==INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REGIONALS==
CLASS 1A
LAVILLE (8-4) AT PIONEER (11-1)
SOUTH ADAMS (9-3) AT NORTH MIAMI (9-3)
SHERIDAN (8-2) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (10-2)
MILAN (6-4) AT PROVIDENCE (9-2)
CLASS 2A
SOUTHMONT (11-1) AT ANDREAN (10-1)
EASTBROOK (12-0) AT ADAMS CENTRAL (12-0)
LAPEL (12-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (11-1)
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (12-0) AT LINTON (9-3)
CLASS 3A
ANGOLA (7-5) AT KNOX (12-0)
FORT WAYNE LUERS (7-5) AT TWIN LAKES (10-2)
CASCADE (12-0) AT LAWRENCEBURG (10-1)
INDIAN CREEK (8-3) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (11-1)
CLASS 4A
HOBART (10-2) AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (11-1)
FORT WAYNE DWENGER (10-2) AT LEBANON (10-2)
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (9-3) AT YORKTOWN (9-2)
MARTINSVILLE (6-6) AT HERITAGE HILLS (11-1)
CLASS 5A
MERRILLVILLE (9-2) AT MICHIGAN CITY (8-3)
LAFAYETTE JEFF (10-1) AT CONCORD (10-1)
NEW PALESTINE (11-0) AT EAST CENTRAL (9-2)
FLOYD CENTRAL (10-1) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (10-1)
CLASS 6A
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (8-3) AT PENN (11-0)
FISHERS (8-3) AT WESTFIELD (9-2)
BROWNSBURG (11-0) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (9-2)
WARREN CENTRAL (7-4) AT CENTER GROVE (10-1)
=====
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES/SCHEDULE
THURSDAY’S SCORES
ADAMS CENTRAL 43 LAKEWOOD PARK 39
BATESVILLE 50 SOUTH DEARBORN 15
BEECH GROVE 53 GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 45 OT
BLOOMFIELD 60 SHOALS 36
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 57 SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 45
CHARLESTOWN 36 FLOYD CENTRAL 32
CLINTON CENTRAL 48 FRANKFORT 3
COLUMBUS NORTH 74 MARTINSVILLE 22
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 53 GARY 21ST CENTURY 8
DECATUR CENTRAL 64 PERRY MERIDIAN 32
EMAN 47 PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 20
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 50 VINCENNES RIVET 40
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 67 TECUMSEH 21
FOREST PARK 62 SPRINGS VALLEY 55
GARY WEST 46 BOWMAN ACADEMY 10
HAUSER 55 MILAN 33
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 84 EASTBROOK 20
HERITAGE 38 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 30
HIGHLAND 58 RIVER FOREST 20
INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE 41 TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 21
INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 55 MOORESVILLE 32
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 56 MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 41
KANKAKEE VALLEY 62 KOUTS 60
KOKOMO 50 PERU 43
LAPORTE 41 MISHAWAKA 35
LAVILLE 37 JIMTOWN 21
LAFAYETTE JEFF 54 LAKE CENTRAL 42
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 45 CAREER ACADEMY 35
LANESVILLE 38 PAOLI 36
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 69 DUGGER UNION 48
LOOGOOTEE 50 EASTERN GREENE 28
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 53 ANDREAN 20
MISHAWAKA MARIAN 51 GOSHEN 16
MISSISSINEWA 49 WABASH 35
MONROVIA 61 WESTERN BOONE 40
NORTH KNOX 60 LINTON 24
NORTH MONTGOMERY 35 FRONTIER 33
NORTH PUTNAM 63 COVINGTON 24
PRINCETON 73 EVANSVILLE BOSSE 32
RENSSELAER CENTRAL 61 TRI-COUNTY 35
SHAWE MEMORIAL 45 OLDENBURG ACADEMY 39
SHERIDAN 52 MOORESVILLE CHRISTIAN 16
SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) 49 WEST WASHINGTON 46
SOUTH DECATUR 43 MORRISTOWN 37
SOUTH SPENCER 74 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 54
SOUTHMONT 55 CLINTON PRAIRIE 31
SULLIVAN 55 WHITE RIVER VALLEY 32
TELL CITY 48 MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) 23
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 46 VINCENNES LINCOLN 42
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 67 KNOX 35
TRI-CENTRAL 48 TIPTON 36
TRI-TOWNSHIP 37 MICHIGAN CITY 34
TRITON CENTRAL 73 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 35
TWIN LAKES 48 LOGANSPORT 19
UNIVERSITY 50 TRI-WEST 43
WHEELER 63 ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 54
YORKTOWN 58 NORTHEASTERN 52 OT
ZIONSVILLE 41 WARREN CENTRAL 34
BANKS OF WABASH TOURNAMENT
RIVERTON PARKE 44 SOUTH VERMILLION 5
PARKE HERITAGE 50 NORTH VERMILLION 37
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ALEXANDRIA AT BLUE RIVER VALLEY 7:30 PM
ANDERSON AT RICHMOND 7:30 PM
ANDERSON PREP AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 7:30 PM
AUSTIN VS. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 7:30 PM
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE AT SCOTTSBURG 7:30 PM
BELLMONT AT WOODLAN 7:30 PM
BREBEUF JESUIT AT AVON 7:30 PM
BREMEN AT JOHN GLENN 7:30 PM
CASTON AT NORTH WHITE 7:30 PM
CENTERVILLE AT DALEVILLE 6:30 PM
CHRISTEL HOUSE AT PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 6:00 PM
COLUMBIA CITY AT WHITKO 7:30 PM
COLUMBUS EAST AT SOUTHPORT 7:30 PM
CONNERSVILLE AT JAY COUNTY 7:30 PM
COWAN AT DELTA 7:30 PM
CRAWFORD COUNTY AT HENRYVILLE 7:30 PM
CULVER ACADEMY AT NORWELL 7:45 PM
DANVILLE AT PLAINFIELD 7:30 PM
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (DYER) 8:00 PM
