extremity injuries or concussions that can be attributed to the type of playing surface or a specific surface despite widespread preferences from players for grass fields and complaints about surfaces such as the one at MetLife Stadium where the New York Giants and Jets play.
“The surface is only one driver of these lower extremity injuries,” Sills said. “There are a lot of other factors, including player load and previous history and fatigue and positional adaptability and cleats that are worn. So surfaces are a component, but it is a complex equation, and so I’m excited about where we are in the work because I think we’ll get away from a very crude measurement of artificial here and the grass here, and now we can say for any individual surface, let’s look at the biophysical properties of that surface. How might those correlate with injury? And then, obviously, how do we optimize them?”
Pappas also shared plans for the Super Bowl to be held on Feb. 8 at the San Francisco 49ers home at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The field has been growing at a sod farm about two hours east of the Bay Area with Pappas making several visits over the past 18 months to monitor the field.
The league will plan to install the field around the third week in January — or later if the 49ers could be hosting playoff games.
BILLS HOST BENGALS IN MATCHUP OF AFC TEAMS WITH RECENT HISTORY OF DOMINANT DECEMBER RECORDS
Cincinnati (4-8) at Buffalo (8-4)
Sunday 1 p.m. EST, Fox
BetMGM NFL Odds: Bills by 5 1/2
Against the spread: Bengals 5-7; Bills 6-6
Series record: Tied 17-17
Last meeting: Bengals beats Bills 24-18 at Cincinnati on Nov. 5, 2023.
Last week: Bengals beat Ravens 32-14 at Baltimore. Bills beat Steelers 26-7 at Pittsburgh.
Bengals offense: overall (22), rush (30), pass (11), scoring (16).
Bengals defense: overall (32), rush (31), pass (32), scoring (32).
Bills offense: overall (2), rush (1), pass (10), scoring (5).
Bills defense: overall (8), rush (30), pass (1), scoring (13).
Turnover differential: Bengals minus-3; Bills minus-2;
Bengals player to watch
QB Joe Burrow. Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback looked solid in his first game back after missing nine weeks because of a turf toe injury, passing for 261 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Baltimore. The Bengals have won their past eight games when Burrow has been the starting quarterback.
Bills player to watch
RB James Cook. This might be Josh Allen’s offense, but Cook has been the constant this season. The fourth-year player is the NFL’s second-leading rusher with a career-best 1,228 yards, coming off his seventh 100-yard outing of the season and faces a defense that’s allowed 100 yards in every outing except the opener.
Key matchup
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase vs. Bills CB Christian Benford. Even with Burrow sidelined for all but three games, Chase is 29 yards shy of his fifth straight 1,000-yard receiving season, and 14 receptions short of his third straight 100-catch season. He’ll line up against Benford, a fourth-year player who has been Buffalo’s most consistent defender this season. Benford is coming off his best outing of the season, in limiting Pittsburgh’s D.K. Metcalf to three catches for 32 yards, had his first interception of the season and returned a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown.
Key injuries
Bengals: DE Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) is expected to miss his fifth straight game. … WR Tee Higgins and RB Tahj Brooks could return after missing last week’s game because of the concussion protocol.
Bills: Edge rusher Joey Bosa (hamstring) has not officially been ruled out but is not expected to play after being listed week to week. … WR Joshua Palmer’s status is uncertain because of a knee and ankle issue. … Starting LB Terrel Bernard (elbow) is in jeopardy of missing his second straight game. … The status of starting offensive tackles Dion Dawkins (concussion) and Spencer Brown (right shoulder) bear monitoring after they each missed one game.
Series notes
The Bengals have won six of the past eight meetings, including a 27-10 win in the AFC divisional round of the 2022 playoffs. The playoff win came three weeks after a regular-season meeting at Cincinnati was canceled when Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field. Buffalo has lost two straight since a 21-17 home win in 2019. The Bills dominated the series by winning 10 straight in a stretch spanning 1989-2010.
Stats and stuff
The Bengals are 14-3 in regular-season games played in December and January since the 2022 season. The 14 wins are tied with Buffalo for the most. … Burrow has 17 300-yard passing games, which is tied with Kurt Warner for third most in a player’s first six seasons. … RB Chase Brown has six straight games with at least 100 scrimmage yards, the longest active streak in the league. He has at least six catches in three of the past four games. … WR Ja’Marr Chase needs 29 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the season. That would make him the fifth player in NFL history with 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons, joining Randy Moss, Justin Jefferson, A.J. Green and Mike Evans. … Cincinnati’s defense forced a season-high five turnovers last week. … The Bengals lead the league with 138 missed tackles, but only 12 have come in the past two games. … DE Joseph Ossai had a career-high two sacks last week. … LB Demetrius Knight Jr. is one of two NFL rookies with at least five tackles in 10 or more games. … S Jordan Battle has at least six tackles in six straight road games. … K Evan McPherson has made his past nine field goals, including a franchise-record 63-yarder against New England two weeks ago. … The Bills lead the NFL with a combined 23-4 record in regular-season games played in December and January since 2020, with two of their losses coming last season. … Allen’s 8-yard TD run last week was the 76th of his career in a regular-season game, breaking the NFL record among quarterbacks previously held by Cam Newton. … Allen has committed seven giveaways (six interceptions and a lost fumble) over his past four starts, and 10 overall this season. Four of his interceptions have occurred inside an opponent’s 20. He’s 47-31 when committing a turnover, including 3-4 this season. … Buffalo is 6-1 when Cook tops 100 yards rushing this season. … Buffalo’s 16 first downs rushing against Pittsburgh was the team’s most since having 20 in a 31-10 win over Dallas on Dec. 17, 2023. … Buffalo is 5-2 this season when scoring a TD on its game-opening drive. … The Bills have scored touchdown returns in consecutive outings. Aside from Benford’s fumble return, Ray Davis returned a kickoff 97 yards for a TD against Houston. … Buffalo limited Pittsburgh to 10 first downs, the fewest against the Bills since they allowed four in a 27-10 win over the Jets in the 2021 season finale.
Fantasy tip
Allen is a must start, even with his recent rash of turnovers and Buffalo’s middling group of receivers. Allen’s dual threat presence provides a healthy floor in a season he’s had 10 outings with multiple touchdowns, and six with three or more.
CHIEFS VS. TEXANS: KANSAS CITY BATTLES HOUSTON’S TOP DEFENSE WITH KEY INJURIES UP FONT
Houston (7-5) at Kansas City (6-6)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock.
BetMGM NFL odds: Chiefs by 3 1/2.
Against the spread: Texans 6-6, Chiefs 5-6-1.
Series record: Chiefs lead 11-5.
Last meeting: Chiefs beat Texans 23-14 on Jan. 18, 2025, in Kansas City in a divisional playoff game.
Last week: Texans beat Colts 20-16; Chiefs lost to Cowboys 31-28.
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (23), pass (16), scoring (21)
Texans defense: overall (1), rush (4), pass (4), scoring (1)
Chiefs offense: overall (5), rush (15), pass (2), scoring (9)
Chiefs defense: overall (9), rush (9), pass (12), scoring (7)
Turnover differential: Texans plus-9; Chiefs plus-2.
Texans player to watch
DEs Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter have been on a tear, combining for 21 1/2 sacks this season. Hunter is tied for fourth in the NFL with 11 of them and Anderson is tied for sixth with 10 1/2. Anderson has had at least one sack in six of his past seven games while Hunter has had at least one in three of his past four.
Chiefs player to watch
Whomever is playing along the offensive line. LT Josh Simmons landed on injured reserve this week following surgery to repair a fractured and dislocated left wrist, while RG Trey Smith is dealing with an ankle injury and RT Jawaan Taylor with a triceps problem. Wanya Morris, Mike Caliendo and Jaylon Moore are expected to fill those spots.
Key matchup
The Chiefs run game against the Houston defense, which is fourth against the run and tops in total defense and scoring. Kansas City is at its best when it has some balance on offense, but things tend to go haywire when it leans too heavily into the passing attack.
Key injuries
Texans: Anderson (chest/shoulder), RB Woody Marks (foot) and CB Kamari Lassiter (foot) missed practice Wednesday, but coach DeMeco Ryans said they should be fine by Sunday. OL Ed Ingram (hand) and DT Tim Settle Jr. (foot) are less certain to play.
Chiefs: LT Josh Simmons has been placed on IR with a wrist injury. RG Trey Smith (ankle), RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) and CB Chris Roland-Wallace (back) also are likely to miss the game against Houston.
Series notes
The Chiefs have won five straight over the Texans, a streak bookended by divisional playoff victories in January 2020 and this past January. In fact, the Texans have just two wins in the past 11 matchups going back to the 2013 season, which was the first for Andy Reid as the coach in Kansas City. Houston’s most recent win over the Chiefs came on Oct. 13, 2019, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Stats and stuff
Houston is one game behind Indianapolis and Jacksonville in the AFC South. It has won four consecutive games for the first time since a nine-game streak in 2018. … The Texans are trying to become the fifth team since 1990 to start 0-3 and qualify for the playoffs. Houston was the most recent team to accomplish the feat in 2018. … Houston has allowed 20 points or fewer in a league-best 10 games. … Texans WR Nico Collins has scored in four of his past five road games. … Houston WR Jayden Higgins had five catches for a career-best 65 yards last week against the Colts. … Texans QB C.J. Stroud threw for 276 yards last week in his return after missing three games because of a concussion. … Texans RB Nick Chubb had two TD runs in his previous game at Kansas City in 2021 with the Browns. … Houston TE Dalton Schultz had seven catches for 55 yards last week for his fourth straight road game with at least five catches and 50 yards receiving. … Kansas City has won five straight home games, scoring at least 28 points in four of them. … The Chiefs have not started 6-6 since the 2017 season, when they finished 10-6 and earned a wild-card playoff berth. … Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has never missed the postseason in the NFL. … Mahomes needs three TD passes to become the sixth player with at least 25 in eight consecutive seasons. The others are Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady and Kirk Cousins. … TE Travis Kelce has a reception in 186 straight games, the longest streak in Chiefs history and longest active streak in the NFL. … Kelce needs 81 yards receiving to join Jerry Rice as the only players with at least 800 yards in 12 consecutive seasons. … DT Chris Jones needs three sacks to pass Neil Smith (85 1/2) for third most in Chiefs history.
Fantasy tip
The Chiefs were once must-start stuff in fantasy football, given their high-flying offense and Mahomes at QB. But with so many players spreading the wealth around, and the fact that they are facing the NFL’s top defense, be wary about putting anyone other than Kelce or WR Rashee Rice into the lineup this week.
LAMAR JACKSON FACES AARON RODGERS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK AS BOTH STAR QBS DEAL WITH INJURIES
Pittsburgh (6-6) at Baltimore (6-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.
BetMGM NFL odds: Ravens by 6.
Against the spread: Steelers 5-7, Ravens 4-8.
Series record: Steelers lead 37-26.
Last meeting: Baltimore beat Pittsburgh 28-14 in the first round of the playoffs on Jan. 11, 2025 in Baltimore.
Last week: Steelers lost to Bills 26-7; Ravens lost to Bengals 32-14.
Steelers offense: overall (27), rush (28), pass (24), scoring (15).
Steelers defense: overall (28), rush (17), pass (28), scoring (20).
Ravens offense: overall (20), rush (5), pass (28), scoring (12).
Ravens defense: overall (26), rush (18), pass (T-25), scoring (21).
Turnover differential: Steelers plus-8; Ravens minus-4.
Steelers player to watch
QB Aaron Rodgers. The oldest player in the NFL turned 42 on Tuesday and has very much looked his age of late. Rodgers’ 10 completions last week against Buffalo were a career low in a game in which he started and finished. His completion rate is hovering around 50% over his past three appearances. The inaccuracy isn’t the only problem. Pittsburgh has been unable to generate much of anything downfield. The Steelers are 24th in the league in yards per pass attempt.
Ravens player to watch
RB Derrick Henry. He rushed for 348 yards in the final two meetings with Pittsburgh last season, but he’s averaging only 78 per game this season behind a shaky Baltimore offensive line.
Key matchup
Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson against Pittsburgh’s pass rush. Jackson has already taken more sacks (27) than he did all of last season, and he’s looked unusually uncomfortable of late, posting just a 69.7 passer rating over his past four games. He’s dealt with hamstring, ankle, knee and toe injuries recently, and although he seemed more spry against Cincinnati, his throwing accuracy was not to his usual standard.
Key injuries
Steelers: Rodgers is expected to make his second straight start with a broken left wrist. … Former Ravens LB Patrick Queen is dealing with a hip injury. … CB James Pierre entered the week in the concussion protocol. … LB T.J. Watt has a toe injury.
Ravens: Jackson (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, although all 53 players on the roster practiced that day in some fashion. Baltimore enters this game with extra rest after playing last Thursday. … CB Nate Wiggins (foot) was also limited. … S Ar’Darius Washington (Achilles tendon) and LB Tavius Robinson (foot) are on the physically-unable-to-perform list and injured reserve, but they’ve practiced this week.
Series notes
Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin are meeting for the 38th time. Only George Halas and Curly Lambeau (49) faced each other more often. This is the latest in the season Harbaugh and Tomlin have met with neither team above .500. … The Steelers have won eight of the past 11 meetings, but the Ravens took the final two games last season, both of them comfortable victories at home, the second one in the opening round of the playoffs. … The games between the longtime AFC North powers have traditionally been tight, with 19 of the past 38 meetings decided by three points or fewer. … Rodgers and Jackson have never faced each other. Rodgers beat Baltimore in 2021 when he was with Green Bay, but Jackson was injured that day. Those two currently rank 1-2 in the NFL in career passer rating, with Rodgers at 102.4 and Jackson at 102.2.
Stats and stuff
The winner takes command of the AFC North with four games to go, though Pittsburgh and Baltimore seem to be heading on different tracks as December opens. The Steelers have dropped five of seven since a 4-1 start, while Baltimore is 5-1 since opening the season 1-5. … Pittsburgh is 16-6 following losses of 15 points or more under Tomlin, including a 1-0 mark this season. … The Steelers’ defense is smarting after allowing Buffalo to pile up 249 yards rushing last week, the most they’ve given up at home in more than 50 years. Now they must take on a Ravens team that rolled up 510 yards on the ground during their two late-season wins over Pittsburgh last season. … Pittsburgh is one of the few teams that has enjoyed a measure of success against Jackson. The Steelers are 5-4 all time against the Ravens when Jackson starts. … Watt has just seven sacks this season with five games to go, putting him on pace for his lowest sack total during a year not shortened by injury since he was a rookie in 2017. … The Steelers allowed Buffalo to hold the ball for nearly 42 minutes last week and now face a Baltimore team that possessed the ball for 39 minutes in the playoff game in January. … Rodgers’ 19 touchdown passes have gone to 10 different receivers, tied with Josh Allen for the most in the NFL. Yet Rodgers has also been ordinary of late. He has two touchdown passes with two interceptions and two fumbles in his past 10 quarters. … Pittsburgh’s RB duo of Kenny Gainwell and Jaylen Warren has been productive. Warren is averaging 4.9 yards per touch while Gainwell is averaging 5.1, but both have also had limited opportunities. Warren has just two games this season with at least 20 touches while Gainwell has just one. … It’s telling of how desperate Pittsburgh is to find a difference-maker in the passing game to put alongside DK Metcalf that it signed 35-year-old WR Adam Thielen to the practice squad this week. The two-time Pro Bowler had just eight receptions in sporadic playing time for Minnesota this season before being released. … The Ravens turned the ball over five times against Cincinnati, although they did limit the Bengals to just one touchdown in six red zone trips. Baltimore controlled the ball for only 21:14. … Baltimore TE Mark Andrews set the franchise’s career record for receptions last week. He joined Travis Kelce of Kansas City as the only TEs to achieve a “Triple Crown” by holding a franchise’s career receiving records in catches, yards and touchdowns. … The Ravens are 11-1 at home in December with Jackson starting. … Henry needs 69 yards for his seventh 1,000-yard rushing season. He would become the fourth RB to produce seven seasons of at least 1,000 yards rushing and 10 rushing touchdowns. The others are LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith. … Baltimore LB Roquan Smith needs 10 tackles for 100 this season. He can become the fourth player since 2000 with at least 100 tackles in each of his first eight seasons. Smith would join Bobby Wagner, Luke Kuechly and Chris Spielman in that group.