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) AT TAYLOR 7:30 PM
EASTSIDE AT FREMONT 7:00 PM
ELKHART CHRISTIAN AT BETHANY CHRISTIAN 6:30 PM
FAITH CHRISTIAN AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 6:30 PM
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK AT NEW HAVEN 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 7:30 PM
FRANKLIN AT WHITELAND 7:30 PM
GREENSBURG AT NORTH DECATUR 7:30 PM
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN AT SPEEDWAY 7:30 PM
HAMILTON HEIGHTS AT NOBLESVILLE 7:30 PM
HAMMOND MORTON AT GARY 21ST CENTURY 8:00 PM
HANOVER CENTRAL AT PORTAGE 8:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS AT CARMEL 7:30 PM
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN AT SOUTHERN WELLS 7:30 PM
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN AT CLAY CITY 7:30 PM
MITCHELL AT PERRY CENTRAL 7:30 PM
MOORESVILLE CHRISTIAN AT HORIZON CHRISTIAN 6:30 PM
MUNCIE CENTRAL AT MARION 7:30 PM
MUNSTER AT CHESTERTON 8:00 PM
NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL 7:30 PM
NORTH HARRISON AT EASTERN (PEKIN) 7:30 PM
NORTH MONTGOMERY AT ATTICA 7:30 PM
NORTHWOOD AT WEST NOBLE 7:30 PM
OAK HILL AT NORTHFIELD 7:30 PM
PARK TUDOR AT INDIANAPOLIS HERRON 7:30 PM
RISING SUN AT SOUTH DECATUR 7:30 PM
ROCK CREEK ACADEMY AT CANNELTON 7:30 PM
SALEM AT ORLEANS 7:30 PM
SEVEN OAKS AT GREENCASTLE 7:00 PM
SEYMOUR AT SILVER CREEK 7:30 PM
ST. THOMAS MORE AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (DYER) 8:00 PM
SWITZERLAND COUNTY AT MADISON 7:30 PM
UNION COUNTY AT NEW CASTLE 7:30 PM
WES-DEL AT RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 7:30 PM
WEST CENTRAL AT MORGAN TWP. 8:00 PM
WESTVIEW AT WAWASEE 7:30 PM
WINCHESTER AT KNIGHTSTOWN 6:30 PM
WOOD MEMORIAL AT NORTH DAVIESS 7:00 PM
CORYDON CENTRAL TOURNAMENT
BORDEN VS. WASHINGTON 6:30 PM R1
NORTHVIEW VS. EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 8:15 PM R1
CASTLE AT CORYDON CENTRAL 6:30 PM R1
NEW ALBANY VS. SOUTH KNOX 8:15 PM R1
=====
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCORES/SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, NOV. 13
OLD DOMINION 33 TROY 0
FRIDAY, NOV. 14
7:30 P.M.| NO. 15 LOUISVILLE VS. CLEMSON | ESPN
9 P.M. | NO. 9 OREGON VS. MINNESOTA | FOX
SATURDAY, NOV. 15
12 P.M. | NO. 2 INDIANA VS. WISCONSIN | BIG TEN NETWORK
12 P.M. | NO. 3 TEXAS A&M VS. SOUTH CAROLINA | ESPN
12 P.M. | NO. 10 NOTRE DAME AT NO. 24 PITT | ABC
12 P.M. |NO. 21 MICHIGAN AT NORTHWESTERN | FOX
12 P.M. | ARIZONA AT CINCINNATI | FS1
12 P.M. | KANSAS STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE| ESPNU
12 P.M. | AIR FORCE AT UCONN | CBSSN
12 P.M. | UTSA AT CHARLOTTE | ESPN+
12 P.M. | SOUTH FLA. AT NAVY | ESPN2
12 P.M. | EASTERN MICHIGAN AT BALL STATE| ESPN+
12:45 P.M. | ARKANSAS AT LSU| SEC NETWORK
1:00 P.M. | OREGON STATE AT TULSA | ESPN+
1:00 P.M. | WEST VIRGINIA AT ARIZONA STATE | TNT
1:30 P.M. | TENNESSEE TECH AT KENTUCKY| SEC NETWORK +
2:00 P.M. | MARSHALL AT GEORGIA STATE | ESPN+
2:00 P.M. | NORTH TEXAS AT UAB | ESPN+
3:00 P.M. | UTEP AT MISSOURI STATE | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | NO. 4 ALABAMA VS. NO. 12 OKLAHOMA | ABC
3:30 P.M. | NO. 8 TEXAS TECH VS. UCF | FOX
3:30 P.M. | NO. 14 VIRGINIA AT DUKE | ESPN2
3:30 P.M. | NO. 17 GEORGIA TECH AT BOSTON COLLEGE | ACC NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | NO. 18 MIAMI (FLA.) VS. NC STATE | ESPN
3:30 P.M. | NO. 19 USC VS. NO. 20 IOWA | TBA
3:30 P.M. | PENN STATE AT MICHIGAN STATE | TBA
3:30 P.M. | MARYLAND AT ILLINOIS | FS1
3:30 P.M. | MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT WESTERN KENTUCKY| ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | SAN JOSÉ STATE AT NEVADA | CBSSN
3:30 P.M. | APP STATE AT JAMES MADISON | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | SOUTH ALABAMA AT UL MONROE | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | TEXAS STATE AT SOUTHERN MISS | ESPN+
4:00 P.M. | MEMPHIS AT EAST CAROLINA | ESPNU
4:00 P.M. | FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT TULANE | ESPN+
4:15 P.M. | NO. 25 TENNESSEE VS. NEW MEXICO ST. | SEC NETWORK
4:30 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA AT WAKE FOREST | THE CW NETWORK
5:00 P.M. | LIBERTY AT FIU | ESPN+
6:00 P.M. | COASTAL CAROLINA AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN | ESPN+
7 P.M. | NO. 6 OLE MISS VS. FLORIDA | ESPN
7 P.M. | NO. 13 UTAH AT BAYLOR | ESPN2
7 P.M. | NO. 23 WASHINGTON VS. PURDUE | FS1
7 P.M. | SAM HOUSTON VS. DELAWARE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | UTAH STATE AT UNLV | CBSSN
7:30 P.M. | NO. 1 OHIO STATE VS. UCLA | NBC
7:30 P.M. | NO. 5 GEORGIA VS. NO. 11 TEXAS | ABC
7:30 P.M. | VIRGINIA TECH AT FLORIDA STATE | ACC NETWORK
7:45 P.M. | NO. 22 MISSOURI VS. MISSISSIPPI ST. | SEC NETWORK
8 P.M. | KENNESAW STATE AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | ESPNU
10 P.M. | LOUISIANA TECH AT WASHINGTON STATE | THE CW NETWORK
10:15 P.M. | NO. 7 BYU VS. TCU |ESPN
10:30 P.M. | BOISE STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE | CBSSN
10:30 P.M. | WYOMING AT FRESNO STATE | FS1
=====
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#2 PURDUE 87 ALABAMA 80
#17 MICHIGAN STATE 79 SAN JOSE STATE 60
HAWAII 88 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 56
SOUTH ALABAMA 66 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 64
WEST VIRGINIA 71 PITTSBURGH 49
SETON HALL 70 MONMOUTH 58
WICHITA STATE 95 LOYALA ILLINOIS 74
LSU 98 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 81
KANSAS STATE 99 CALIFORNIA 96
=====
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#9 MARYLAND 88 TOWSON 70
#12 TENNESSEE 68 BELMONT 58
#21 IOWA 100 DRAKE 58
#3 UCLA 78 #11 NORTH CAROLINA 60
OHIO 76 MOREHEAD STATE 60
RUTGERS 68 RHODE ISLAND 63
TEXAS A&M 79 TARLETON STATE 64
AUBURN 110 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 50
MIAMI OHIO 94 INDIANA SOUTHEAST 40
NEVADA 56 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 52
SOUTH DAKOTA 72 KANSAS STATE 71
WAKE FOREST 66 MERCER 61
OHIO STATE 90 BELARMINE 33
MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY 61 VIRGINIA 56
TEXAS TECH 91 SMU 60
GEORGIA TECH 87 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN 40
MIAMI FLORIDA 79 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 47
FLORIDA 87 SAMFORD 40
CLEMSON 78 AMERICAN 38
LINDENWOOD 76 ORAL ROBERTS 65
WESTERN MICHIGAN 65 MILWAUKEE 64
GEORGE 85 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 49
MISSISSIPPI STATE 82 JACKSON STATE 55
ARKANSAS 68 SE. LOUISIANA 60
SOUTHERN MISS 67 JACKSONVILLE STATE 61
TULSA 75 HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 67
TEXAS SAN ANTONIO 64 TEXAS STATE 41
ILLINOIS CHICAGO 66 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 55
COLORADO STATE 70 GONZAGA 66
SOUTHERN UTAH 74 EASTERN WASHINGTON 68
BYU 104 OMAHA 47
ARIZONA STATE 79 SAN DIEGO 47
=====
NFL SCHEDULE/SCORES
WEEK 11
THURSDAY, NOV. 13
NEW ENGLAND 27 NY JETS 14
SUNDAY, NOV. 16
WASHINGTON VS. MIAMI AT MADRID, 9:30 A.M.
TAMPA BAY AT BUFFALO, 1 P.M. (CBS)
LA CHARGERS AT JACKSONVILLE CINCINNATI AT PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M. (CBS)
CAROLINA AT ATLANTA, 1 P.M. (FOX)
GREEN BAY AT NY GIANTS, 1 P.M. (FOX)
CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M. (FOX)
HOUSTON AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M. (FOX)
SAN FRANCISCO AT ARIZONA, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)
SEATTLE AT LA RAMS, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)
KANSAS CITY AT DENVER, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)
BALTIMORE AT CLEVELAND, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)
DETROIT AT PHILADELPHIA, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)
MONDAY, NOV. 17
DALLAS AT LAS VEGAS, 8:15 P.M. (ESPN/ABC)
BYES: INDIANAPOLIS, NEW ORLEANS
=====
NBA SCOREBOARD
PHOENIX 133 INDIANA 98
TORONTO 126 CLEVELAND 113
ATLANTA 132 UTAH 122
=====
NHL SCOREBOARD
FLORIDA 6 WASHINGTON 3
LOS ANGELES 4 TORONTO 3 OT
DETROIT 6 ANAHEIM 3
DALLAS 7 MONTRÉAL 0
OTTAWA 5 BOSTON 3
COLUMBUS 5 EDMONTON 4
COLORADO 6 BUFFALO 3
CALGARY 2 SAN JOSE 0
NY ISLANDERS 4 VEGAS 3 OT
SEATTLE 5 WINNIPEG 3
=====
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PLAYOFFS
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
NOV. 22 – NOV. 23
EASTERN CONFERENCE: TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE: TBD
CONFERENCE FINAL
NOV. 29 – NOV. 30
SEMIFINAL WINNERS, TBD
CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY, DEC. 6: CONFERENCE FINAL WINNERS, 2:30 P.M.
=====
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
WEEK 12 GAMES TO WATCH
Friday night brings us a game I’m sure ESPN thought was going to be a lot better when they made TV selections over the summer. Clemson travels to #20 Louisville in what is a far cry from the Deshaun Watson-Lamar Jackson duels years ago. Louisville will once again be without star RB Isaac Brown, but they’ve found life in Keyjaun Brown who rushed for 134 yards on just 14 carries in their upset loss to Cal last week. Is this game going to be about a Clemson midseason revival, or will Louisville get back on track as they try to lock up Jeff Brohm to a long-term extension and keep fighting for an ACC Championship berth? It’s a jalapeno popper of an appetizer for the weekend – decent on paper but we don’t want too many of them. Also in this window, we’ve got Minnesota traveling to #8 Oregon in what should be a beatdown, but Oregon played with their food against Wisconsin, barely escaped Iowa last week, and has not shown the death star ability on offense that we expect out of national title contenders. 10/10 game to fall asleep to by the fire on your Friday evening.
Saturday’s noon slate features the College GameDay game with #9 Notre Dame traveling to #22 Pittsburgh, who is suddenly a war machine after making a midseason switch to QB Mason Heintschel. How big of a game is this for Pittsburgh? Don’t ask us, ask head coach Pat Narduzzi, who said the following after being asked if this is a must-win, “It is not an ACC game. I’m glad you brought that up. It’s not an ACC game. I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110-10 in that game. They could put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that.” These comments aren’t that surprising given Pat Narduzzi is one of the most blunt coaches out there, but pretty brutal if you’re a fan of the sport (or Pitt) who’d expect your head coach to be jacked up for one of the biggest games in recent program history.