Fantasy tip
Against a Baltimore defense that has shown an ability to bend but not break recently, Steelers K Chris Boswell could be in line for a big game.
COMMANDERS VISIT VIKINGS WITH BOTH SIDES AIMING TO STOP A LONG SKID AND BRING BACK A HEALTHY QB
Washington (3-9) at Minnesota (4-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox.
BetMGM NFL odds: Vikings by 2.
Against the spread: Commanders 4-8, Vikings 4-8.
Series record: Vikings lead 15-13.
Last meeting: Vikings beat Commanders 20-17 on the road on Nov. 6, 2022.
Last week: Commanders lost at home to Broncos 27-26 in OT; Vikings lost at Seahawks 26-0.
Commanders offense: overall (15), rush (3), pass (22), scoring (22).
Commanders defense: overall (31), rush (27), pass (31), scoring (28).
Vikings offense: overall (29), rush (25), pass (29), scoring (28).
Vikings defense: overall (10), rush (23), pass (5), scoring (18).
Turnover differential: Commanders minus-8; Vikings minus-15.
Commanders player to watch
WR Terry McLaurin. Washington’s top pass-catcher finally got back on the field last week after missing seven of eight games with a quadriceps injury. He immediately showed the type of playmaker he is with seven receptions for 96 yards including a fourth down touchdown in overtime while being covered by star Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II.
Vikings player to watch
WR Justin Jefferson. Limited to a career-low 4 yards last week on two catches while backup QB Max Brosmer threw four interceptions in place of the injured and equally struggling J.J. McCarthy, Jefferson has stunningly become a nonfactor lately with the offense in such bad shape. The two-time All-Pro has only two receptions of 20-plus yards over the past six games — for 21 and 27 yards.
Key matchup
Vikings offensive line vs. Commanders pass rush. McCarthy, with just six games started in his NFL career, has had enough trouble with accuracy on well-blocked passing plays, let alone when he’s being pressured. After Brosmer felt the heat from the Seahawks last week in the franchise’s first shutout in 18 years, the Vikings need to give McCarthy time to try to help get him back on track.
Key injuries
Commanders: All eyes will be on QB Jayden Daniels and whether he can return after missing the past three games with a dislocated left elbow. After winning the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season and playing in every game, Daniels already has missed six games to injuries. He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday … Starting WR Noah Brown (groin) is on track to return after sitting out all but two games this season. … Two defensive starters, LB Bobby Wagner (knee) and DT Javon Kinlaw (back), were held out of practice on Wednesday.
Vikings: McCarthy (concussion) has been cleared to return after missing the previous game. He sat out five games earlier this season with a sprained ankle. … LG Donovan Jackson (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday after missing the most recent game, but LT Christian Darrisaw was a full participant and is on track to return after a foot injury kept him out last week. Jackson’s backup, Blake Brandel, went in the concussion protocol after the most recent game but practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday.
Series notes
The Vikings erased a 10-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to beat the Commanders in their previous meeting at FedEx Field. … The teams have only played once before at U.S. Bank Stadium, a 19-9 Vikings win in 2019. … Washington is 3-2 against Minnesota all time in the playoffs, winning the most recent meeting in 1992. The Vikings have won 10 of 14 matchups since then.
Stats and stuff
The Commanders have lost seven games in a row, giving them nearly twice as many losses as last season, when they went 12-5 and won twice in the playoffs to reach the NFC championship game. After losing four straight games each by at least 21 points, the Commanders have come close to stopping their skid in the past two contests, losing to Miami and Denver in overtime. … Backup QB Marcus Mariota has nine touchdowns and six interceptions with 63.2% completion rate this season. Washington’s record is 1-5 in his starts. … TE Zach Ertz led the Commanders with 10 receptions for 106 yards last week. His 824 career catches rank fifth on the all-time NFL list for tight ends. … For all of the problems Washington has had, it has managed to run the ball well, averaging 138.9 yards per game on the ground, which ranks third in the league. … The Commanders have only seven takeaways this season. The New York Jets (two) are the only NFL club with fewer. … Wagner ranks second in the league with 115 tackles this season. He had his second interception of the season last week. … The Vikings have lost four straight games, more losses than they had in their 14-3 regular season in 2024. They’ve matched streaks in 2023, 2016 and 2013 for their longest since a six-game skid in 2011. … The Vikings are 1-4 at home this season after going 7-1 last season. … Between McCarthy, Brosmer and Carson Wentz, Vikings passers have a 5.2% interception rate this season that is the worst for any team in the NFL since 2009, per Sportradar data. … Vikings OLB Dallas Turner leads the team with 5 1/2 sacks. He had two strip-sacks and a pass deflection last week. … Vikings LB Eric Wilson had four tackles for loss last week and has at least one in seven straight games, the second-longest active streak in the league. … The Vikings have 20 players with at least one tackle for loss this season, tied for the second most in the NFL behind the Colts.
Fantasy tip
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson landed on the waiver wire in plenty of leagues this season with the passing game so broken, but after a season-high 59 yards on six receptions last week he’s worth a pickup if he’s available entering a home game against a vulnerable pass defense.
DOLPHINS, JETS SQUARE OFF IN MATCHUP OF AFC EAST RIVALS PLAYING BETTER LATELY AFTER EARLY STRUGGLES
Miami (5-7) at New York Jets (3-9)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.
BetMGM NFL Odds: Dolphins by 2 1/2.
Against the spread: Dolphins 6-6; Jets 7-4-1.
Series record: Dolphins lead 62-57-1.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Jets 27-21 on Sept. 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Last week: Dolphins beat Saints 21-17; Jets beat Falcons 27-24.
Dolphins offense: overall (25), rush (17), pass (27), scoring (24).
Dolphins defense: overall (23), rush (29), pass (15), scoring (19).
Jets offense: overall (27), rush (7), pass (32), scoring (25).
Jets defense: overall (17), rush (25t), pass (10), scoring (27).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-4; Jets minus-12.
Dolphins player to watch
RB De’Von Achane. He has been Miami’s best playmaker this season and has rushed for at least 120 yards in each of the past three games, powering the Dolphins’ resurgent run game that has averaged 176.7 yards during the team’s three-game win streak. Achane has also been huge in the pass game with 54 catches for 370 yards, along with his team-high 186 carries for 1,034 yards.
Jets player to watch
WR Adonai Mitchell. Seen by some as merely a throw-in as part of the trade that sent star cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis, Mitchell has emerged as a go-to receiver in New York’s offense — especially with star Garrett Wilson on injured reserve with a knee injury. Mitchell had a breakout performance last week when he set career highs with eight catches and 102 yards and his first NFL TD against the Falcons, giving him 11 receptions on 25 targets for 154 yards in three games for the Jets.
Key matchup
Jets’ run defense vs. Achane. New York struggled against the run early, but had been a lot stingier lately — until Bijan Robinson ran all over the Jets for 142 yards and a touchdown for the Falcons last week. Robinson also caught five passes for 51 yards, putting up 193 total yards. Achane will provide another tough test for the Jets. He has run for 428 yards and three TDs in his past three games and caught 11 passes for 96 yards.
Key injuries
Dolphins: Enter this week pretty healthy. CB Rasul Douglas (foot) and FB Alec Ingold (neck) were limited in practice Wednesday, but everyone else practiced fully.
Jets: Wilson (knee) remains out for at least one more game on injured reserve. … CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (hip) and LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring) were ruled out early in the week. … CB Qwan’tez Stiggers was in concussion protocol during the week, but coach Aaron Glenn thought he would play. … S Tony Adams (groin) and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson (ankle) didn’t practice early in the week, but should play.
Series notes
The Dolphins have won five of the past six meetings, with the Jets’ lone win in that stretch coming in last season’s finale — 32-20 — in New York on Jan. 5, 2025. … The Jets have won two of the past three played at MetLife Stadium. … Tagovailoa is 7-0 against the Jets and 6-0 as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback. … Mike McDaniel is 6-2 against the Jets as Miami’s head coach.
Stats and stuff
The Dolphins have won four of their past five and three straight after opening the season 1-6, which was Miami’s worst start under McDaniel. During their winning streak, the Dolphins have 95 carries for 530 yards, and their 5.6 rushing average is the third-best mark in the NFL since Week 10. … The Dolphins have rushed for more than 160 yards in each of their past three games for the first time since Weeks 12 through 14 in 2002. … Achane has six rushing touchdowns and four TD receptions this season, making him one of just three players in NFL history with five-plus TD runs and three-plus TD catches in each of his first three seasons. … Achane has four 100-yard rushing games this season. … The Dolphins have seen a dramatic improvement in their defense over the past four weeks. Since Week 10, Miami leads the league in points allowed per game (14.3) and is tied for second in red zone efficiency (33.3 %), allowing only two touchdowns on six red zone visits. … LB Jordyn Brooks is one of only two players this season with 100 tackles, multiple sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. … Brooks reached 792 career tackles in Miami’s Week 13 victory over New Orleans. He’s only the fifth player since 2000 to reach that mark in the first six seasons of his NFL career. … The Jets have won three of five since opening 0-7 in Glenn’s first season as coach, but will be eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight season — the NFL’s longest active drought — with a loss or tie. … QB Tyrod Taylor will make his third consecutive start in place of the benched Justin Fields. Taylor was 19 of 33 for 172 yards and a touchdown pass and also ran for 44 yards, becoming the sixth quarterback since 2000 to start and win a game with at least six franchises. He joined Ryan Fitzpatrick (seven) and Matt Cassel, Case Keenum, Josh McCown and Joe Flacco, who all had six each, according to Elias. … RB Breece Hall is 166 yards rushing from his first 1,000-yard season. … The Jets have no interceptions, an NFL record for a team through its first 12 games. The fewest for an entire season is two by San Francisco in 16 games in 2018. … S Malachi Moore had a season-high 10 tackles against the Falcons and became just the seventh Jets rookie defensive back in the past 30 seasons to have at least that many, according to Stats Perform. … K Nick Folk had his first field goal miss of the season last week after opening by making his first 20. But he bounced back by making his next two against the Falcons, including a winning 56-yarder as time expired. It was Folk’s 16th game-winner, which ranks him third among active players behind Buffalo’s Matt Prater (21) and Denver’s Wil Lutz (20). … Folk needs three more field goals to join Pat Leahy as the only Jets with 200 or more with the team.
Fantasy tip
If he’s still available in your league, Mitchell could make for a solid late-season add as a WR3 entering the fantasy playoffs.
DERRICK HENRY AND TRAVIS KELCE AMONG 32 NOMINEES FOR WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Derrick Henry, Baker Mayfield, Jordan Love and Travis Kelce are among the 32 players nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
The prestigious award recognizes players for their commitment to community service and excellence on the field.
Each team announced its representative on Thursday. The national winner will be announced during NFL Honors on Feb. 5.
“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is our league’s most revered honor, celebrating players for their excellence both on and off the field,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “These 32 men represent the best of the NFL, and the incredible contributions they make to their teams and communities every day continue to keep Walter’s legacy alive.”
Henry, a five-time Pro Bowl running back and 2020 AP Offensive Player of the Year, has hosted annual back-to-school and holiday events, donating supplies, bikes and toys to hundreds of children in his hometown of Yulee, Fla., since 2016. He launched the Two All Carnival in 2024 and, as a two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in Tennessee, supported youth through Boys & Girls Clubs, back-to-school drives and donations of shoes, gear and tickets. Henry has contributed more than $22,500 to programs such as H.O.P.E. and Blessings in a Backpack, provided nearly $100,000 in COVID-19 relief, and donated to disaster recovery efforts globally. His generosity extends to families in crisis — covering rent, replacing furniture and offering direct financial assistance.
“I’m just trying to give back, be a resource, very blessed to have the platform that I have,” Henry told the AP. “God has blessed me tremendously. So, I just want to do the Lord’s work of giving back, being a positive influence, and reaching as many communities that have had an effect on me and just trying to be a blessing to these kids.”
Upon his arrival in Tampa in 2023, Mayfield and his wife launched the Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation, hosting their first community event with the inaugural “Be the Ball” before taking his first snap with the Buccaneers. In the past three years, this event has raised nearly $600,000 for the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County to empower the next generation and enhance early childhood learning.
Kelce founded the Eighty-Seven & Running Foundation in 2015, which empowers disadvantaged youth in the Kansas City community by providing resources and community support to showcase their talents in the areas of education, business, athletics, STEM, and the arts.
Love launched his foundation, Hands of 10ve, in 2024 to empower children from all backgrounds to participate in sports, raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention and foster stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve — all causes deeply personal to him.
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COLTS FOOTBALL NEWS
COLTS AND JAGUARS, BOTH 8-4, MEET WITH THE AFC SOUTH LEAD AT STAKE
Indianapolis (8-4) at Jacksonville (8-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.
BetMGM NFL odds: Colts by 1 1/2.
Against the spread: Colts 6-4-2, Jaguars 7-5.
Series record: Colts lead 28-20.
Last meeting: Colts beat the Jaguars 26-23 in OT on Jan. 5, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Last week: Colts lost to the Texans 20-16; Jaguars beat the Titans 25-3.
Colts offense: overall (4), rush (6), pass (6), scoring (1).
Colts defense: overall (21), rush (7), pass (27), scoring (T9).
Jaguars offense: overall (19), rush (11), pass (21), scoring (11).
Jaguars defense: overall (11), rush (1), pass (23), scoring (12).
Turnover differential: Colts plus-5; Jaguars plus-6.
Colts player to watch
New PK Blake Grupe. The Colts waived Michael Badgley after he missed his third extra point in seven games, a miscue that forced Indy to try and score a go-ahead touchdown on their final drive last week instead of kicking a potential tying field goal. Grupe made all 15 of his extra-point attempts this season with New Orleans but was just 18 of 26 on field goals. A fresh start could help.
Jaguars player to watch
WR Jakobi Meyers has 18 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns — and no drops — in four games with Jacksonville. Meyers has been a welcome addition for QB Trevor Lawrence and will continue to be Lawrence’s top option down the stretch.
Key matchup
Colts offensive line versus Jaguars defensive line. Indy QB Daniel Jones has been under heavy pressure in the team’s past three losses, and playing through an injured lower left leg hasn’t helped. The Jags have only 24 sacks through 12 games, but they are capable of stopping the run, forcing the Colts into obvious passing situations and dialing up pressure.
Key injuries
Colts: Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner (neck) will miss his fourth consecutive game, and two-time All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner will miss “some time” after injuring his left calf early in last week’s game. CB Kenny Moore (ankle), DE Tyquan Lewis (ankle) and WR Josh Downs (hip/knee) are dealing with injuries.
Jaguars: WR Parker Washington (hip), DE Travon Walker (knee), LT Walker Little (concussion) and S Andrew Wingard (concussion) are not expected to play. S Eric Murray (neck) is expected to return from short-term IR. DT Arik Armstead practiced in a limited capacity with his left hand padded and wrapped.
Series notes
The Colts snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 26-23 victory in overtime in Indianapolis last January. But they’ve lost 10 straight road games against Jacksonville, a skid that includes a loss in London in 2016. Their most recent win in Jacksonville came in 2014, which was also the most recent time Indy won the division title.
Stats and stuff
This is just the third December home game in Jacksonville’s 31-year history that features two teams with a .667 winning percentage or better. The others: versus the Seahawks in 2017 and against the Colts in 2005. … No player on either roster was on the field for the Colts’ most recent win in Jacksonville. … Indy has lost two straight for the first time this season and three of four as it slipped into a tie with the Jaguars for the division lead. … The Colts have scored at least 20 points in 11 of 12 games. … Jones needs one more win to match his career high of nine set in 2022, when he led the New York Giants to the playoffs. He also needs 165 yards passing for a single-season career high. … RB Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in rushing even though he’s rushed for 143 yards and been held out of the end zone in the past two weeks. … Tyler Warren needs 43 yards receiving to break Hall of Famer John Mackey’s single-season franchise yardage record for a rookie TE. Mackey had 726 yards in 1963. … The Colts defense ranks fifth in the NFL with 35 sacks, is tied for fourth with 12 interceptions and leads the league with five red zone takeaways. … Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence needs four TD passes to tie David Garrard for third most in franchise history. Garrard has 89. He needs one rushing TD to break a tie for the fifth most in team history. He has 19. … WR Brian Thomas looks for his third consecutive game against the Colts with at least five receptions and at least 100 yards. … LB Foye Oluokun needs four tackles for his sixth season with 100 or more. … DE Josh Hines-Allen has at least one sack in four of his past five games.