On a second screen in the noon slate, we advise a cursory look at #24 USF heading to Navy. The Bulls and QB Byrum Brown have the inside path to a playoff bid, but there might be some service academy tomfoolery going on here if Navy QB Blake Horvath plays. If not, USF should run roughshod here, and the Bulls might hang 60. Bobby Petrino is 0-4 in his attempt to gain a single win as the Arkansas interim coach, but has a good opportunity against an LSU team that seemingly has no interest in playing the sport of football for the remainder of the year. Arizona @ Cincinnati and West Virginia @ Arizona State should be entertaining at a minimum if the Notre Dame game is a dud. Wisconsin heads to Indiana after showing a sign of life for the first time in 4 years last weekend by beating Washington, but now they get presumed buzzsaw Indiana in Bloomington. Is #2 Indiana fading after their Happy Valley escape? Probably not, but we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel here. We promise bangers are coming.
#11 Oklahoma traveling to Tuscaloosa is the filet mignon of the afternoon slate. #2 Alabama has the offensive playmakers in WRs Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard to put the nail in the coffin for Oklahoma’s playoff chances. The question is, will the OL give Ty Simpson enough time to get the ball out? Oklahoma’s defense is outstanding and Alabama doesn’t have a run game to speak of. The Sooners punked Alabama last year in Norman, but Simpson is not Jalen Milroe. The ground chuck of the afternoon, of course, involves two ACC matchups. #19 Virginia heads to Duke in what’s an ACC Championship and playoff elimination game for both teams. Duke is coming off a loss to UConn, but controls their own destiny to Charlotte should they win out. Virginia doesn’t have a passing TD in their last 10 quarters, and that’s not likely to change with their backup QB still in after Chandler Morris isn’t likely to play after being knocked out against Wake. Further down the sewer, you can find #15 Miami hosting NC State. No clue who’s winning this one, but one thing is for certain: society will not advance with these two programs playing.
#17 USC is still in playoff contention, but a loss to the visiting #20 Hawkeyes will knock them out completely. USC probably isn’t a legitimate playoff threat, given they head to Eugene next weekend, but their DNR order might last for one more week. Additionally, don’t be surprised if we’re talking about ECU this time next week. They’re 4-1 in conference, host Memphis, can score a ton of points, and aren’t completely out of the AAC race. Worth monitoring.
On Saturday evening, the crème de la crème of the evening is Texas @ Georgia and you can find that preview below. Elsewhere, Florida heads to #7 Ole Miss who can lock up a playoff spot if they win out. Maybe Lane Kiffin is facing his future employer in this spot. Florida State hosts Virginia Tech, and while Mike Norvell is definitely not getting fired during the season, if he loses to Virginia Tech with an interim coach, he should start packing and send his family to the Tetons for protection. The football and television overlords have heard our pleas, our yearning, and consternation over the lack of quality late-night viewing options. This weekend, we’re presented with two great matchups. San Diego State hosts Boise State, and if you’re not on the Aztec bandwagon yet, you’re running out of time. They’re 7-2 on the season, and if they win here, they have a massive matchup against San Jose State next weekend. #12 BYU hosts TCU in Provo one week after getting smoked by Texas Tech and are out of playoff contention, but what’s the point of watching football if you’re only worried about playoff contention? What are you? A fair-weather Clemson fan? These games will be bangers, and while we’re at it, check out Louisiana Tech at Washington State and Wyoming at Fresno State. You’ll miss these Saturday nights in February, we guarantee it.
NO. 7 OREGON HOSTS RESTED MINNESOTA ON FRIDAY NIGHT
In an unusual scheduling quirk, Minnesota has a four-game winning streak when playing on Friday nights.
So certainly the Golden Gophers (6-3,-4-2 Big Ten) are hoping to continue the tradition this weekend in Eugene, and at the same time topple No. 7 Oregon (8-1, 5-1, No. 8 College Football Playoff).
Minnesota is coming off a bye week following a 23-20 overtime win at home over Michigan State that made the Gophers bowl eligible for the fifth straight season.
The victory was also Minnesota’s sixth straight at home. The problem for the Gophers is the road, where they’re 0-3 this season.
“We’ve played some really good football at home and on the road. We’ve also played some really good teams on the road. So we just got to find a way to be a little bit better each week, have a little more attention to detail in the things that we do — especially in our preparation — to go out there and play our best game of the year,” coach P.J. Fleck said.
Oregon staged a comeback 18-16 win on the road against Iowa last Saturday that might be one of the Ducks’ most notable victories when the season is all over.
Oregon went into the game against the Hawkeyes without a pair of key receivers, freshman Dakorien Moore and tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and lost Gary Bryant Jr. to an apparent foot injury in the first quarter. And it was played in horrendous weather.
But in the end, quarterback Dante Moore led a 10-play, 54-yard drive to set up Atticus Sappington’s game-winning 39-yard field goal with three seconds left.
“I thought our guys had great composure. And each guy had to do their part. It was one of those games where every phase mattered. They all contributed,” coach Dan Lanning said.
Dakorian Moore, a freshman, has caught 28 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns this season, while Sadiq has 22 catches for 311 yards and five scores. Bryant has pulled down 25 passes for 299 yards and four TDs.
As is his custom, Lanning wasn’t revealing much about the status of his injured played for Minnesota.
“If they’re ready, they’ll play,” he said.
Moore’s Moment
Lanning was surprised to learn that Moore had never led a game-winning final drive like the one against the Hawkeyes.
“I didn’t realize this, but this was Dante’s first opportunity to actually come back from being down in a two minute drive. He said that to me, in his career, not just in this game, but in his career, which I think is pretty, pretty awesome for him to have that moment, but he’s cool, calm and collected, executed at a high level,” Lanning said.
Moore threw for 112 yards and an interception in the challenging weather in Iowa. Overall, he’s thrown for 1,884 yards and 19 TDs with only five interceptions.
Lindsey to the rescue
Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey had his own late-game heroics in the Gophers’ last outing, rushing for the game-tying touchdown in regulation against Michigan State and then adding a 3-yard TD run in overtime to win it.
Fleck said starting an inexperienced quarterback comes with the acknowledgment that there will be highs and lows. It’s part of the maturation process.
“He’s played really well, then maybe inconsistent at times, and then bang — when we needed him most, he was there,” Fleck said about the latest performance.
Lindsey has thrown for 1,743 yards with 10 scores and six interceptions. He’s also run for six touchdowns.
Rankings watch
Oregon moved up a spot in the College Football Playoff rankings this week to No. 8 following the victory over No. 20 Iowa. It was the Ducks’ first win over a ranked team this season.
Of the three remaining games on Oregon’s schedule, only one is against a CFP-ranked team, No. 17 USC on Nov. 22.
Should the Ducks win out, they should earn one of the at-large spots in the 12-team playoff. Undefeated Ohio State and Indiana, sitting atop the CFP rankings, are likely to meet in the Big Ten championship game.
RYAN DAY WARNS AGAINST COMPLACENCY AHEAD OF TOP-RANKED OHIO STATE’S GAME AGAINST UCLA
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — With two weeks remaining before its schedule gets tougher, top-ranked Ohio State looks to continue its dominating season when it hosts UCLA on Saturday night.
The Buckeyes (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) — who are favored by 31 1/2 points to beat the Bruins (3-6, 3-3), according to BetMGM Sportsbook — have dominated their six Big Ten games, winning by an average of 26.2 points. That includes a pair of 24-point victories the past two weeks against Penn State and at Purdue.
The one person not buying into the hype, though, is coach Ryan Day.
“And so it’s one thing to say, ‘OK, we’ve done X, Y, and Z up until this point,’ but that means absolutely nothing, like zero. We’ve done nothing,” he said following Wednesday’s practice. “So I understand everyone’s gonna talk about those things, but none of that has anything to do with what we’re doing moving forward. So if we think that has anything to do with this weekend or where we’re going, then we’re dead wrong. So we have to make sure we all understand that.”
After facing UCLA, Ohio State will host Rutgers next Saturday, leading up to its Nov. 29 showdown at Michigan. This could set up a Dec. 6 matchup against second-ranked Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, followed by a potential College Football Playoff appearance.
“We said this from the beginning, we wanna be the first (Ohio State) team ever to be back-to-back. And that’s a tall task. It’s easy to say, but it’s another thing to do. And so we’re in the middle of it right now, but we’ve got a lot of work to do and we gotta continue to stay focused on what matters,” Day said.
Day’s more immediate focus is making sure quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith remain concentrated on the present, rather than thinking about potential Heisman Trophy considerations.
Sayin leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in completion percentage (80.9%) and passer rating (192.6). Smith is second with 10 receiving touchdowns and sixth in receptions (65) and receiving yards (862).
“Our guys understand that if you win as a team, then everybody’s going to do well. I think you can see that with Jeremiah. You can see it with Julian. They both are pulling for each other. If I started to feel like it was becoming an individual thing, then yeah, we’d probably put a stop to it,” Day said.
The Bruins have lost their last two, including a 56-6 setback at Indiana on Oct. 25. Interim coach Tim Skipper is 3-3 since replacing the fired DeShaun Foster.
“It’s always going to come back to us just doing what we’re supposed to do. The big message from that game to this one will be starting fast. We have to take care of us. We can’t worry about who we were playing and things like that,” Skipper said.
Welcome back, Nico
Nico Iamaleava returns to Ohio Stadium, albeit in different circumstances.
The UCLA sophomore was Tennessee’s starting quarterback during the Volunteers’ 42-17 loss to the Buckeyes in a College Football Playoff first-round game last December. Iamaleava was 14-of-31 passing for 104 yards and had a career-high 20 rushing attempts for 47 yards.
“He takes hits, but he’ll get back up and do his thing. You just got to be aware of his feet, him on the ground and in the air because he can hurt you both ways,” defensive tackle Eddrick Houston said.
Even though Iamaleava is the leader of a 3-6 squad, Day knows how dangerous he can be. He is second in the Big Ten among quarterbacks with 474 rushing yards.
“He played tough in the playoff game here, and I’m watching him play the last few weeks, and man, he’s physical, he runs hard,” Day said.
Tate’s status
Ohio State could be without Carnell Tate for a second straight game. Day did not have an update on the junior wide receiver after he was held out of the Purdue game due to precautionary reasons.
Tate has 39 catches, 711 yards, and seven touchdowns this season.
On guard
Ohio State’s biggest lineup question going into the game is who will start at right guard? Josh Padilla is coming back from injury after missing last week at Purdue.
The Buckeyes are still likely to go with a rotation of Padilla, Tegra Tshabola, and Ethan Onianwa, as no one has emerged as a clear starter.
Moving on up
A win would give Day his sixth season of at least 10 victories, moving him past Woody Hayes and John Cooper.
Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel share the mark with seven.
NO. 4 ALABAMA, WHICH HAS WON 8 IN A ROW, HAS EXTRA MOTIVATION AGAINST NO. 11 OKLAHOMA
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — No. 4 Alabama stopped short of calling Saturday’s showdown against No. 11 Oklahoma a revenge game, but the Crimson Tide admit they haven’t forgotten last year’s outcome.
The Sooners beat the Tide 24-3 in Norman, Oklahoma. It was a shocking result considering the Sooners had lost four of five and Alabama was on the verge of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff. That letdown surely will provide extra motivation for Alabama (8-1, 6-0 Southeastern Conference, No. 4 CFP) in the rematch.
“There are (new) players that didn’t experience that,” Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said. “The ones that did certainly better remember and understand, more importantly, that you’re facing a really good program that obviously we went to their place and got beat up pretty good last year, and that’s who’s coming to town this week.”
A loss Saturday in Tuscaloosa wouldn’t derail Alabama’s playoff chances, but it could knock the Tide out of the SEC title game in Atlanta.
It’s a must-win game, however, for Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2, No. 11 CFP) and its playoff hopes. The Sooners are 2-2 over their last four games, with losses to Texas and Mississippi and wins against South Carolina and Tennessee.
“We all know,” Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer said. “We have a chance to determine our own destiny and keep it right in front of us. So that’s our goal.”
Oklahoma’s defense is the class of the SEC this season, leading the conference in yards and points allowed. It will need to have a memorable performance against Alabama, which has won eight in a row and has the longest home winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 17 games. The Tide’s average margin of victory during their home streak is 40-11.