Fantasy tip
Warren is a must start against the Jaguars, who have allowed No. 1 TEs to catch a combined 34 passes for 349 yards and four TDs over their past five games.
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WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
WOMEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP: NO. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA EDGES NO. 22 LOUISVILLE
Madina Okot scored nine of her 23 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead layup with 1:33 to play, as visiting No. 3 South Carolina edged No. 22 Louisville 79-77 in an ACC/SEC Challenge game on Thursday.
The Cardinals led 75-72 with 2:27 to go before consecutive hoops from Okot moved the Gamecocks in front. A layup by Raven Johnson with 33 seconds remaining increased South Carolina’s lead to three. Louisville’s Imari Berry sank two foul shots with 23 seconds to go, and Okot hit 1 of 2 at the line with eight seconds remaining.
Tajianna Roberts missed a potential go-ahead 3-point attempt for the Cardinals, and the Gamecocks held on despite Okot going 0-for-2 at the foul line in the final seconds.
Okot pulled down 13 rebounds to pace South Carolina (8-1), while Tessa Johnson scored 20 points. Louisville (7-3) got 20 points from Roberts, 15 points and nine rebounds from Elif Istanbulluoglu and 15 points from Reyna Scott.
No. 2 Texas 79, No. 11 North Carolina 64
Jordan Lee scored 22 points as the Longhorns downed the Tar Heels in an ACC/SEC Challenge contest at Austin, Texas.
Madison Booker put up 18 points for Texas (9-0). Kyla Oldacre added 16 and Justice Carlton logged 11. The Longhorns trailed by seven points in the first quarter but pulled ahead for good by outscoring North Carolina 23-10 in the second period.
Indya Nivar registered 17 points, Elina Aarnisalo scored 16 points and Ciera Toomey amassed 10 points and eight rebounds for the Tar Heels (8-2).
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NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: LAKERS WIN, BUT LEBRON JAMES’ DOUBLE-FIGURE STREAK ENDS
Rui Hachimura hit the game-winning corner 3-pointer at the buzzer Thursday night and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Toronto Raptors 123-120.
LeBron James set up the winning basket with his 11th assist of the game. He finished with eight points to end his streak of 1,297 consecutive games with double figures in scoring. The last time James failed to reach 10 points in a game was Jan. 5, 2007, against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Austin Reaves led Los Angeles with 44 points while adding 10 assists in the opener of a three-game road trip. Deandre Ayton added 17 points as the Lakers won for the eighth time in nine games.
Scottie Barnes had 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Raptors, who have lost three of their past four. Brandon Igram added 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
76ers 99, Warriors 98
VJ Edgecombe made the winning putback with 0.9 seconds left and Tyrese Maxey raced to make a game-saving block on the other end, lifting Philadelphia to a wild victory over visiting Golden State.
The 76ers recovered after blowing a 24-point lead, including an 18-point advantage earlier in the fourth quarter. Maxey led the Sixers with 35 points. Grimes’ three-point play cut the 76ers’ late deficit to 98-97, and after Maxey’s fadeaway in the final seconds came up short, Edgecombe caught the airball and banked it in.
Pat Spencer scored 16 points to lead the short-handed Warriors, who have lost six of their past eight games. Golden State played without Stephen Curry (quad) and Jimmy Butler III (knee), while Draymond Green (leg) limped off after only nine minutes.
Celtics 146, Wizards 101
Derrick White had 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as visiting Boston extended its winning streak to three games by beating Washington.
Jordan Walsh made each of his eight field-goal attempts en route to a career-high 22 points for the Celtics, who outscored the Wizards 80-42 in the second half. Boston scored at least 32 points in all four quarters.
CJ McCollum led Washington with 22 points, and Khris Middleton finished with 16. The Wizards were seeking their third straight home victory.
Timberwolves 125, Pelicans 116
Julius Randle scored 28 points as Minnesota extended its winning streak to four games with a victory at New Orleans.
Naz Reid added 19 off the bench — including 11 in the fourth quarter — as Minnesota posted its second road win over the Pelicans in the space of three days. Anthony Edwards, who poured in 44 points in the Timberwolves’ overtime triumph on Tuesday, was held to 11 points in 31 minutes on Thursday. He committed eight turnovers.
Trey Murphy III posted 21 points, eight assists and seven boards for the Pelicans, who took their fifth loss in a row. Saddiq Bey and Jeremiah Fears contributed 20 points each.
Jazz 123, Nets 110
Lauri Markkanen scored 30 points, Keyonte George added 29 and hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter and Utah rallied for a victory over Brooklyn in New York.
Markkanen and George combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Jazz outscored the Nets by a 42-20 margin. Utah shot 50.6% overall and earned consecutive wins for the first time this season.
The Nets dropped to 1-10 at home and were unable to earn their first three-game winning streak of the season. Noah Clowney led Brooklyn with 29 points, and Ziaire Williams scored 23.
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NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: ISLANDERS END AVALANCHE’S 17-GAME POINT STREAK
Mathew Barzal had a goal and two assists Thursday night and the New York Islanders never trailed as they ended the Colorado Avalanche’s 17-game point streak with a 6-3 win in Elmont, N.Y.
The regulation loss was just the second of the season for the Avalanche, who went 14-0-3 following a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Oct. 25.
New York’s Anders Lee and Bo Horvat each had a goal and an assist. Kyle MacLean, Adam Pelech and Casey Cizikas also scored while Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves for the Islanders, who finished 3-3-1 on a seven-game homestand.
Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin, Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen tallied. Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, starting in place of Scott Wedgewood (upper body), recorded 36 saves.
Flames 4, Wild 1
Matt Coronato scored to break a third-period tie and added an assist, pacing host Calgary to a victory over Minnesota.
Rasmus Andersson also collected one goal and one assist while Jonathan Huberdeau and Connor Zary each had a goal for the Flames, who snapped a two-game skid (0-1-1). Dustin Wolf made 26 saves.
Yakov Trenin scored for the Wild, who lost in regulation time for the first time after a 12-game point streak (10-0-2). Minnesota goalie Filip Gustavsson stopped 27 shots.
Penguins 4, Lightning 3
Evgeni Malkin scored the game-winner late in regulation, and Pittsburgh won in a controversial finish at Tampa Bay.
After the Penguins blew a 3-0 lead, Malkin, who had two goals and an assist, broke the tie by sweeping in a pass from Tommy Novak, who had two assists, at 17:17 of the third period. Ville Koivunen and Ben Kindel also scored for Pittsburgh, and Tristan Jarry made 37 saves.
Brandon Hagel scored twice, Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist and Darren Raddysh posted two helpers for Tampa Bay, which got 27 saves from Jonas Johansson. An apparent late goal by Kucherov was overturned when it was ruled that Hagel performed a hand pass in the buildup.
Blue Jackets 6, Red Wings 5 (SO)
Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko scored during a shootout and also had regulation goals as Columbus beat visiting Detroit.
Adam Fantilli scored twice, including the tying goal with 1:31 left to send the game into overtime for the Blue Jackets. Ivan Provorov had Columbus’ other goal, Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan each recorded three assists, and Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves.
Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane each had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings. Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and James van Riemsdyk also scored while Moritz Seider and Andrew Copp registered two assists apiece. Cam Talbot stopped 26 shots.
Bruins 5, Blues 2
Pavel Zacha’s back-to-back tallies capped a three-goal flurry in the second period of Boston’s win over visiting St. Louis.
Six Bruins registered multiple points as Morgan Geekie had a goal and two assists, Viktor Arvidsson and Alex Steeves each notched a goal and an assist, Elias Lindholm dished three assists and Mason Lohrei added two helpers. Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves to earn his first win since Nov. 6.
Pavel Buchnevich and Pius Suter each scored and Jordan Binnington stopped 22 shots for St. Louis, which has dropped two straight and gone 3-4-3 in its last 10.
Predators 2, Panthers 1 (OT)
Steven Stamkos scored with 57 seconds left in overtime as Nashville defeated reeling Florida in Sunrise, Fla.
Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and an assist for Nashville. Juuse Saros made 30 saves in a brilliant performance during which the Predators never led until the game’s final shot.
The Panthers — the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions — have lost five straight home games (0-4-1). They have also lost four consecutive games overall (0-3-1) to begin a six-game homestand. Carter Verhaeghe scored for the Panthers, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves.
Maple Leafs 5, Hurricanes 1
Bobby McMann scored two goals and Matthew Knies had a goal and an assist as Toronto won its third game in a row, beating Carolina in Raleigh, N.C.
Scott Laughton and Auston Matthews also scored for the Maple Leafs, who won for the fourth time in the past five games. Ex-Carolina forward Max Domi and Nicolas Roy each had two assists. McMann scored in the game’s opening minute and again with less than two minutes to play into an empty net, producing his first multi-goal game of the season. The Maple Leafs needed to use multiple goalies as Joseph Woll departed with a lower-body injury stopping 22 of 23 shots through two periods. Dennis Hildeby turned aside all nine shots he faced in relief.
Seth Jarvis scored his team-leading 16th goal for the Hurricanes. Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen continued to struggle, yielding four goals on 22 shots in his first action in three games.
Rangers 4, Senators 2
Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist and J.T. Miller recorded three assists in New York’s win at Ottawa.
Mika Zibanejad, Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Borgen scored for the Rangers, who are 5-1-0 over their past six games and are an NHL-best 12-4-1 in away games this season. Igor Shesterkin stopped 25 of 27 shots.
Ottawa’s Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist, Dylan Cozens also tallied and Jake Sanderson notched two assists. Leevi Merilainen stopped 23 of 26 shots for the Senators, who are 1-3-0 in their past four games.
Oilers 9, Kraken 4
Connor McDavid scored three goals and added an assist as Edmonton routed visiting Seattle.
Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard each had three helpers for the Oilers, who went 4-for-5 on the power play. Matt Savoie scored twice and Vasily Podkolzin, Zach Hyman and Mattias Janmark also tallied.
Eeli Tolvanen, Freddy Gaudreau, Jared McCann and Jani Nyman scored for Seattle, which lost its fourth game in a row (0-3-1). Kaapo Kakko registered two assists. Kraken goalie Joey Daccord was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 14 shots. Philipp Grubauer didn’t fare much better in relief, giving up four goals on 18 attempts.
Blackhawks 2, Kings 1
Spencer Knight made 26 saves for visiting Chicago in a win against Los Angeles.
Connor Bedard and Wyatt Kaiser scored for the Blackhawks, who had lost six of the previous seven games (1-4-2). Frank Nazar assisted on both tallies.
Trevor Moore scored and Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for the Kings, who have lost two in a row.
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INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL NEWS
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT BULLS
Indiana fell to 4-18 following a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, and gave up its second 50-point game to an opposing player as Jamal Murray scored 52 points at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers take a single-game trip to Chicago for a clash with the Bulls on Friday as they seek to stop their losing skid.
Chicago fell to 9-12 on Wednesday, losing to the Brooklyn Nets 113-103. Josh Giddey posted a 28-point triple-double in the matchup, notching 11 points and 11 assists. Giddey was the only Bulls player to cross the 20-point threshold, shooting 10-for-14 from the field and 8-of-11 at the charity stripe.
The Pacers had six players reach double-figure scoring totals on Wednesday, and were led by Pascal Siakam’s 23 points. Siakam has been Mr. Reliable for Indiana this season, averaging 24 points per night and leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals.
The inconsistencies plaguing Indiana come on the defensive end, where the Pacers surrender over 117 points per 100 possessions. Siakam emphasized the importance of focus on that side of the ball following the 135-120 loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday evening.
“[We’ve] just got to keep improving,” Siakam said. “Have defense be the thing that we hang our hats on. We’ve got to really be better at that.”
Indiana is on a two-game losing skid, and seeks to break that streak in Chicago. The Bulls rank 22nd in offensive rating, 21st in defensive rating, and are carrying a five-game losing streak into the game themselves.
The Pacers will look to capitalize on a middling Bulls team on Friday, Dec. 5, at 8:00 PM ET in the United Center.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Andrew Nembhard, G – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Ben Sheppard, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Jay Huff
Bulls: G – Josh Giddey, G – Ayo Dosunmu , F – Julian Phillips, F – Matas Buzelis, C – Nikola Vucevic
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton – out (right Achilles tendon tear), Quenton Jackson – out (right hamstring strain), Kam Jones – out (lower back stress reaction), Aaron Nesmith – out (left knee MCL sprain), Obi Toppin – out (right foot stress fracture)
Bulls: Zach Collins – questionable (Left Scaphoid Fracture), Noa Essengue – out (left shoulder contusion), Kevin Huerter – out (Left adductor strain), Tre Jones – questionable (left ankle sprain), Isaac Okoro – doubtful (left Lumbar Radiculopathy), Lachlan Olbrich – probable (left calf contusion), Julian Philips – probable (illness), Jalen Smith – questionable (left hamstring strain), Dalen Terry – questionable (left calf strain), Coby White – out (left calf strain), Patrick Williams – probable (left wrist sprain)
Last Meeting
Nov. 29, 2025: The Pacers won back-to-back games for the first time this season as they defeated the Bulls, 103-101, behind a buzzer-beating shot by Pascal Siakam.
Siakam’s 24 points led all scorers in the game, and he added two steals and two blocks on the other side of the ball. None of the Bulls tallied more than 17 points – both Josh Giddey and Tre Jones reached that mark – despite shooting over 40 percent from the 3-point line. Giddey nearly notched a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
Jay Huff scored Indiana’s first 14 points of the contest to give the Pacers a 14-9 lead, but didn’t score for the remainder of the game. He finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.
Chicago led the game 95-88 with under six minutes remaining, but Indiana went on an 8-0 run to take the lead with two minutes and change to play. With the game clock ticking down its final seconds, the game was knotted 101-101. Siakam’s game-winner fell through the net with just one-tenth of a second remaining on the clock.
Noteworthy
The Pacers are 105-107 against the Bulls all-time.
Indiana will play Chicago two more times this season following Friday’s matchup – once in January and again in April.
Bennedict Mathurin played with Bulls forward Dalen Terry at the University of Arizona.
Chicago’s Jalen Smith played over two seasons with the Pacers from 2022-2024.
Broadcast Information (Where to Watch and Listen to Pacers Games >>)
TV: FanDuel Sports Network/WALV – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 PM ET.
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INDY FUEL NEWS
FUEL HOST CYCLONES ON FRIDAY NIGHT
FISHERS- The Fuel will host the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday night to kick off their weekend against two division rivals. They will see the Cyclones again on Saturday, before heading to Toledo on Sunday to face the Walleye.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was on October 30 when the Fuel visited Cincinnati and took a 2-1 win over the Cyclones. Brett Moravec and Jacob Leguerrier were the two goalscorers for the Fuel before John Jaworski scored a shorthanded goal in the last two minutes of the game to put Cincy on the board.
STANDINGS BREAKDOWN
The Fuel head into this game two points behind the Cyclones in the Central division standings. Despite them having played the same number of games, Cincinnati have ten wins as opposed to the Fuel’s eight. Fort Wayne still sits atop the division, pulling away from the rest of the pack with 27 points and 13 wins.
ROOKIE TO WATCH
Cincinnati’s Ryan Kirwan comes into this game as the ECHL Rookie of the Month for November. In November, he played in 14 games for the Cyclones and recorded eight goals and seven assists for Cincy. Kirwan currently leads all rookies in the ECHL with nine goals, and is tied for first-year players with 17 points this season. He will be one to watch as the Fuel fight to climb the standings this weekend.
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INDIANA FOOTBALL NEWS
MENDOZA & SMITH EARN SPECIALTY AWARDS, SEVEN TABBED ALL-CONFERENCE ON OFFENSE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana football program added more hardware from the Big Ten Conference coaches and media panels on Thursday (Dec. 4) as quarterback Fernando Mendoza and offensive lineman Carter Smith both earned specialty awards to headline an offense that saw a program-record seven All-Big Ten honorees.
Mendoza was named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. He is the first to earn the conference’s quarterback of the year honor since its inception in 2011. He is the fourth Hoosier to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and joins Anthony Thompson (1988 & 1989) and Antwaan Randle El (2001).
Along with those honors, Mendoza was the first-team All-Big Ten quarterback and is just the seventh IU signal caller and first since Randle El in 2001 to earn first team honors. It is just the third time since 1950 a Hoosier took the first team spot at quarterback along with Randle EL and Harry Gonso (1967).
The Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year began in 1984 and Smith is the first Indiana offensive lineman to earn the award. He is also the first offensive to earn a first-team All-Big Ten since Don Schrader in 1987. He is the first offensive tackle to grab a first team spot since Charley Peal in 1977.
Along with the seven defensive honorees and three specialists honored on Wednesday, Indiana saw a program-record 17 players earn a spot on the Big Ten first, second or third teams. IU added two honorable mention nods for a total of 19 student-athletes honored by the conference’s coaches and media.
Mendoza and Smith were the two first team honorees, while wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt were selected to the second team by both the coaches and media. Center Pat Coogan and tight end Riley Nowakowski were each selected to the second team by the media and third team by the coaches. Running back Roman Hemby was a third team choice by the media panel and an honorable mention pick from the head coaches.
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INDIANA VOLLEYBALL NEWS
POSTSEASON JOURNEY BEGINS WITH COMMANDING SWEEP
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – 15 years to the date from the last NCAA Tournament game played in Bloomington, the No. 4-seeded Indiana volleyball team (24-7, 14-6 B1G) began its postseason journey with a commanding sweep (25-18, 25-15, 25-17) of Toledo on Thursday (Dec. 4) evening at Wilkinson Hall.
The Hoosiers won just their fifth NCAA Tournament game in program history after dispatching of the MAC tournament champions in straight sets. IU didn’t allow the visitors to reach the 20-point threshold and hit .307 on the night to advance to tomorrow’s (Dec. 5) second-round matchup against (5) Colorado.
Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles led the match with 12 kills. She moved into ninth in program history with 1,357 kills over her four years in Bloomington. Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs.
IU played one of its best defensive games of the season. The Hoosiers dug 45 balls, led by 10 with Jager, and blocked nine shots in the win. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray provided five kills and four blocks. Senior middle blocker Madi Sell added four blocks. Head coach Steve Aird’s group recorded double-digit aces (10) for the fifth time this season.
For the first time since 2010, IU will play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers will meet fifth-seeded Colorado tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. The winner of that match will advance to the regional semifinals in the Texas quadrant next weekend.
How it Happened
• IU’s defensive performance was the best it has been all season. The Hoosiers had 45 digs in just three sets but went for nine block to halt Toledo’s offense. Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager led the team with 10 digs while freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray and senior middle blocker Madi Sell recorded four blocks.
• When the Hoosiers’ offense is rolling, it has been very difficult to stop. IU hit .307 on the evening behind 36 assists from freshman setter Teodora Krickovic. All three of IU’s pin hitters went for at least nine kills in the win, led by 12 from senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles.
Top Hoosier Performers
#13 Tatum, Avry
9 kills, .333 hitting percentage, 4 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace
#23 Gray, Victoria
5 kills, .364 hitting percentage, 4 blocks, 1 dig
#3 Alonso-Corcelles, Candela
12 kills, 8 digs, 1 block, 2 aces
Notes to Know
• With a win on Thursday evening, IU set a single-season program record for wins (24) in the NCAA era. The 2010 team won 23 contests but this year’s squad has officially passed that mark. IU will go for its first 25-win season tomorrow night against Colorado.
• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles moved into ninth in program history in career kills. She recorded 12 in the win over Toledo, passing Katie Pollom (2001-04) in the process. Thursday’s win was the 72nd time she’s recorded double-digit kills in her career.
• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded the sixth double-double of her young career on Thursday evening. She provided 11 kills and a team-high 10 digs in the victory over Toledo. It’s the seventh time this season she’s recorded at least 10 digs. Jager matched a career high with three aces.
• IU will play Colorado tomorrow night at Wilkinson Hall with a shot at the NCAA regional semifinals. The Hoosiers have made it to the round of 16 just once in program history (2010). These two teams haven’t met since 1993 but will play at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ tomorrow in Bloomington.
• Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray shared the team lead with four blocks. She became the first IU freshman since Ashley Benson (2007) to record over 100 blocks in a season. Since the beginning of the 25-point rally-scoring era, no freshman has more blocks in a single season than Gray (102.0).
NCAA TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: COLORADO
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A trip to the NCAA regional semifinals is on the line Friday (Dec. 5) evening at Wilkinson Hall. Fourth-seeded Indiana and fifth-seeded Colorado will meet in Bloomington at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ to determine the first berth in the round of 16 this season.
The Hoosiers worked an impressive sweep of Toledo on Thursday (Dec. 4) to open their first NCAA Tournament journey since 2010. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles led the way with 12 kills while freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded a double-double on 11 kills and 10 digs.
Below is a list of notes to know ahead of Friday’s second round match at Wilkinson Hall.
Gameday Info
vs. (5) Colorado (Friday, December 5th, 2025 – 6 p.m. ET)
Live Video: bit.ly/3MkznXp
Live Stats: bit.ly/3MF39WS
Notable
PROGRAM RECORD: The Hoosiers made program history this week in Bloomington after Thursday’s win over Toledo. IU broke a single-season program record for wins (24) in the NCAA era, passing the former mark of 23 from 2010. It will have a chance at a 25-win campaign on Friday against Colorado.
BALANCE ON THE PINS: Indiana is the only Power Four program who has three different players averaging at least 3.22 kills per set this season. On 10 different occasions this year, all three of IU’s pin hitters have gone for 10+ kills each. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles leads the team with 3.49 kills per set.
POSTSEASON BALL: For just the sixth time in program history, IU is playing in the NCAA Tournament. It’s IU’s first appearance since going to the regional semifinals in 2010. The Hoosiers broke one of the longest postseason droughts (15 years) of any power four program. IU is hosting for just the second time in school history.
ALL-BIG TEN HOOSIERS: IU had three First Team All-Big Ten selections in 2025. Before this year, IU had never even had two players picked to the All-Big Ten First Team in the same year. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman setter Teodora Krickovic all made the team this season.
STRONG AT HOME: The Hoosiers have been fantastic at Wilkinson Hall over the last four years. Dating back to 2022, IU is 39-15 on the home court. For the first time since 1998-2000, IU has won 10-or-more home games in three-straight years. IU hasn’t lost at home to an unranked team since Nov. 12, 2023.
VIC STEPPING UP: When freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray gets the ball, she’s been especially lethal. During the month of November, her game was at a new level. In nine games last month, she hit .416 with 52 kills. Her best game was a career-high 12 kills against Purdue to end the regular season.
BIG TIME AVRY: Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum has loved the big moments during her IU career. She had 10+ kills in nine of 13 matches against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. In two games last week, Tatum averaged 3.86 kills per set while hitting at a .396 clip.
POWER DUO: IU is 26-8 over the last three years when senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and senior opposite Avry Tatum each record 10 kills in the same match. It last happened in a dominant win at Illinois (Nov. 26). On the season, the Hoosiers are 7-1 in conference play in 2025 when this occurs.
SERVING TOUGH: IU went for 10 aces in Thursday’s win over Toledo. It’s the fifth time this season that the team has gone for double-digit aces. Since November 14th, IU has recorded 52 aces and is averaging 2.26 aces per set in that seven-game stretch. Six different players tallied at least one ace in the first-round victory.
BIG BLOCK GRAY: Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray became the first freshman to record 100 blocks in a season after her four-block night against Toledo. She’s had 14 different matches with at least four blocks this year. The Hoosiers have also had 14 matches with at least nine blocks as a team this season.
First Round Notes: Indiana 3, Toledo 0
• With a win on Thursday evening, IU set a single-season program record for wins (24) in the NCAA era. The 2010 team won 23 contests but this year’s squad has officially passed that mark. IU will go for its first 25-win season tomorrow night against Colorado.
• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles moved into ninth in program history in career kills. She recorded 12 in the win over Toledo, passing Katie Pollom (2001-04) in the process. Thursday’s win was the 72nd time she’s recorded double-digit kills in her career.
• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded the sixth double-double of her young career on Thursday evening. She provided 11 kills and a team-high 10 digs in the victory over Toledo. It’s the seventh time this season she’s recorded at least 10 digs. Jager matched a career high with three aces.
• IU will play Colorado tomorrow night at Wilkinson Hall with a shot at the NCAA regional semifinals. The Hoosiers have made it to the round of 16 just once in program history (2010). These two teams haven’t met since 1993 but will play at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ tomorrow in Bloomington.
• Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray shared the team lead with four blocks. She became the first IU freshman since Ashley Benson (2007) to record over 100 blocks in a season. Since the beginning of the 25-point rally-scoring era, no freshman has more blocks in a single season than Gray (102.0).
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INDIANA WRESTLING NEWS
NO. 26 INDIANA TO FACE CENTRAL MICHIGAN & NO. 22 LITTLE ROCK
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– No. 26 Indiana Wrestling will compete in two duals over the weekend, facing Central Michigan and No. 22 Little Rock.
The 2-1 Hoosiers will host Central Michigan on Friday (Dec. 5) and travel south to face No. 22 Little Rock on Sunday (Dec. 7).
OKLAHOMA REWIND:
-No. 26 Indiana fell to No. 15 Oklahoma, 22-13, on Sunday, Nov. 16 in Norman, Okla. to put Indiana’s dual record at 2-1.
-No. 13 Jacob Moran and Conrad Hendriksen opened the dual at 125 lbs. and went to overtime. Moran found his way to a late takedown and 5-2 win in Sudden Victory.
– The Hoosiers and Sooners traded matches from 125 lbs. through 149 lbs. for a 6-6 tie four matches in. In that run, No. 28 Henry Porter defeated No. 21 Tyler Wells (141), 6-4.
-After the break Indiana led 10-6, No. 19 Tyler Lillard extended that to a 13-6 team score with his 4-1 decision victory over Bryce Burkett.
-Oklahoma picked up a decision victory and major decision at 174 and 184 lbs., respectively to tie the dual at 13-13. They finished the match with wins by major decision and tech fall to make it a 22-13 final score.
CMU PREVIEW:
-Indiana and Central Michigan will wrestle for the third season in a row on Friday (Dec. 4) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
-Indiana won last year 17-16 on critera in Mount Pleasant, Mich. and 25-15 in Bloomington in 2023. Prior to then, the two programs hadn’t met since 1997. Indiana leads the all-time series, 14-3.
-Central Michigan is 0-0 on the season. The Chippewas have not competed in a dual yet, but previously competed in the Michigan State Open and the Keystone Classic.
-Central Michigan has two ranked wrestlers in No. 30 Jimmy Nugent (149) and No. 28 Mason Shrader (157).
-The dual will take place in Simon Skjodt Assemby Hall. The Hoosiers have wrestled at least once in the historic building three out of the last four seasons.
-The last match there was a 27-15 Indiana win over Rider on Nov. 10, 2023.
RANKINGS REFRESH:
-Across the latest national rankings, Indiana has seven Hoosier wrestlers ranked in the top-33 at their weight class.
-This matches the most ranked wrestlers Indiana had at any point in last season’s campaign, too.
-Indiana’s ranked wrestlers include No. 12 Jacob Moran (125), No. 23 Henry Porter (141), No. 31 Bryce Lowery (157), No. 23 Tyler Lillard (165), No. 31 Derek Gilcher (174), No. 14 Sam Goin (184) and No. 12 Gabe Sollars (197).
-Prior to the recent set of rankings, Logan Frazier was ranked No. 33 at 133 lbs. by both InterMat and FloWrestling.
-As a team, Indiana ranks No. 26 with the best dual lineup according to InterMat.
HIGH-LEVEL NON-CON:
-The Big Ten Conference always provides high level competition in Indiana’s dual schedule, but the Hoosiers have their toughest non-conference dual schedule in years on deck.
-In addition to matches against Lock Haven, Columbia and Central Michigan, Indiana will face three ranked opponents in the non-conference slate.
-As it currently stands in the latest InterMat rankings, Indiana traveled to No. 15 Oklahoma (Nov. 23) and will travel to No. 22 Little Rock (Dec. 7) and host No. 24 Army (Dec. 13).
-As a result to the stronger dual schedule, Indiana will wrestle in fewer tournaments on their main schedule.
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PURDUE VOLLEYBALL NEWS
WRIGHT ON TRACK
NCAA First Round | Thursday, Dec. 4
4:30 p.m. ET
#6 seed Baylor def. Arkansas State, 3-2
30 minutes following Match 1
#3 seed Purdue def. Wright State, 3-0
NCAA Second Round | Friday, Dec. 5
6 p.m. ET
#6 Baylor vs. #3 Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 3 seeded Purdue volleyball team downed Wright State, 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-19) in the NCAA First Round. With the win, the Boilermakers advance to the Round of 32 and will take on No. 6 seeded Baylor Bears tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
NCAA Tournament Notes:
Akasha Anderson put up the first errorless performance this century with as many attacks: 16 kills, 0 errors, 29 attacks. Meanwhile it is the first errorless showing for a Boiler with 10+ kills since 2021 (Jael Johnson 10-0-17 vs. BYU in the NCAA Regional Semifinals).
Dave Shondell Remains perfect in the NCAA First Round, improving to 21-0
It is the 12th sweep in the NCAA First Round under Shondell
Purdue will play Baylor for the first time since 2019, when the teams met in the NCAA Regional Semifinals in Waco, Texas.
Boiler Notes
The 13 points allowed in Set 1 marked the third-lowest amount allowed by an opponent this season (season-low: 11).
Akasha Anderson had the most efficient match of her Boilermaker career, posting an errorless 16 kills on 29 attacks for a .552 clip.
Taylor Anderson dished out 39 assists with seven digs and two kills as she led Purdue to hit .381% in the match, including .567 in Set 1, nearly a team-season high.
Unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection and AVCA National Player of the Year Semifinalist Kenna Wollard posted her eighth double-double of the season with 13 kills, 10 digs, once ace. Her back row performance led the team.
Grace Heaney, the opposite, led the team for the majority of the match in digs, ending the night with nine digs, six kills and a pair of block assists.
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NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL NEWS
CARR SELECTED AS FINALIST FOR MANNING AWARD
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Freshman quarterback CJ Carr has been selected as a finalist for the Manning Award, honoring the top quarterback in college football.
Carr is one of 10 national finalists for the award, and one of just two freshmen. Carr is also a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year, and was also a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, recognizing the top quarterback in college football.
One of the nation’s top quarterbacks, and one of the best freshman players in the country, Carr ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency (168.1), sixth in yards per pass attempt (9.35) and sixth in passing yards per completion (14.06). This season, he has completed 195 passes for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns, also rushing for three touchdowns.
Nationally, Notre Dame ranks fifth in scoring offense (41.8), fifth in team passing efficiency (168.61), 10th in passing yards per completion (14.11), 17th in passes had intercepted (6), 18th in total offense (458.5), 18th in third down conversion percentage (0.481), 18th in rushing offense (203.4) and 20th in completion percentage (0.672).
Carr now has 12-straight games with a touchdown pass, which is the longest streak by a Notre Dame quarterback since Everett Golson from 1/7/2013 – 1/22/2014. Carr finished the regular season with 24 touchdown strikes, tying Sam Hartman and DeShone Kizer for the most passing touchdowns in their first 12 career Notre Dame starts since 1966.
Carr was recognized nationally in several instances for his Arkansas performance. in which Carr completed 22 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns and posted the most first-half passing yards (294) by an Irish quarterback since 2008. He was named a Manning Award Star of the Week and Manning Award Quarterback of the Week, the Shaun Alexander Award Freshman of the Week, and a member of the Davey O’Brien Great 8.
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NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
NO. 18 IRISH SUFFER SETBACK AT NO. 13 OLE MISS, 69-62
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 18 Fighting Irish dropped a hardfought 69-62 road game against No. 13 Ole Miss on Thursday night inside SJB Pavilion, dropping Notre Dame’s record to 5-2 on the season.
Hannah Hidalgo led all scorers in the game with 28 points while adding five steals, three rebounds and two assists. Malaya Cowles had her best game in an Irish uniform with 12 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting while also recording five rebounds and a block.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame got out of the gates quickly, jumping out to an early 10-4 lead before the hosts got hot from the field and tied the contest at 14-14 midway through the quarter. The Irish closed the quarter strongly, scoring the final 12 points of the first frame to take a 26-14 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play.
Notre Dame carried its momentum into the second stanza, scoring nine of the first 11 points to open up a 19-point lead at 35-16 with five minutes left in the half. Gisela Sanchez played a big role, hitting a three and a layup to spur the run.