“They’ve got a really good roster,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “They’re playing really well on both sides of the ball. Their defense leads the SEC in turnovers caused and turnover margin, and offensively they’ve been just incredibly efficient.”
One thing to watch from each QB
Mateer averaged 303.8 yards passing, with six touchdowns and three interceptions in four games before having thumb surgery. In four games since, he’s averaging 183.5 yards passing, with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He bounced back a bit against Tennessee, rushing for 80 yards and a score. Finding his rhythm against Alabama, which leads the SEC with 16 takeaways, should be key.
Simpson, a Heisman frontrunner, will have a similarly hard time against Oklahoma. The question for him and Alabama is whether they can create explosive pass plays to mitigate its struggling run game. Last week against LSU, Simpson connected on four passes that gained 30 or more yards, but he also left several big plays on the field that could’ve broken the game open.
“The low-hanging fruit there is complete the big, open ones,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “I think there’s a little bit of carryover there from the previous (weeks), just getting the ball out earlier and on time and making sure that we give our guys a chance at the football down the field.”
The stat to watch
Turnover margin has been Alabama’s catalyst all season. The Tide rank fourth nationally at plus-10 and have only six turnovers in nine games. On the other side, Oklahoma ranks 110th nationally at minus-five in turnover margin. The Sooners have seven takeaways and 12 turnovers.
The red zone will be a factor
The game features two of the better red-zone offenses in the nation. Oklahoma is the No. 1 red-zone offense in the country, scoring on all 28 trips inside the 20-yard line this season. Alabama, meanwhile, ranks 16th. Where the teams differ is defensively, where Alabama ranks eighth in red-zone defense and Oklahoma ranks 66th.
NO. 25 SOUTH FLORIDA VISITS NAVY IN ANOTHER MATCHUP WITH MAJOR AAC TITLE IMPLICATIONS
A quarterback duel between Byrum Brown and Blake Horvath — with potential playoff hopes on the line — is enough to make South Florida’s matchup with Navy one of the most significant games of the weekend.
There is, however, the rather large matter of Horvath’s health.
“I feel good,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said earlier this week. “I think he’s made an improvement every day. He’s starting to feel better and better.”
The Midshipmen could certainly use Horvath at full strength Saturday when they host No. 25 USF in another big inflection point in the American Athletic Conference title race. There are five teams with one loss in conference play, and these are two of them.
The champion of the AAC has a decent shot at earning a bid to the College Football Playoff. That’s what made Tulane’s win over Memphis last week so important. Navy (7-2, 5-1), South Florida (7-2, 4-1), North Texas (8-1, 4-1), Tulane (7-2, 4-1) and East Carolina (6-3, 4-1) are jockeying for spots in the league title game.
Navy faces USF and Memphis in its final two conference games. The Midshipmen have dropped two in a row after winning their first seven. Horvath was scratched from last week’s loss to Notre Dame because of an injury.
Assuming he’s back, this is a clash between two outstanding dual-threat quarterbacks. Brown is the only player in the FBS who has reached 2,000 yards passing and 700 rushing this season. Horvath has even more yards rushing (926 with 13 touchdowns) while operating Navy’s Wing-T offense.
In addition to moving into the AP Top 25, South Florida also received the No. 24 spot in the most recent CFP rankings, which is important since that ranking is the AAC’s top tiebreaker after head-to-head record.
“The biggest message to our guys right now is: Elite teams find a way to improve as they go here in November,” South Florida coach Alex Golesh said. “Elite teams find a way to stay focused.”
Tough to catch
Navy has won 77 consecutive home games when leading after three quarters. Its most recent defeat in such a situation was back in 1999.
More on Brown
The South Florida quarterback is the third FBS player in the last 30 seasons with at least 2,200 yards passing, 19 passing TDs and 700 yards rushing through nine games. The others were Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts in 2019 and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in 2016.
Brown also has a chance to reach 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 rushing. Only 11 players in FBS history have done that — most recently LSU’s Jayden Daniels in 2023 — and eight of them finished in the top three in the Heisman Trophy vote.
More on Horvath
His career pass efficiency rating of 164.9 makes him one of only 34 quarterbacks since 1956 with a rating of 164 or better. He’s 30th on that list, right between two No. 1 overall draft picks — Bryce Young of Alabama and Alex Smith of Utah.
Horvath threw for 339 yards and ran for 130 in a win over Air Force last month. The 469 yards of total offense broke the school record.
Series history
These teams have met only five times, beginning with a Navy victory in 2015 and alternating wins since then. The Midshipmen won 28-7 at USF last season, rushing for 321 yards. Brown missed the game with a leg injury.
South Florida won 44-30 at Navy in 2023, with Brown throwing for three touchdowns and Horvath throwing for two.
Wide margins
South Florida has 10 wins by at least 25 points since the start of last season. Only Indiana (12) and Ohio State (11) have more.
NO. 8 TEXAS TECH, WITH UCF NEXT, MAY NOT BE PLAYING LAST GAME AT HOME THIS YEAR IN PLAYOFF PUSH
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — This might not be the last game No. 8 Texas Tech plays at home this year, even though for now it is the last one on the schedule.
The Red Raiders (9-1, 6-1 Big 12, No. 6 CFP) play their regular-season home finale Saturday, a week after easily getting past BYU there in the Big 12’s first conference matchup of top-10 teams in four years. They have given coach Joey McGuire no reason to be concerned about a potential letdown as an overwhelming favorite against UCF (4-5, 1-5).
Just moments after the 29-7 win over BYU, one of the first players McGuire saw in the locker room was Jacob Rodriguez after his 14 tackles and two takeaways stirred up some Heisman Trophy buzz for the senior linebacker.
“I go over there and give him a hug and he goes, ‘Coach, this wasn’t our goal, other than to go 1-0. It wasn’t about beating BYU, it was about what we have in front of us’,” McGuire said, relaying the conversation. “That’s why you preach and preach and preach that 1-0, and what’s next, and you hope that holds up.”
At No. 6 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the Red Raiders would be in line to host a first-round CFP game on campus — those games go to the Nos. 5-8 teams in the final CFP rankings on Dec. 7, the day after the Big 12 championship game. They could get a first-round bye and move directly to a New Year’s Six game if they finish in the top four.
Tech has an open date after playing the Knights, then finishes the regular season at West Virginia on Nov. 29.
J-Rod takeaways
Rodriguez struck a Heisman Trophy pose after a highlight interception against BYU, when he reached out and tipped the ball to himself. He later added a fumble recovery.
While maybe coerced by teammates to do that pose, Rodriguez does deserve to at least be in the conversation for college football’s highest individual award.
He has a national-leading seven forced fumbles to go with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The only other FBS player since 2005 with at least five forced fumbles, three interceptions and two recoveries in the same season was Khalil Mack for Buffalo in 2013. Mack is now a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rodriguez and banged-up quarterback Behren Morton will be among more than 20 seniors recognized before kickoff Saturday.
Road woes
The Knights have lost five of six games since a 3-0 start. They are 0-3 on the road, including a 30-3 loss at Baylor two weeks ago, and in coach Scott Frost’s return are far from the 13-0 season they had in 2017 before he left for Nebraska.
“You’ve got to go through the hard to get to the good. We’re having fun, even though we’re going through the hard,” Frost said. “To think it’s just going to be easy, I don’t think it’d be worth it when we got there. It isn’t like I was going to show up and we were going to go undefeated.”
Hello, old friend
Lee Hunter is the 6-foot-4, 330-pound starting nose guard in the middle of the Texas Tech defensive front that leads the nation allowing only 73.7 yards rushing per game, and has given up only five touchdowns on the ground. He played for UCF the past three seasons.
Triple picks
Phillip Dunnam last week became the first UCF player in school history with three interceptions in the same game, and returned one for a touchdown in the loss to Houston. The senior cornerback’s first picks this year matched his season totals for both 2023 and 2024. The Big 12 leader has four.
Big wins and going for 10
All nine of Tech’s wins are by at least 20 points, already matching the most in school history. The wins have been by an average margin of 33.2 points.
The Red Raiders are seeking their first 10-win season since 11-2 with coach Mike Leach in 2008. The other 10-win seasons were in 1932, 1937, 1953, 1973 and 1976.
NO. 6 OLE MISS AIMS TO AVOID A REPEAT OF COSTLY LOSS TO FLORIDA A SEASON AGO
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — No. 6 Mississippi is quick to brush off any references to last season’s 24-17 loss at Florida that cost the Rebels a spot in the College Football Playoff.
“We’re a whole new team from last year and it’s a whole new season,” Ole Miss offensive tackle Diego Pounds said.
Asked if revenge might be a factor, Pounds said: “I don’t think so.”
Ole Miss (9-1, 5-1 SEC, No. 7 CFP) rebounded from last year’s playoff snub to finish No. 11 in the final AP Top 25 poll with a lopsided 52-20 win over Duke in the Gator Bowl.
And this season has unfolded in opposite directions for each team.
Florida (3-6, 2-4), after a 4-0 finish in 2024 that built preseason optimism, has lost of six of eight, leading to the firing of coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19. The Gators have lost 19 straight road or neutral-site games against ranked opponents since a win in Jacksonville over Georgia in 2020.
In last week’s 38-7 loss at Kentucky, interim coach Billy Gonzales lifted quarterback DJ Lagway, although the sophomore is expected to start against the Rebels. Lagway has passed for 1,762 yards and 11 touchdowns, but has thrown 12 interceptions.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been a breakout performer after starting the season in a reserve role. Chambliss has passed for 2,356 yards while rushing for 434 yards, accounting for 19 touchdowns and only three turnovers.
The Rebels are 7-0 at home with a lineup that includes 18 new starters.
A win over Florida would give Ole Miss at least 10 wins for the fourth time in five seasons.
Rebels coach Lane Kiffin has been linked to nearly every head coaching vacancy at the NFL and college level, but especially to the Florida vacancy.
Gonzales recognizes the interest surrounding Kiffin nationally, as well as from Florida partisans.
“Absolutely, yes sir,” Gonzales said. “Do I read them? I’m aware of it, absolutely. But no, we’ve just got to prepare.”
Postseason implications
Despite Florida’s struggles, an upset win over the Rebels would keep postseason hopes alive with impending visits from No. 21 Tennessee and Florida State to close the season.
“It would mean a lot to us, but we have to worry about what’s going on here, prepare the right way for this game,” running back Jadan Baugh said. “I just want it to be a good game, get our players back healthy and be ready to play.”
Impressive movements
Kiffin acknowledged Florida’s uneven results, but shifted his focus to the high spots as opposed to last week’s disappointing performance at Kentucky.
“This is the same team that was ahead of Georgia in the fourth quarter. This is the same team that outplayed Texas and beat Texas,” Kiffin said. “They’re as talented as anybody with elite talent on both sides of the ball.”
Injury update
Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman William Echoles are expected to return after leaving with minor injuries in last week’s 49-0 win over Citadel. Cornerback Antonio Kite remains questionable after missing two games.
Florida receivers Eugene Wilson III and Dallas Wilson are out from season-ending ankle surgery and a broken foot, respectively. The Gators had 13 players sidelined against Kentucky last week.
NO. 17 USC TRIES TO KEEP PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE AGAINST IOWA IN BIG TEN’S SPOTLIGHT GAME THIS WEEK
Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference:
Game of the week
Iowa (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten, No. 21 College Football Playoff ) at No. 17 Southern California (7-2, 5-1, No. 17 CFP), 3:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
Iowa’s playoff hopes likely disintegrated last week when they lost 18-16 to No. 7 Oregon (No. 8 CFP) on Atticus Sappington’s 39-yard field goal with 3 seconds left, but USC still has a shot at reaching the 12-team field.
USC ranks second among all Bowl Subdivision teams in yards per game (503.2) and is tied for seventh in points per game (39.6). Iowa’s defense is fifth in points allowed per game (13.7) and fourth in yards allowed per game (250.2).
BetMGM Sportsbook has USC as a 6 1/2-point favorite.
The undercard
No. 18 Michigan (7-2, 5-1, No. 18 CFP) vs. Northwestern (5-4, 3-3) at Wrigley Field, Chicago, 12:10 p.m. ET (Fox)
Michigan still has hopes of reaching the playoff if it wins the rest of its regular-season games, including a Nov. 29 home matchup with No. 1 Ohio State (No. 1 CFP). Northwestern has lost two straight and must win one of its last three games to become bowl eligible.