Ole Miss refused to go away, closing the half on a 13-2 run to trim the Notre Dame lead to single digits at 37-29 heading into the break.
Over the first 5 minutes of the third quarter the Irish lead fluctuated between five and seven points, as the two sides traded buckets, moving the score to 43-38. The Rebels closed the quarter by outscoring Notre Dame 12-6 to take a one-point lead into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
The game was back and forth over the first 5 minutes of the fourth frame with each team scoring seven points to move the score to 57-56 in favor of the hosts. Ole Miss then scored back-to-back baskets to push its lead to five at 61-56, its largest of the night.
The Irish managed to cut the lead to a one-possession game at 63-60 with 37 seconds left but that was as close as they would get as the Rebels won by a final score of 69-62.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Irish remain on the road, traveling to Tallahassee to open ACC play against Florida State. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 7 and the game will be streamed on ACCNX.
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NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
10. IRISH EMBARK ON FIRST EVER TRIP TO TCU
FORT WORTH, Texas – Finals might not be for another two weeks, but this big test week for the Irish continues on the road Friday night. Notre Dame men’s basketball will look to ride some momentum after its ACC/SEC Challenge win, when they travel to TCU for an 8 p.m. ET tip on ESPN+. It’ll mark the last road non-con of the season, as ND will have three more non-cons at home before the Christmas break and the ACC season.
The TCU matchup marks the start of a home-and-home, with the Horned Frogs returning the trip to Purcell in 2026, same as Ohio State.
It’ll be the program’s first trip to Fort Worth, despite a 5-0 mark in the all-time series. The two have not clashed on the hardwood since March 18, 1997.
TCU is off to a 5-2 start. They suffered a tough 78-74 loss to New Orleans and a 67-63 heartbreaker to No. 6 Michigan. They have since bounced back and have won three straight, including an 84-80 victory over No. 10 Florida.
With a win on Friday night, the Irish would earn a coveted Quad 1 win, with TCU’s current NET rating coming in at 46.
The Horned Frogs rank highly in blocks per game (21st in the country with 5.6) and turnovers forced per game (16th with 17.1). They are led by Brock harding who ranks 8th in the country in steals per game (3.3) and 20th in assists per game (6.1). Harding (10.0), Jayden Pierre (11.7) and David Punch (12.7) all average double figures.
NEEDED IT
“Believe.” A word that was said after every huddle in the preseason and the start of the 2025-26 campaign. Belief that Notre Dame could get over its hump of finishing on the wrong side of close games. Coach Shrewsberry stated during the preseason that if this program wanted to turn a corner, it had to be mentally tougher in close games down the stretch. “Fight. Compete.”
Last season, the Irish were involved in 10 games that were decided by one possession. They were 5-5 in those instances and 0-3 in games decided by one point. Fast forward to this season and ND suffered a heartbreaking 63-64 loss at Ohio State in game four. The Irish had two chances to extend the lead late, and another chance at the buzzer for the win; but couldn’t convert.
Against Kansas, the Irish fought to cut an 11-point deficit to four, and against No. 3 Houston, they cut a 22-point deficit to four as well. Versus both, however, they couldn’t push past that final hump.
Those learning lessons bubbled to a boiling point against Missouri. The Fighting Irish battled back down 12, traded 11-0 runs in the second half, endured seven ties and eight lead changes, and with the game tied in the final minute, they pushed through with a game-winning three to take down Mizzou 76-71.
“Our guys have a lot of belief,” Coach Shrewsberry said. “In order to keep that belief, something good has to happen for them. They earned the right for something good to happen to them. Our guys earned it by doing things the right way. We needed to win a close game. We needed to go through these tough moments and come out on the right side.”
The game had it all and had that compete level Coach was asking for. It also had 16 assists on 25 made field goals – team basketball. More on that next.
MARKUS BURTON, POINT GUARD
Markus Burton had his best, if not most complete game of his career in the Missouri win. The junior point guard recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and a career high 10 assists.
Burton assisted or scored on eight of the team’s final nine made baskets.
“He creates so much havoc when he drives,” Shrewsberry said. “Just making the right play every time. Ten assists, 2 turnovers is big-time for him. … I thought he was really aggressive, driving to score. But I thought when people came over to help, he made the right play each time.”
CERTA-FIED
Cole Certa flashed it in the season opener when he dropped 22 points on a career best 6-9 night from three-point range. He flashed it last season in the win over Stanford when he drained a corner three with 18 seconds left for the 56-54 win. The sophomore guard delivered in a major way in the win over Missouri, recording the game-winning three with 17 seconds left.
In fact, Certa converted three triples in the final 4:35 of the game, ultimately finishing with 14 points.
FEED THE HOT HANDS
Two Irish are currently churning along offensively and riding long scoring streaks heading into TCU. For Burton, he hasn’t scored below 13 points this season and has registered five games of 20+. His 19.9 ppg currently ranks sixth in the ACC.
Burton is one of the best in the country from the midrange. The Mishawaka native is shooting 53.1 percent in the paint, which is 10.8 percent above the Division I average. Over the last five games, Burton has converted an impressive 64.7 percent from two.
Then there’s freshman guard Jalen Haralson, who gives this Notre Dame offense a new look and feel. He’s another ball handler who can attack the paint, or post up or get to the front of the rim. Plus, he takes pressure off Burton and gets him off the ball. He also provides length on the defensive end.
Haralson has produced seven consecutive games in double figures, averaging 14.4 points in that span on 53.6 percent shooting. Haralson gets to the rim at will, where he converts a whopping 75.7 percent – that’s 13.1 percent above the D1 average.
REBOUNDING TRANSLATES
Coach on Towt: “He’s energy personified. There have been a ton of transfers that transferred up and there scoring output doesn’t necessarily follow. Rebounding translates at every level. It’s heart and it’s effort. That’s what he does. Carson is just max effort, man. He just plays really hard. His effort on the glass on both ends, his physicality. He’s a big brother to these dudes. He’s feeding their belief because of the energy and the confidence that he gives them.”
Last year’s NCAA rebounding leader Carson Towt has been a high-level impact transfer from Northern Arizona. To start, he tied his career-high 19 rebounds in the season opener, which also set a new record for an Irish debut. He produced two double-doubles in the first five games. He then became the first Irish player in the conference era (1995-present) to start the season with six straight games with double-digit rebounds.
Towt’s current rebounding rankings:
- 10.2 rpg ranks 17th nationally, 1st in the ACC
- 3.3 offensive rpg – 36th nationally, 4th in the ACC
- 6.9 defensive rpg – 22nd nationally, 3rd in the ACC
- 1,170 career rebounds – leads all active players
NOTRE NOTABLES
- Notre Dame currently boasts a perfect 5-0 record at home, where they are averaging 86.2 points per game. They are shooting 50.5 percent inside Purcell. They are also averaging 11.0 made threes per game at home.
- The Irish are 16 wins away from 2,000 all-time. They would become the eighth program to achieve this feat.
- Certa is a perfect 16-16 from the FT line.
- Irish defense doing its part against P4 teams – held OSU to 64, Kansas to 71, No. 3 Houston to 66, Mizzou to 71.
- For the first time since the 2016-17 season, the Fighting Irish opened the season with three straight 20+ point victories.
- Notre Dame’s 42.8 mid-range field goal percentage vs the average opponent ranks 36th in the country.
- According to Haslam Metrics, Notre Dame’s defensive proximity allowed is 2.13 which ranks 12th nationally. Rating: 1.0=near proximity; 3.0=all threes.
- Kenpom Rating: Offense 113.1 (80th) & Defense 100.5 (56th).
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BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
BUTLER FALLS TO SETON HALL 70-51
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Butler fell to the Seton Hall Pirates 70-51 in the Bulldogs’ BIG EAST opener in South Orange, N.J., on Thursday evening. With the loss, Butler slides to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in conference action while Seton Hall improves to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in BIG EAST play.
BULLDOG HIGHLIGHTS
Saniya Jackson led the way for Butler with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the floor. She added five rebounds and two assists.
Kennedy Langham rounded out the Bulldogs in double figures with 10 points. Langham chipped in three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Lily Zeinstra and Saniya Jackson led Butler on the glass, pulling down five rebounds apiece.
Mallory Miller recorded three blocks in the contest.
Butler shot 18-for-54 from the floor (33.3%).
Butler forced 16 SHU turnovers, marking the 11th time in the last 12 games that Butler has forced its opponents to commit double-digit turnovers.
SETON HALL HIGHLIGHTS
Mariana Valenzuela poured in a game-high 25 points on an efficient 11-for-15 effort from the floor. Valenzuela pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
Jada Eads paced the Pirate offense with six assists and added four steals.
Seton Hall shot 43.9-percent from the floor (29-66) while shooting 43.8-percent (7-16) from behind the arc.
SHU forced 19 Butler turnovers and turned them into 19 points.
Seton Hall won the rebounding battle 45-30.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither side scored in the first two minutes of play before Caroline Dotsey scored the first points of the game at the 7:40 mark of the first. The Pirates staged an 8-0 run while holding Butler scoreless for over four minutes as SHU closed the quarter with a 19-9 advantage.
Butler opened the second quarter with a 5-0 run of its own, forcing Seton Hall to take a timeout at the 7:30 mark of the frame. The Pirates responded with an 8-2 run as the SHU lead grew to nine. Butler held Seton Hall scoreless over the final two minutes, as the Dawgs trailed 29-22 at the break.
Both sides traded buckets to start the third. The Dawgs were then able to hold the Pirates scoreless for over two minutes, trimming the lead to six behind buckets from Saniya Jackson and Langham. Seton Hall closed the quarter with the 43-35 lead as the Pirates hit a shot at the buzzer to extend the lead to eight.
Seton Hall opened the fourth on a 10-2 run as the Pirates sank two deep 3-pointers. Butler was unable to mount a comeback over the final minutes of the contest, falling 70-51 at the final whistle.
UP NEXT
Butler will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 7 as the Dawgs travel to Milwaukee to face Marquette. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. EST. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and fans can find a link to live stats on Butlersports.com.
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BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
BULLDOGS AND BOISE STATE SET FOR SATURDAY TIP AT HINKLE
–/rv Butler Bulldogs (7-1) vs. Boise State (5-3)
Saturday, Dec. 6 • 2PM
Hinkle Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, Ind.
Follow Along
TV/Stream: truTV • J.B. Long, Jim Spanarkel & Jared Greenberg
Radio/Audio: 93.5 & 107.5FM, SiriusXM 392, Sirius XM App, Butler Sports App & ButlerSports.com • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
The First Bullet Point Here Should be that Red Panda is Performing at Halftime of Saturday’s Game
• Saturday’s game begins a home-and-home series with the Broncos; the teams will meet in Boise next season.
• Butler and Boise State have played on neutral courts in each of the past two seasons, splitting those match-ups.
• Finley Bizjack scored 29 points in Tuesday’s win over Eastern Michigan. The output was one point shy of his career-high (set against Boise State in April at The Crown).
• Bizjack went 6-for-10 from three-point range against Eastern Michigan, with the six three-pointers matching his career-high (also set in The Crown game against Boise State).
• Bizjack leads the BIG EAST in three-point percentage (45.6 percent; 42nd nationally) and is third in the BIG EAST in scoring (19.0 points per game; 59th nationally).
• Michael Ajayi posted his seventh double-double of the season (in eight games) with 19 points and 13 rebounds against Eastern Michigan Tuesday.
• Ajayi began the season with six consecutive double-doubles. The last Bulldog to have five or more consecutive double-doubles was Gordon Hayward (with five between Feb. 11-March 6, 2010).
• Ajayi ranks third nationally in both rebounding (12.0 per game) and defensive rebounding (8.75 per game).
• The Bulldogs average 90.0 points per game this season, which is 28th nationally.
• Butler shot 52 percent from the field in Tuesday’s win over Eastern Michigan, the team’s fourth game this season making at least half their attempts. On the season, the Bulldogs are shooting 50.2 percent from the field. That is tops in the BIG EAST and 35th nationally.
• Butler has out-rebounded all eight of its opponents this season and the team’s rebounding margin of +13.0 per game ranks fifth nationally.
• The Bulldogs only had six games last season with a rebounding margin of +10 or better but have accomplished the feat in six of eight games so far this season.
• Butler ranks sixth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage according to KenPom, tracking down 42.4 percent of their own misses.
• Butler’s 19 free throw attempts in Tuesday’s win over Eastern Michigan were a season-low. On the season, Butler is averaging 29.1 free throw attempts per game, which is 11th in the country.
• The Bulldogs made 11 of their 20 attempts from behind the arc in Tuesday’s win over Eastern Michigan with the 55-percent mark being a season-best. On the season, Butler is hitting 41.1 percent of their long-range attempts, which is tenth nationally.
• The Bulldogs picked up wins over South Carolina and Virginia to win the 2025 Greenbrier Tip-Off.
• Ajayi earned both BIG EAST Player of the Week and USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors Nov. 24 after averaging 16.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in Butler’s two wins at the Greenbrier.
• Butler is ranked No. 23 in the NCAA’s NET ranking. The rankings debuted Monday (Dec. 1) with the Bulldogs at No. 21. The Bulldogs trail only UConn and St. John’s among BIG EAST teams in the NET rankings.
• Jalen Jackson has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. In his place, Azavier Robinson made the first start of his career in the Nov. 28 win over Wright State, finishing with nine points, a career-high four assists, three rebounds and three steals.
• Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor made his Butler regular season debut in Tuesday’s win over Eastern Michigan after injuring his ankle in the Oct. 29 exhibition against Notre Dame.
• Butler has 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game.
• Butler scored 65 second-half points in the Nov. 28 win over Wright State (94-69). The Raiders held a 32-29 halftime lead, Butler’s first time trailing after 20 minutes this season. The 65 points were Butler’s largest output in a half since scoring 71 and 73 in the Nov. 14, 2015 win over The Citadel (144-71).
• Butler received votes in both the Dec. 1 and Nov. 24 national coaches poll, the first votes for the Bulldogs this season.
• Butler’s defense has guarded the arc well this season; only two of the Bulldogs’ eight opponents have shot better than 32 percent from three-point range.
• Butler is averaging 17.3 fast-break points, which is 32nd nationally.
• Yohan Traore scored a season-best 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field in the Nov. 28 win over Wright State. Traore and fellow Butler center Drayton Jones combined for 24 points, making all 10 of their attempts from the field.
• In addition to Ajayi’s 14 rebounds in the Nov. 23 win against Virginia (which tied his season-high), Jamie Kaiser Jr. matched his career-high with 10 rebounds and Jones set a season-high with nine boards.
• Six different Bulldogs have at least two double-figure scoring games for Butler through seven contests; that includes both Traore and Robinson off the Butler bench. Evan Haywood has one double-figure scoring performance this season, which also came off the bench.
• In Butler’s two wins at the Greenbrier Tip-Off, Kaiser registered more steals (seven over two games) than misses (four over two games – combined 6-for-8 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free throw line).
‘Bout the Broncos
• Boise State enters the contest with a 5-3 record and has not played since the Maui Invitational Nov. 24-26.
• Andrew Meadow leads four Broncos in double figures, averaging 13.6 points per game. Javan Buchanan (who played his first two seasons at Indiana Wesleyan before transferring to Boise and earning 2024-25 Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year honors), Georgetown transfer Drew Fielder, and UCLA transfer Dylan Andrews also average double figures.
• The Broncos are among the Top 30 teams in the country in defensive efficiency.
• Boise State has averaged 24.8 wins per season over the last four years, earning NCAA Tournament berths three times during that four-year stretch.
Bulldogs and Broncos…
• Butler and Boise State have met twice previously, splitting neutral-court match-ups over the past two seasons. Butler’s win came in the 2023 ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando and the Broncos picked up a win in the quarterfinals of the inaugural College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas earlier this year.
There’s No Place Like Hinkle
• Butler is 87-5 in their last 92 home games against non-conference teams.
• Thad Matta is 29-4 at Hinkle Fieldhouse against non-conference opponents as Butler’s head coach (which includes the 2000-01 season and since his return in 2022).
Up Next
The Bulldogs open BIG EAST play Saturday, Dec. 13 when Providence visits Hinkle. The tip concludes a four-game homestand for the Bulldogs.
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IU INDY TRACK AND FIELD NEWS
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD TO OPEN INDOOR SLATE AT FANGMAN INVITATIONAL
INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indianapolis women’s track and field squad will officially open the 2025-26 indoor slate on Friday (Dec. 5) when the Jaguars open at UIndy’s Scott Fangman Invitational inside the Athletics & Recreation Center. Five Jaguars are expected to make their collegiate debuts this weekend in the two-day meet.
On Friday, senior Morgan Hoard will make her season debut on Friday, competing in the pentathlon, where she already holds the second-highest mark in program history. Hoard, the school record holder in the shot put, owns a personal best mark of 3,092 points.
On Saturday (Dec. 6), a full contingent of Jaguars will compete, including expected collegiate debuts from Elisa Algozine (high jump, long jump), Skylar Ferry (400m), Peyton Gross (high jump), Sophia Palmer (200m) and Jenna Twedt (mile). Sophomore PaShence Purnell tops the team’s entries in the 60m hurdles with a personal best time of 9.03 seconds while classmate Jahzara McAlister is tops among the 60m dash and 200m dash entrants at 8.00 and 25.82 seconds, respectively.
Senior Jada-Marie Davis owns the school record in high jump at 1.66m (5′ 5.25”) and veteran Reese McCuan holds the top mark in the triple jump at 11.46m (37′ 7.25”). Skyler Sichting will take aim at the shot put after competing in the event twice late in the outdoor season last spring.
A full recap and results from the two-day event will be posted to IUIndyJags.com following each day’s events.
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BALL STATE FOOTBALL NEWS
MAC SACKS LEADER NATHAN VOORHIS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-MAC
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State senior defensive end Nathan Voorhis has been named first-team All-Mid American Conference, as voted at season’s end by the MAC’s 13 head coaches.
Earlier Thursday, he accepted an invitation to play in the Hula Bowl senior all-star game.
Voorhis, the MAC’s co-leader with 12 sacks in 12 games, tied for the league lead with Nadame Tucker of Western Michigan, who was named the MAC’s defensive player of the year. Voorhis and Tucker tied for third among national leaders in sacks, with Voorhis having once led all FBS players through 10 games.
A transfer from Bryant University who played his first two seasons at UConn, Voorhis recorded the most sacks by a Ball State player since 1982 and finished with the second-highest figure in program history. The Cardinals’ single-season record of 13 is shared by Kelly George, in 1982, and Craig Newbury in 1981.
Voorhis began the season with sacks in four of the Cardinals’ first five games – recording one at both Purdue and Auburn, then two in a home opener against New Hampshire and 3.5 in an upset win over defending MAC champion Ohio. His 3.5 sacks against the Bobcats were his career high and matched the most by any player in any FBS game this season.
Putting his early-season assault in perspective, Voorhis’ eight quarterback sacks through five games far eclipsed last year’s season leader, Riley Tolsma, who finished with 5.5. Voorhis doubled Tolsma’s figure by Ball State’s 10th game, after earning sacks in consecutive games against Akron, Northern Illinois and Kent State. His final sack came in the Cardinals’ final game at Miami.
Overall, Voorhis finished as Ball State’s fourth-leading tackler, boasting 51 stops and 17 tackles for loss.
VOORHIS ACCEPTS INVITATION TO PLAY IN HULA BOWL SENIOR ALL-STAR GAME
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State senior defensive end Nathan Voorhis has accepted an invitation to play in the 2026 Hula Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 10. The Hula Bowl is the nation’s longest running college football all-star game dedicated to seniors, established in 1946 and celebrating its 80th rendition next month.
Voorhis becomes the fifth player to represent Ball State in the Hula Bowl, following Justin Riley in 2003, Terry Moss in 2006, and Antwan Davis and Caleb Huntley, both in 2021.
The MAC’s co-leader with 12 sacks in 12 games, Voorhis tied for third among national leaders in sacks, after once leading all FBS players with 11 through 10 games.
A transfer from Bryant University who played his first two seasons at UConn, Voorhis recorded the most sacks by a Ball State player since 1982 and finished with the second-highest figure in program history. The Cardinals’ single-season record of 13 is shared by Kelly George, in 1982, and Craig Newbury in 1981.
The 80th annual Hula Bowl game airs on CBS Sports Network, January 10 at noon ET, from Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in Deland, Florida.
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INDIANA STATE SWIMMING NEWS
SYCAMORES WELCOME TOLEDO FOR SENIOR WEEKEND
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State swimming and diving is back this weekend for Senior Weekend as the Sycamores host Toledo on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. inside the Vigo County Aquatic Center.
The Sycamores will recognize their eight 2025-26 seniors prior to the meet as Kalli Agapios, Raine Boles, Sophia Diaz, Haley Halsall, Peyton Heagy, Ali Pearson, Rebekah Shaffer, and Brenna Woodruff all prepare for their final competition at home.
“We’re looking forward to honoring our seniors and getting right back into some competition on Saturday,” head coach Josh Christensen said. “This meet will provide us some opportunities to come back and make some improvements on main events, as well as take some shots at different events. It should be a high-energy, fast meet.”
Event Schedule
200 Medley Relay, 1000 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke, 200 Fly, 50 Freestyle, 1M Diving, 100 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 200 Breaststroke, 500 Freestyle, 100 Fly, 3M Diving, 200 IM, 400 Freestyle Relay
Indiana State is back in competition for the first time since suiting up at the Miami Invite as the Sycamores saw a number of new marks go into the all-time record annals over November 19-22. The weekend featured 50 new lifetime best, 32 new season bests, and 20 new entries into the Sycamores’ Top 10 all-time performance list.
Highlighting the weekend included two new Indiana State records as Claire Parsons took down the 500-yard Freestyle mark on November 20 with a time of 4:46.65, while Grace Cummings established a new standard in the 1650-yard Freestyle with a time of 16:23.09. Both times are the fastest in the Valley this season with Parsons’ mark nearly three seconds better than the competition, while Cummings has the fastest time in the conference by over 11 seconds.
Among the new entries in the Indiana State all-time performance list features Raine Boles (50 Free), Erin Cummins (100 Free), Claire Parsons (100 Free, 500 Free) and Grace Cummings (500 Free, 1000 Free, 1650 Free) in the freestyle, while Sara Keefe (50 Back, 100 Back), Kate Reeves (100 Back), and Anna Asplund (200 Back) entered the top 10 in the backstroke. Jenna Nave cracked the top 10 in both the 100 and 200-yard Breaststrokes, while Sophia Diaz improved on her time to sit fourth on the all-time list in the 100 Fly. Indiana State also featured entries in the 200 Medley Relay and 400 Medley Relay.
Jecza Lopez added to her titles on the season, winning the 1M Springboard crown, while finishing fourth overall in the 3M event. Her performance led to her receiving MVC Diver of the Week for the fourth time in the 2025-26 season, claiming the accolade every single time she has competed this year.
Sycamores Among the Valley Top 10
50-yard Free: Raine Boles (23.07, 5th)
100-yard Free: Erin Cummins (50.51, 7th)
200-yard Free: Erin Cummins (1:48.33, 3rd), Claire Parsons (1:48.64, 4th)
500-yard Free: Claire Parsons (4:46.65, 1st), Grace Cummings (4:49.66, 3rd), Erin Cummins (4:51.14, 4th), Maria Saldana Riebeling (4:54.61, 9th)
1000-yard Free: Grace Cummings (9:54.12, 1st), Claire Parsons (9:57.39, 2nd), Maria Saldana Riebeling (10:14.87, 6th), Haley Halsall (10:19.48, 9th)
1650-yard Free: Grace Cummings (16:23.09, 1st), Claire Parsons (16:34.29, 2nd), Maria Saldana Riebeling (16:49.27, 3rd), Haley Halsall (17:04.93, 9th)
100-yard Back: Sahara Visscher (55.72, 5th)
200-yard Back: Anna Asplund (1:59.83, 4th)
50-yard Breast: Ali Pearson (28.67, 2nd), Jenna Nave (29.83, 9th)
100-yard Breast: Ali Pearson (1:01.35, 2nd), Jenna Nave (1:04.38, 8th)
200-yard Breast: Ali Pearson (2:15.22, 3rd)
50-yard Fly: Raine Boles (25.04, 6th)
100-yard Fly: Raine Boles (54.70, 4th), Sophia Diaz (54.74, 6th)
200-yard Fly: Haley Halsall (2:02.53, 2nd), Sophia Diaz (2:03.53, 4th)
400-yard IM: Maria Saldana Riebeling (4:27.27, 8th)
1M Diving: Jecza Lopez (287.40, 1st), Bree Cleary (242.62, 10th)
3M Diving: Jecza Lopez (315.75, 1st), Bree Cleary (241.65, 9th)
The Sycamores close out the 2025 portion of the calendar following Saturday’s meet. Indiana State will be back in action on January 10 at Southern Illinois.
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PURDUE FT. WAYNE TRACK AND FIELD NEWS
‘DONS OPEN THE SEASON AT NOTRE DAME AND GVSU
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne track and field program begins the season on Friday (Dec. 5) at Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Invitational and the GVSU Holiday Open.
GVSU Holiday Open
When: December 5 | 11 AM
Where: Allendale, Mich.
Schedule:Link
Information:Link
Live Results:Link
Watch:Link
Women’s Entrees:Faith Allen (5000m), Kynzlei Bassett (5000m), Ava Genovese (5000m), Haylee Hile (5000m), Ava Milligan (5000m) and Riley Tate (5000m)
Men’s Entrees:Jack Strong (5000m)
Blue-Gold Invitational
When: December 5 | 1 PM
Where: South Bend, Ind.
Schedule and Information:Link
Live Results:Link
Teams Entered: Bethel (Ind.), Butler, DePaul, Detroit Mercy, Grace, Indiana Tech, Marian (Ind.), Marquette, Michigan, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Purdue Fort Wayne, Valparaiso
Women’s Entrees:Francesca Carlo (WT), Emery Carrico (SP), Makenna Dommer (WT), Tiara Gray (60m, 200m, 4x400m), Aubrey Haas (60h, LJ, 4x400m), McKayla Henry (SP, WT), Diana Hodges (800m, 4x400m), Lillian Hurd (60m, 300m, 4x400m), Lena James (60m, 300m, 4x400m), Harmony Johnson (60m, 300m, 4x400m), Bethany Lockridge (800m, 4x400m), Amelie Mach (500m, 60h, 4x400m), Ava McAlexander (60h, LJ, 4x400m), Jaliyah Page (60m, 60h, 4x400m), Kaylee Rogaczewski (LJ), Sanayah Ruffin (500m, 4x400m), Ali Sparks (SP, WT), Scout Warner (HJ), Martia Williams (LJ), Aniya Young (60m, 300m, 4x400m) and Ellie Zagel (SP, WT)
Men’s Entrees:Darius Atkins (60m, 200m, 4x400m), Josiah Bird (SP, WT), Tyler Bowman (SP), Ashton Brann (60m, 300m, 4x400m), Hunter Crew (WT), Michael Drohosky (HJ), Ambrose English (500m, 4x400m), Colin Gasson (800m), Dalyn Givens (PV), Troy Golden (800m, 4x400m), Tyler Hess (HJ, PV, 4x400m), Aaron Hoffer (500m, 4x400m), Denton Jacobs (WT), Gregory James (200m, 4x400m), Owen Kaufman (WT), Braydn Livingston (1000m, 4x400m), Luca Merita (60m, LJ, 4x400m), Brevin Miller (SP), Jack Mills (1000m, 4x400m), Seth Mills (800m, 4x400m), Max Parciak (SP), Andrew Roman (PV), Joshua Roper (100m, 4x400m), Sawyer Ruminer (PV), Kale Seymour (1000m, 4x400m), Reagan Shaver (500m, 4x400m), Jaylin Springer (60m, 200m, 4x400m), and Kaleb Tucker (200m, 60h, 4x400m)
#HLTF Indoor Preseason Polls
The Mastodon women’s team earned 76 points in the polls, behind Youngstown State (98) and Milwaukee (90). The Penguins took eight first place votes, leaving two for the Panthers. The Mastodon men tallied 42 points in the polls. Youngstown State (63) and Milwaukee (57) owned the top of the men’s preseason polls as well, the Penguins took seven of the eight first place votes.
2024 Women’s Indoor Track & Field Recap
The Mastodons completed their best league finish at the 2024 Horizon League Indoor Championships, finishing runner-up while hosting in the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse. Director Aaron Combs was named Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Women’s Coach of the Year. The ‘Dons claimed both Horizon League Indoor Freshman of the Year awards, Lillian Hurd (Running) and Amelie Mach (Field). Purdue Fort Wayne boasted five event champions: Ali Sparks (weight throw and shot put), Hurd (400 meters), Jordan Yanders (60 meters hurdles) and 4×400 meter relay (Sanayah Ruffin, Mach, Marissa Van De Weg, Hurd).
2024 Men’s Indoor Track & Field Recap
Purdue Fort Wayne tied their best team finish at the 2024 Horizon League Indoor Championships, finishing fourth for the second season in a row. The Mastodons had three event champions while hosting in the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse: Ezra Lewellen (60 meter dash), Jonas Morris (400 meters) and 4×400 meter relay (Lewellen, Cainen Northington, Noah Morris, Jonas Morris).
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VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
MEN’S BASKETBALL TO HOST CCSJ IN FINAL GAME BEFORE FINALS
Valparaiso (5-3, 0-0 MVC)
at CCSJ (4-5*, 2-2 CCAC)
*Entering Thursday at Grace Christian (Mich.)
Game No. 9 – Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m. CT
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: He’s mean. He’s green. And he’ll be at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Saturday! The Grinch Stole Gameday promotion will take place as the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team welcomes NAIA foe Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) in the final contest before a break for final examinations. This will count as a regular-season game for Valpo and an exhibition game for CCSJ.
Last Time Out: Valpo led for 28 minutes on Tuesday night at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, but it was host Marquette that held the upper hand when the overtime clock reached all zeros as the Beacons fell 75-72 while giving a Big East opponent all it could handle. Valpo played shorthanded down the stretch as JT Pettigrew did not play the final 3:18 of regulation or overtime due to cramping, Rakim Chaney fouled out with 1:30 left in regulation and Brody Whitaker fouled out with 1:21 left in overtime. Owen Dease had 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 5-of-5 at the free-throw line, while Pettigrew contributed 16 points and eight rebounds while shooting 7-of-11 before his game-changing exit.
Glancing Ahead: The Beacons will host UNC Wilmington on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at the ARC in the nonconference home finale. Entering Wednesday night vs. Marshall and Saturday at Louisiana, UNC Wilmington is off to an 8-1 start. The team went 27-8 last season en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance
Following the Beacons: Streaming – ESPN+ – Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Jamie Stangel (analyst)
Radio – WVUR 95.1 FM Valparaiso, TuneIn Radio App, ValpoAthletics.com – Jack Hutter and Eli Conklin
X updates – @ValpoBasketball
Links for video, audio and live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com.
Head Coach Roger Powell Jr.: Roger Powell Jr. (27-47) is in his third season as the head coach of the Valpo men’s basketball program. After helping guide Gonzaga to a 121-13 record during his four seasons as an assistant coach, Powell returned to Valpo, where he was part of head coach Bryce Drew’s staff from 2011-2016 and led the team to 124 wins in five seasons, including a program-record 30 victories and a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) title game appearance in 2015-16. He was part of head coach Mark Few’s Gonzaga staff as the Bulldogs reached the 2021 national championship game after winning their first 31 games of the season. During Powell’s first season on staff in 2019-20, Gonzaga was 31-2 at the time the NCAA college basketball season was halted due to COVID-19. The Bulldogs reached the Sweet Sixteen in each of his final three seasons on staff, including two Elite Eight appearances and the aforementioned trip to the 2021 national title game. Prior to his arrival at Gonzaga, Powell served as the associate head coach at Vanderbilt University under Bryce Drew from 2016-2019. During his stint as an assistant at Valpo, he was part of four Horizon League regular-season championships in a five-year period while also leading the 2012-13 and 2014-15 squads to Horizon League tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. A product of Joliet West High School and a native of Joliet, Ill., Powell capped a prolific collegiate playing career at Illinois with a national title game appearance in 2005 before going on to a successful professional playing career. In the second season of the Powell Era in 2024-2025, Valpo over doubled its overall win total from the previous season and doubled its conference win output before earning a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal berth. The Beacons finished with 15 wins, the team’s highest total since 2019-20.
Series Notes: Valpo is 2-0 all-time against CCSJ, most recently recording a 107-57 victory over the Crimson Wave last year.
Scouting the Crimson Wave
Under the direction of head coach Jason Hawkins, who graduated from Valpo with a degree in history in 2003, played for the Brown & Gold from 2000-2003 and later spent time as a Valpo assistant coach.
This marks the eighth straight year Valpo has played a team coached by Hawkins, as he served as the head coach at Trinity Christian for six seasons and is now in his second season at CCSJ.
Picked up a 72-71 home win over Kuyper on Monday before playing at Grace Christian on Thursday.
On the Brink
Valpo was on the brink of a signature victory, falling 75-72 in overtime on Dec. 2 at Marquette.
Marquette has gone to four straight NCAA Tournaments including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2024.
That was the closest Valpo has come to beating a team from the Big East Conference since a three-point loss to Marquette on Jan. 27, 2006 (L 65-62) and the closest Valpo has come to a road win over the Big East in over a quarter of a century.
This was the closest Valpo has come to a road win over Marquette since an 80-79 loss on Dec. 1, 1965.
This was the closest Valpo has come to beating a member of the Big East, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12 or PAC-12 since defeating Alabama 68-60 on Nov. 21, 2016 in a neutral-site game and the closest Valpo has come to winning on the road against a member of those conferences since Nov. 24, 2015 at Oregon State.
Valpo was hoping to snap a road losing streak against Marquette that reached 10 and was seeking the program’s first win at Marquette since 1964.
Valpo’s game at Marquette was the closest any Missouri Valley Conference team has come to beating a Big East opponent since Loyola Chicago’s 68-64 win over DePaul on Dec. 4, 2021.
Close Calls
The Dec. 2 loss at Marquette marked Valpo’s first overtime game since beating Indiana State 98-95 on Jan. 8, 2025 and first OT loss since Dec. 29, 2024 at Bradley.
Valpo snapped a seven-game winning streak in one-possession games, incurring its first loss by three points or fewer since Feb. 3, 2024 vs. Evansville (L 63-62).
Valpo has dropped six of its last seven overtime games dating back to 2022.
Solid Start
Valpo owns a record of 5-3, the team’s best mark through eight games since 2019-20.
With a win on Saturday, Valpo would improve to 6-3, the team’s best record through nine games since starting 8-1 in 2017-18.
The Beacons hold a 4-1 home mark on the season. With a win on Saturday, Valpo would be 5-1 at home for the first time under head coach Roger Powell Jr.
Other Notes Wrapping Up Dec. 2 – Marquette 75, Valpo 72 (F/OT)
Owen Dease led the team in scoring for the second straight contest with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 5-of-5 at the free-throw line. He also pulled down six rebounds, his season high.
Dease has scored 17 or more in each of his last two games and has tallied nine points or more in five straight including four of those in double figures.
JT Pettigrew racked up 16 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting. He owned a team-best plus-minus of +13 before exiting for good with cramping. The 16 points marked a season high for the freshman.
Rakim Chaney scored 13 points before fouling out in 20 minutes of play. He did so on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting and 3-of-5 from 3. He has scored in double figures in six of the team’s eight games this season.
Pettigrew and Shon Tupuola shared the team lead with eight rebounds apiece. Tupuola had seven or more for the seventh straight game.
The charity stripe played a key role in the outcome, as Marquette outscored Valpo at the line 27-8 and had 32 attempts to Valpo’s 12. This was the first time Valpo had 20 fewer attempts than its opponent since back-to-back games last season at Murray State and at Belmont. This was the first time Valpo had 19+ fewer made free throws than the opponent since Nov. 27, 2022 vs. James Madison.
Taking care of the ball had been a strength of Valpo’s throughout the season, but the game at Marquette proved to be the rare exception as the Beacons committed a season-high 21 turnovers and were outscored 20-7 in points off turnovers and 33-3 in fastbreak points. The 21 turnovers marked the team’s most during the Roger Powell Jr. Era and most in any game since 21 on Dec. 10, 2022 at Ole Miss.
Valpo shot 45.2 percent while holding Marquette to 35 percent from the floor. The Golden Eagles shot just 28.6 percent from 3.
Valpo held Marquette to just 65 points in the regulation 40 minutes, the sixth time in eight games this season that the Beacons have limited an opponent to 65 points or fewer in regulation.
Welcome, Rev. Konkol
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Valparaiso University announced Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D. as the institution’s 20th President.
Rev. Konkol, who will take over for retiring President Jose Padilla on Jan. 1, 2026, brings more than two decades of combined experience across higher education leadership, global service and mission-centered work.
Rev. Konkol and his family have ties to athletics. He competed on the men’s basketball team as an undergraduate student at Viterbo University.
Rev. Konkol is expected to attend the Valpo vs. CCSJ men’s basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 6. He will be recognized and introduced to the crowd during a media timeout, and is scheduled to join Todd Ickow on the ESPN+ broadcast at halftime.
A Game-Changing Investment
Thanks to the generosity of Jan Sievers ’59 Schrage and Paul Schrage ’57, the Valparaiso University men’s basketball program has received a significant boost to its recruiting and retention efforts.
The couple has committed $1 million to establish the Paul D. and Janet C. Schrage Basketball Excellence Fund, in alignment with the recently-launched Men’s Basketball Excellence Fund, which provides resources to the program’s greatest areas of need, such as team travel, nutrition and new student-athlete benefits.
This generous gift continues a lifetime of the Schrage family making a transformational impact on the University, athletic department and men’s basketball program. Since developing a close friendship with legendary Valpo men’s basketball head coach Homer Drew, the Schrages have provided philanthropic support that has benefited every men’s basketball coach and student-athlete who has donned the brown and gold.
Longtime benefactors to the University and ardent supporters of the basketball program, the Schrages funded the Schrage Basketball Wing addition to the Athletics-Recreation Center, which houses the men’s and women’s basketball offices. Along with the gift to construct the addition, they established an endowment to provide ongoing support for the facility on an annual basis.
Paul Schrage earned a bachelor of arts in business administration from Valparaiso University, a master of science in advertising from the University of Illinois and an honorary juris doctor from Valpo. He served on the Valparaiso University Board of Directors from 1996-2004 and from 2009-2015.
Schrage’s 30-year career with the McDonald’s Corporation began in 1967 when Ray Kroc hired him to start the marketing department. By the time he retired in 1997 as a senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer of McDonald’s Corporation and member of its board of directors, he had made McDonald’s one of the most powerful brands in the world. In recognition of his career, Schrage was inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Fame in 1997. He is also a lifetime trustee and former chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Board of Directors.
Rakim’s Rookie Rankings
Rakim Chaney is averaging 13.9 points per game (team high, ninth overall in the MVC). He has scored in double figures in six of his eight collegiate contests including four with 15+ points.
At 13.9 points per game, Chaney is 33rd nationally among freshmen. He ranks second among Missouri Valley Conference rookies behind UIC’s Andy Johnson (14.9 ppg).
Chaney’s 1.8 steals per game rank tied for 21st nationally among freshmen and leads all MVC rookies (t-fifth overall in MVC).
Walloping Western
Valpo defeated Western Michigan 84-55 on Nov. 29 at the ARC, a 29-point margin of victory that marked the team’s largest since beating CCSJ 107-57 on Dec. 22, 2024.
The win over the Broncos was Valpo’s most lopsided against a Division-I opponent since an 83-50 dismantling of Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 19, 2017.
Valpo held Western Michigan to a season-low 55 points, the fifth time in seven games that Valpo has limited an opponent to 65 points or fewer.
Block Party
Valpo rejected 10 shots in the Nov. 26 game vs. Southern Indiana, the team’s highest total since also blocking 10 on March 15, 2016 vs. Texas Southern.
Valpo followed that with eight blocks on Nov. 29 vs. Western Michigan, making it 18 in a two-game span. Carter Hopoi turned away four shots against the Broncos, a season high and his fourth game with multiple blocks.
Southern Indiana blocked nine shots against Valpo on Nov. 26, tied for the most by a Valpo opponent since Green Bay’s 12 on Feb. 20, 2014.
The Valpo/USI contest marked the first game nationally where both teams were credited with at least nine blocked shots since Jan. 11, 2025, Texas A&M vs. Alabama.
As of Dec. 3, Valpo leads the Missouri Valley Conference at 5.5 blocks per game and ranks 23rd nationally.
Other Notes Wrapping Up Nov. 29 – Valpo 84, Western Michigan 55
Owen Dease’s 18 points surpassed his previous season high of 13 on Nov. 12 vs. Nicholls. This was his highest scoring output since 20 on Feb. 20, 2025 at Lamar while playing for Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Dease scored nine points or more for the fourth straight game including three of his last four in double figures. He drained four 3s, tying a career high set on March 8, 2023 vs. Northwestern State.
Isaiah Barnes (10 points) had his third double-figure scoring output of the season, while Brody Whitaker (14) turned in a season best and was in double figures for the second straight contest. Whitaker improved to 10-for-10 at the free-throw line this season.
Brown’s 15 points marked his highest output of the season and his first double-figure performance in a Valpo uniform. He got there on 4-of-7 shooting and 3-of-5 from 3 while also going 4-for-4 at the stripe.
Shon Tupuola pulled down nine rebounds, his second-highest total of the season and his sixth straight game with at least seven.
Valpo’s 11 made 3s marked a season high as did the squad’s percentage of 45.8 from deep.
Valpo went 23-of-26 at the free-throw line (88.5 percent), setting season highs for both makes and percentage.
Valpo had nine steals on Western Michigan’s 16 turnovers, owning a 20-4 edge in points off turnovers.
Valpo won the rebounding battle 37-29 and had 13 offensive rebounds leading to 16 second-chance points.
Valpo extended its head-to-head winning streak against Western Michigan to five.
Who is Next?
A trio of incoming freshmen have signed to continue their basketball careers at Valpo during the November early signing period.
6-foot-4 guard Justin Curry II (Noblesville, Ind.), 6-foot-7 forward Hudson Scroggins (Lake Bluff, Ill.) and 6-foot-1 point guard Rajan Roberts will join the program next year.
Curry averaged 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game as a junior at Noblesville last season. He is a reigning Indiana Junior All-Star.
Scroggins was a 1,000-point scorer in the high school ranks at Lake Forest (Ill.) and is spending this year at a prep school, Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire.
Roberts is a highly-rated prospect from Chicago and was considered one of the top available point guards on the west coast at the time of his commitment. He is among the highest-rated recruits in Valpo history, according to 247Sports. His high school stops include a year each at Proviso West, Kenwood, Prolific Prep (Miami, Fla.) and AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.).
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UINDY FOOTBALL NEWS
SUKUP DUBBED HARLON HILL TROPHY FINALIST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In a season full of program records and firsts, UIndy football student-athlete Gavin Sukup made more history Wednesday, becoming the first-ever Greyhound to be named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. The prestigious award is given annually to the Division II College Football Player of the Year.
Also the first GLVC student-athlete to be named a Harlon Hill finalist, Sukup earned the elite status by rising to the top of an impressive list of Super Region 3 nominees. He joins senior QB Jack Strand of Minnesota State Moorhead as the two SR3 representatives, joining six more finalists from the other three super regions. The overall winner will be determined in a nationwide vote of the Division II sports information directors and will be announced on Friday, Dec. 19.
2025 HARLON HILL FINALISTS
Super Region 1
Curtis Allen, Sr., RB, Virginia Union
Judd Novak, R-Jr., QB, Kutztown
Super Region 2
Reed Charpia, Gr., QB, Newberry
Marcus Stokes, R-So., QB, West Florida
Super Region 3
Jack Strand, Sr., QB, Minnesota State Moorhead
Gavin Sukup, Sr., QB, UIndy
Super Region 4
Andrew Miller, Jr., RB, Harding
Drew Nash, Sr., QB, Western Colorado
SUKUP NOTES
First-ever three-time GLVC Offensive Player of the Year … captained the Greyhounds to program-record-tying 11 wins and a second-round playoff appearance … headlined one of the most prolific offenses in the nation, ranking second in DII in both total offense (500.3 ypg) and scoring offense (46.0 ppg) … individually topped the nation in passing efficiency, completion percentage and yards per pass attempt while ranking second in passing TDs and passing yards … finished with the second-highest career passing efficiency number in DII history (175.0) and the fifth-highest single-season total (195.6) … had three games his senior season with at least as many touchdown passes and incompletions thrown … only player in NCAA football in 2025 (all divisions) with six passing TDs and 100 rushing yards in the same game; also one of only three players in DII with multiple six-plus passing TD games … broke the single-season and career school benchmarks for passing TDs, passing yards and total yards … tied for the program record in career rushing TDs by a quarterback (17) … reset the conference record with nine career GLVC Offensive Player of the Week awards … named the week 10 DII Offensive Player of the Week by D2Football.com after accounting for seven touchdowns and throwing for career-high 419 yards at Southwest Baptist (11/8/25) … 2025 FCS National Bowl invitee … named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List.
DII RANKINGS (through 12/5/25)
1st – completion percentage (.723)
1st – passing efficiency (195.6)
1st – yards per pass attempt (10.6)
2nd – passing yards (3,695)
2nd – passing TDs (41)
2nd – points responsible for (278)
6th – total offense (309.1)
SCHOOL RECORDS BROKEN
Single-Game Touchdown Passes (6, tied)
Single-Season Touchdown Passes (41)
Single-Season Passing Yards (3,695)
Single-Season Completion Percentage (.723)
Single-Season Passing Efficiency (195.6)
Single-Season Total Offense (4,018)
Single-Season TDs Responsible For (46)
Career Touchdown Passes (87)
Career Passing Yards (9,032)
Career Passing Efficiency (175.0)
Career Total Yards (9,993)
Career TDs Responsible For (104)
Career Rushing TDs by a QB (17, tied)
GLVC RECORDS BROKEN
Single-Season Touchdown Passes (41)
Single-Season Completion Percentage (.723)
Single-Season Passing Efficiency (195.6)
FOUR HOUNDS LAND ON ALL-SUPER REGION 3 LIST
FINDLAY, Ohio – The UIndy football team placed four student-athletes on the D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Team, released Thursday. Ryne Buttz earned first-team accolades, while TJ Easley-Jones, Grant Ray and Gavin Sukup appeared on the second team. UIndy’s four honorees led all GLVC schools and were good for a share of second-most in the region.
Veterans Ryne Buttz and Grant Ray made up two-fifths of UIndy’s stellar offensive line this year. The pair helped the Greyhound offense lead the nation in team passing efficiency and rank second in both total offense and scoring offense. Both students started all 13 games this season and both were named to the All-GLVC First Team. Furthermore, Buttz started 41 games in a row for UIndy and is one of only 13 players in program history to earn four all-league accolades.
Senior quarterback Gavin Sukup wrapped up one of the greatest seasons in UIndy football history. He topped Division II in passing efficiency, completion percentage and yards per pass attempt while ranking second in passing TDs and passing yards. He also finished with the second-highest career passing efficiency number in the history of DII. He was recently announced as one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
TJ Easley-Jones was the Hounds’ lone defensive honoree. The redshirt-junior cornerback ranked third in the GLVC in passes defended per game and fifth in fumbles forced. He was voted to the All-GLVC First Team and helped the UIndy defensive unit rank in top 20 in Division II in rushing defense, red zone defense and defensive touchdowns.
Overall, the quartet led the Hounds to a program-record-tying 11 wins, including a first-round playoff victory. UIndy also captured a fourth-consecutive GLVC title and earned a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA DII playoffs.
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IU INDY MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
HOUNDS TOP SAINTS IN THURSDAY NIGHT BATTLE
INDIANAPOLIS — UIndy secured its third straight win Thursday night, defeating Maryville University 67-52, at Nicoson Hall. The Greyhounds’ defense played a crucial role, forcing 15 turnovers and scoring 17 points off those opportunities.
The matchup between the Greyhounds and Maryville featured a tight first half, with both teams exchanging leads six times. UIndy took an early advantage with a fast-break dunk by Shaun Arnold, assisted by Carmelo Harris. Maryville responded with a 3-pointer from Evan Palmquist at 18:11, pushing them ahead. The Greyhounds regained the lead in the final moments, as Julian Norris hit a crucial 3-pointer with just three seconds remaining, assisted by Harris, to secure a 32-26 halftime lead.
The Greyhounds maintained their lead over Maryville in the second half, with a strong performance from Harris, who contributed two crucial 3-pointers. Noah Kon added to the momentum with a layup and a successful free throw at the 16:37 mark, extending the home team’s advantage. Maryville’s Palmquist made repeated 3-point attempts, narrowing the gap to 49-47, but the Greyhounds responded with a decisive scoring run. Norris capped off the scoring with a layup assisted by Arnold, securing a 67-52 victory for the home team.
Shaun Arnold recorded a double-double for the Greyhounds, scoring 11 points and grabbing 14 of UIndy’s 34 rebounds on the night. Carmelo Harris scored a team-high 14 points, adding 5 assists, while Julian Norris added a season high 10 points to the Hounds’ offense.
UP NEXT
The Hounds return to The Nic on Saturday, Dec. 6 to face UMSL at 3:30 p.m. for Winter Wonderland day presented by Hall Family Dentistry.
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UINDY VOLLEYBALL NEWS
UINDY KNOCKS OFF TOP-SEEDED UMSL IN REGIONAL OPENER
ST. LOUIS – Third time’s the charm.
The eighth-seeded UIndy Volleyball team knocked off No. 22 Missouri-St. Louis in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA DII Midwest Regional on Thursday, earning a five-set victory over the host Tritons.
Thursday’s shocker marks the first NCAA tournament for UIndy since 2013, as well as UMSL’s first home loss since August 2022. The Greyhounds are also the first No. 8 seed to win an NCAA quarterfinal contest since 2022.
Maddie Lynch recorded a match-high 18 kills on .378 hitting, while Paige Parlanti finished with her 21st double-double of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After dropping a pair of four-set losses earlier in the season, the Greyhounds ended the Tritons’ season in the regional quarterfinal. UIndy won the elusive third frame to lead 2-1, however, UMSL forced a fifth and deciding set on its home floor. The Hounds did not relent; UIndy never trailed in the fifth set, fending off four UMSL tying points. Five of the final six Greyhound points were a direct result of execution, as Makenzie Pflederer joined Lynch and Parlanti with kills. But it was Kaitlin Fasbender’s solo block to make it 13-10 that all but sealed it.
INSIDE THE BOX
– The UIndy defense held UMSL to its fourth-lowest hitting percentage (.184) in a match this season. The Tritons entered Thursday ranked 14th in the nation in the category.
– The Greyhounds totaled 15 blocks in the win, their second-highest clip at the net of the fall. Fasbender totaled eight stops, including four of the solo variety. The senior also contributed 12 kills and a pair of digs.
– UIndy claimed its fourth victory of the season after losing the opening set.
– Libero Macy Bruton (20) and defensive specialist Allie Wuestenfeld (14) combined for 34 scoops and three service aces. The former also brought excitement in the first set with a dig that sailed over the heads of all six Tritons for a kill.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds continue their revenge tour on Friday, facing Findlay at 8 ET in St. Louis. The Oilers bested the Hounds in five sets back on Oct. 17 at the annual Midwest Region Crossover.
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MARIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
WOMEN’S SOCCER’S POSTSEASON CUT SHORT FALLING IN QUARTERFINALS
Pensacola, Fla. – The Marian women’s soccer team fell to Oklahoma Wesleyan in an NAIA Quarterfinal Match-up Thursday morning. The Knights end the season with a 20-1-2 overall record and an 8-0-2 record in the Crossroads League.
Oklahoma Wesleyan struck first, recording a pair of shots, with one being a tad wide and the other saved by Lily Ames. Marian was able to push back and take control of the half with six shots, outshooting the Eagles by four. Allie Tredway, Marian Corro Celma, and Kiley Jones all recorded a shot on target but came up short against the Eagles’ defense in goal, ending the half with a 0-0 draw.
Marian opened up the second half with five shots, with Sienna Mullen, Erin Kelly, and Lauren Maresh all recording shots on target. Oklahoma Wesleyan pushed back with a wide shot followed by a goal in the 71st minute to take the one-goal lead over Marian. The Eagles continued to knock down shots, recording five more before Laney Harshany was able to push back with a shot high. Olivia Parmer attempted at a final shot but came up short against the Eagles’ goalie, falling 1-0 to Oklahoma Wesleyan.
Laney Harshany and Allie Tredway led the way, each recording three shots apiece, while Marian Corro Celma recorded two. Olivia Parmer, Lauren Maresh, Erin Kelly, Sienna Mullen, and Kiley Jones all recorded one shot in the game. In goal, Lily Ames recorded the loss, allowing one goal and recording two saves.
Marian ends their season with a final record of 20-1-2, reaching the NAIA Tournament for the seventh consecutive season, while reaching the quarterfinal round for the first time in three seasons.
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MARIAN FOOTBALL WITHDRAWN FROM NAIA PLAYOFFS
INDIANAPOLIS — Marian University announced today that the NAIA has withdrawn the program from the NAIA Football Championship Series after the university discovered that an academically ineligible student-athlete participated in three contests this season. As a result, Marian will not play its scheduled playoff game at Keiser University on Saturday, December 6, 2025, and the team’s season has concluded.
“We sincerely apologize to Keiser University, the NAIA, our student-athletes, and the Marian community that we cannot continue our season,” said Steve Downing, Marian Director of Athletics. “This is a disappointing outcome for everyone involved. We regret the disruption it causes and are taking immediate steps to address the root causes.”
The athletic department identified the eligibility issue following a routine internal review and self-reported the matter to the NAIA. The university has fully cooperated with the NAIA’s review. Marian understands the team may be required to vacate up to three games in which the ineligible student-athlete competed.
“As is often the case with inadvertent eligibility issues, multiple factors contributed to this situation,” Downing added. “We have identified gaps in our processes, are implementing strengthened academic and eligibility checks, and will complete a formal internal review. Our coaches acted in good faith and were not previously aware of the eligibility violation.”
A letter to the university has been sent out from the desk of President Daniel J. Elsener. The letter from President Elsener reads:
“I write with a heavy heart to share an important and difficult update. On December 2, we self-reported to the NAIA that we had just learned a member of our football team had become ineligible to play after his course fell short of the NAIA requirement to maintain full-time student status.
I know how painful and frustrating this is for our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and everyone who stands with the Knights. We deeply regret the circumstances that led to this outcome and the disruption it has caused for our team and community.
While we have systems in place to prevent these issues, we take full responsibility for the breakdown that brought us to this point. We are conducting a full audit of our academic and compliance processes to determine exactly what failed. I assure you that we will take action to correct the issue and strengthen our procedures to prevent this from happening again.
We made the decision to self-report because the integrity of our program and our university is paramount. We are fully cooperating with the NAIA and are committed to supporting the student-athlete involved and our entire football program, which has worked tirelessly to build a top-notch program. We will be transparent about findings and next steps and will share updates as they become available.
Thank you for your passion, patience, and continued support for the Knights.”
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Elsener
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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. 5
1924 — Red Green of the Hamilton Tigers scores five goals in a 10-5 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1971 — Willie Ellison of the Los Angeles Rams sets an NFL record with 247 yards rushing in a 45-28 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Teammate Travis Williams also returns a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown.
1972 — Johnny Rodgers of Nebraska wins the Heisman Trophy beating out Oklahoma’s Gregg Pruitt and teammate Rich Glover. The all-purpose back gains 5,586 yards and scored 45 touchdowns in his collegiate career.
1974 — David Thompson scores an ACC-record 57 points to lead North Carolina State to a 144-88 rout of Buffalo State. Thompson surpasses the 56 points scored by South Carolina’s John Roche against Furman on Feb. 5, 1971.
1976 — O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills rushes for 203 yards and a touchdown in a 45-27 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
1981 — Southern California’s Marcus Allen, who set an NCAA record for yards rushing in a season with 2,342, wins the Heisman Trophy.
1987 — Tim Brown, wide receiver and kick returner from Notre Dame, is awarded the Heisman Trophy.
1992 — Second-ranked Alabama beats No. 15 Florida 28-21 in the first SEC championship game. Alabama’s Antonio Langham intercepts a Shane Matthews pass, returning it 27 yards for a touchdown with 3:16 left in the game.
1995 — Dan Marino completes 35 of 50 passes for 343 yards with two touchdowns and in leading Miami to a 21-20 comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons. It was his 52nd 300-yard game of his career, breaking the league record he had shared with Dan Fouts.
2004 — Peyton Manning of Indianapolis is 25-of-33 for 425 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in a 51-24 win over Tennessee. Manning notches his 13th straight multi-TD game, breaking the NFL record held by Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas, Don Meredith and Brett Favre.
2008 — Former NFL star O.J. Simpson is sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery.
2012 — Kobe Bryant scores 29 points, making him the fifth player in NBA history to score 30,000, and the Los Angeles Lakers snap a two-game skid with a 103-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. The other players to score more than 30,000 are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.
2016 — Klay Thompson has 60 points, an NBA season high and the most by a Golden State player in more than 42 years, as the Warriors whip the Indiana Pacers 142-106. Thompson scores 40 by halftime in just 18-plus minutes. He had a career-best 60 points through three quarters and called it a night, sitting down with 1:22 left in the period.
2017 — Russia is banned from the next Winter Olympics in South Korea over state-sponsored doping.
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TV SPORTS TODAY
Friday, Dec. 5
AUTO RACING
4:25 a.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
7:55 a.m.
ESPNU — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
5:25 a.m. (Saturday)
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — Gonzaga vs. Kentucky, Nashville, Tenn.
7:30 p.m.
PEACOCK — East Texas A&M at UConn
7:30 p.m.
TNT — Cincinnati at Xavier
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
7 p.m.
CBSSN — Conference USA Championship: TBD
ESPN — Sun Belt Championship: TBD, Harrisburg, Va.
8 p.m.
ABC — American Athletic Championship: TBD
FOX — Mountain West Championship: TBD
COLLEGE SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
6 p.m.
ESPNU — NCAA College Cup: TBD, Semifinal, Kansas City, Mo.
8:45 p.m.
ESPNU — NCAA College Cup: TBD, Semifinal, Kansas City, Mo.
GOLF
4 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, Second Round, Gary Player CC, Sun City, South Africa
1:30 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Hero Challenge, Second Round, Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas
9:30 p.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Crown Australian Open, Third Round, Royal Melbourne GC, Melbourne, Australia
4 a.m. (Saturday)
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, Third Round, Gary Player CC, Sun City, South Africa
NBA BASKETBALL
7 p.m.
PRIME VIDEO — L.A. Lakers at Boston
9:30 p.m.
PRIME VIDEO — Dallas at Oklahoma City
NHL HOCKEY
7 p.m.
NHLN — Vegas at New Jersey
_____
Saturday, Dec. 6
AUTO RACING
5:25 a.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
8:55 a.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
Noon
ACCN — Southern Miss. at Miami
CBS — Iowa St. at Purdue
ESPN2 — Dayton vs. Virginia, Charlotte, N.C.
FOX — Duke at Michigan St.
TRUTV — Rhode Island at Providence
12:30 p.m.
USA — Old Dominion at Richmond
1 p.m.
CW — UNC Asheville at NC State
2 p.m.
BTN — Ohio St. at Northwestern
FS1 — Marquette at Wisconsin
TNT — Boise St. at Butler
2:15 p.m.
CBS — Louisville at Indiana
2:30 p.m.
USA — Princeton at Loyola of Chicago
4 p.m.
BTN — Rutgers at Michigan
ESPNU — Seton Hall at Kansas St.
FS1 — Maryland at Iowa
4:30 p.m.
CBS — Baylor at Memphis
5 p.m.
CBSSN — Colorado at Colorado St.
6 p.m.
BTN — Washington at Southern Cal
ESPN2 — Wake Forest at West Virginia
PEACOCK — Oregon at UCLA
7:30 p.m.
CBSSN — Oklahoma St. at Grand Canyon
8 p.m.
ESPN — Illinois at Tennessee
PEACOCK — Florida St. at Houston
PEACOCK — Mississippi at St. John’s
9 p.m.
TRUTV — Ark.-Pine Bluff at DePaul
10 p.m.
CBSSN — Oklahoma vs. Arizona St., Phoenix
ESPN — Auburn at Arizona
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
Noon
BTN — Indiana at Illinois
6 p.m.
FS1 — Iowa at Rutgers
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Noon
ABC — Big 12 Championship: TBD, Arlington, Texas
ESPN — Metro Atlantic Championship: TBD, Detroit
2 p.m.
ESPN2 — Prairie View A&M at Jackson St.
4 p.m.
ABC — Southeastern Championship: TBD, Atlanta
ESPN — Southeastern Championship: TBD, Atlanta (Field Pass)
8 p.m.
ACCN — Atlantic Coast Championship, Charlotte, N.C. (Field Pass)
ABC — Atlantic Coast Championship, Charlotte, N.C.
FOX — Big Ten Championship: TBD, Indianapolis
GOLF
4 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, Third Round, Gary Player CC, Sun City, South Africa
Noon
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Hero Challenge, Third Round, Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas
2:30 p.m.
NBC — PGA Tour: The Hero Challenge, Third Round, Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas
10 p.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Crown Australian Open, Final Round, Royal Melbourne GC, Melbourne, Australia
4 a.m. (Sunday)
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, Final Round, Gary Player CC, Sun City, South Africa
NBA BASKETBALL
7:30 p.m.
NBATV — Golden State at Cleveland
NHL HOCKEY
7 p.m.
NHLN — Utah at Calgary
SKIING
5 p.m.
NBC — FIS: Alpine Ski World Cup, Beaver Creek, Colo.
SOCCER (MEN’S)
7:30 a.m.
USA — English Premier League: Arsenal at Aston Villa
10 a.m.
USA — English Premier League: Brentford at Tottenham Hotspur
12:30 p.m.
NBC — English Premier League: Liverpool at Leeds United
2:30 p.m.
FOX — MLS Cup: TBD, Final
_____
Sunday, Dec. 7
AUTO RACING
7:55 a.m.
ESPN — Formula 1: The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
ESPNU — Formula 1: The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (F1 Kids)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
1 p.m.
ESPN2 — Missouri vs. Kansas, Kansas City, Mo.
2 p.m.
SECN — UTSA at Alabama
3 p.m.
ESPN2 — Texas Tech vs. LSU, Fort Worth, Texas
4 p.m.
ACCN — Hofstra at Pittsburgh
SECN — San Francisco at Mississippi St.
5 p.m.
ESPN — Georgetown at North Carolina
ESPN2 — SMU at Texas A&M
FS1 — Creighton at Nebraska
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
Noon
ACCN — Boston U. at North Carolina
BTN — Purdue at Michigan
SECN — NC Central at South Carolina
1 p.m.
FS1 — DePaul at UConn
2 p.m.
ACCN — Duke at Virginia Tech
BTN — Ohio St. at Northwestern
3 p.m.
FS1 — Oregon at UCLA
4 p.m.
BTN — Maryland at Minnesota
6 p.m.
BTN — Michigan St. at Wisconsin
8 p.m.
BTN — Washington at Southern Cal
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Noon
ESPN — College Football Playoff Selection Show
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
7:30 p.m.
ESPNU — NCAA Division III Tournament: TBD, Championship, Bloomington, Ill.
COLLEGE WATER POLO (MEN’S)
6 p.m.
ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: TBD, Championship, Stanford, Calif.
FIGURE SKATING
4:30 p.m.
NBC — 2025 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: The 2025-26 Grand Prix Final, Nagoya, Japan
GOLF
4 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, Final Round, Gary Player CC, Sun City, South Africa
11:30 a.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Hero Challenge, Final Round, Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas
1:30 p.m.
NBC — PGA Tour: The Hero Challenge, Final Round, Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas
NFL FOOTBALL
1 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: Miami at N.Y. Jets, New Orleans at Tampa Bay, Indianapolis at Jacksonville, Pittsburgh at Baltimore
FOX — Regional Coverage: Seattle at Atlanta, Cincinnati at Buffalo, Tennessee at Cleveland, Washington at Minnesota
4:05 p.m.
CBS — Denver at Las Vegas
4:25 p.m.
FOX — Regional Coverage: Chicago at Green Bay OR L.A. Rams at Arizona
8:20 p.m.
NBC — Houston at Kansas City
PEACOCK — Houston at Kansas City
NHL HOCKEY
1 p.m.
NHLN — Colorado at Philadelphia
7 p.m.
NHLN — Vegas at N.Y. Rangers
SKIING
12:30 p.m.
NBC — FIS: Alpine Ski World Cup, Beaver Creek, Colo.
SOCCER (MEN’S)
9 a.m.
USA — Premier League: West Ham United at Brighton & Hove Albion
11:30 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Crystal Palace at Fulham
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