Michigan is an 11 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM.
Impact players
— Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson has an FBS-leading 1,431 total yards from scrimmage, though Jacksonville State’s Cam Cook is ahead of him in yards from scrimmage per game (151.2 to 143.1). Johnson had 129 yards rushing and 103 yards receiving in Nebraska’s 28-21 victory over UCLA, becoming the first Cornhusker ever to have at least 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game.
— Wisconsin LB Mason Posa had 11 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in Wisconsin’s 13-10 upset of then-No. 24 Washington. Posa set up Wisconsin’s only touchdown with a strip sack that gave the Badgers the ball at Washington’s 7-yard line. He also recorded a fourth-down sack to clinch Wisconsin’s victory.
— Rutgers RB Antwan Raymond rushed for 240 yards in the Scarlet Knights’ 35-20 victory over Maryland. Ray Rice is the only Rutgers player ever to rush for more yards in a single game. Raymond’s 41 carries tied Rutgers’ single-game record.
Inside the numbers
USC is on pace to become the first Big Ten team to average at least 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing since Indiana in 2013. The last Bowl Subdivision team to do it was LSU in 2023. … Six of the 13 finalists for the Maxwell Award given to college football’s top player are from the Big Ten: Johnson, USC WR Makai Lemon, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, Oregon QB Dante Moore, Ohio State QB Julian Sayin and Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith. … Wisconsin LB Cooper Catalano’s 19 tackles against Washington were the most by a Badgers player since Mike Taylor had 22 against Ohio State in 2011. They were the most tackles in a single game by a Wisconsin freshman since at least 1995. … Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith had his 25th career touchdown catch in his 25th game, making him the fastest Buckeyes player ever to reach that mark. David Boston got his 25th touchdown catch while playing his 30th career game in 1998. … Oregon’s offense ranks second in plays of 20-plus yards (66), and its defense has allowed the fewest plays of 20-plus yards (15) of any FBS team.
Get to know him
TJ Lateef is Nebraska’s starting quarterback now that Dylan Raiola is out for the season with an injury to his lower right leg. In his first collegiate start, Lateef went 13 of 15 for 202 yards with three touchdown passes against UCLA. Lateef was named the Big Ten’s co-freshman of the week.
2025 WEEK 12 FOOTBALL RELEASE
• With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, 16 Big Ten teams will take the field this week. The action kicks off with a Friday night matchup between Minnesota and Oregon in Eugene at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on FOX. Nebraska and Rutgers will enjoy byes this week, with the complete schedule appearing to the right.
• The Big Ten had six teams included in the College Football Playoff’s second rankings of the season on Nov. 11: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 8 Oregon, No. 17 USC, No. 18 Michigan and No. 21 Iowa. The CFP will release its next top 25 rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
• Seven of the Big Ten’s 18 teams are mentioned in this week’s AP or US LBM Coaches Polls, announced on Sunday. The AP poll includes No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 7 Oregon, No. 17 USC, and No. 18 Michigan, with Iowa and Illinois receiving votes. At No. 1, Ohio State leads eight Big Ten teams in the coaches’ poll (No. 2 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, No. 17 Michigan, and No. 18 USC); Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska also received recognition.
• The Big Ten has two of the remaining three undefeated teams in the FBS heading into week 12: Ohio State (9-0) and Indiana (10-0). Both teams host home games this weekend as the Buckeyes take on UCLA and the Hoosiers face Wisconsin.
• The Big Ten announced its Football Players of the Week, presented by IFS.ai on Monday, with Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson earning Offensive Player of the Week. Johnson totaled 232 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in Nebraska’s 28-21 win over UCLA. Johnson became the first player in the Big Ten in at least 30 years to have more than 125 rushing yards, more than 100 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown and two receiving touchdowns in the same game.
• Wisconsin’s Cooper Catalano garnered Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting 19 tackles (11 solo) and one sack in Wisconsin’s victory over No. 23 Washington. The freshman had the most tackles for a Big Ten player in a win since 2022, helping the Badger defense hold the Washington offense to its lowest passing output of the season.
• Oregon’s Atticus Sappington won Special Teams Players of the Week. The senior kicker made a game-winning, 39-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to give Oregon an 18-16 win in a top-20 showdown at Iowa. He matched a career high by going 3-for3 on field goals, also hitting from 46 yards and 40 yards earlier in the game.
• Nebraska’s TJ Lateef and Wisconsin’s Mason Posa shared Co-Freshman of the Week honors. Lateef became the fifth true freshman to start at quarterback since 1950 for Nebraska and led the Huskers to a victory over UCLA with 205 passing yards and three touchdowns. Posa recorded 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and forced and recovered the same fumble in Wisconsin’s win over No. 23 Washington.
• Seven Big Ten teams rank among the top 25 nationally in Relative Scoring Offense, the statistic most closely correlated with winning over the last ten years. Indiana leads the nation and the conference (183.12%), followed by USC at No. 2 (161.50%), No. 7 Ohio State (156.13%), No. 8 Oregon (175.08%), No. 16 Illinois (150.94%), No. 20 Washington (132.40%) and No. 24 Penn State (162.20%).
• Five Big Ten players were named semifinalists for the Maxwell Award. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, and USC’s Makai Lemon were named to the shortlist of 13 players.
• Entering week 12, USC claims the nation’s second-best total offense (503.2 yards per game) while Iowa holds the nation’s fourth best total defense (250.2 yards per game). The two go head-to-head on Saturday in Los Angeles at 2:30 p.m. CT/12:30 p.m. PT on BTN.
• The Big Ten paces the A4 in total defense, as three additional teams rank in the top five nationally. Ohio State leads the nation (211.6 yards per game), followed by Oregon (3rd, 239.3) and Indiana (5th, 250.2).
• Ohio State currently holds the longest win streak in the country with 13 consecutive wins, the fourth 10-plus winning streak for Ryan Day with 16 consecutive wins in 2018-19, 13 consecutive wins this year, 12 in 2021-22, and 11 consecutive wins in 2023.
• Indiana is 10-0 to start a season for the second time in program history, and the second time in as many years, after its 27-24 win at Penn State in Week 12. The then wins ties for the most wins a season in program history (10; 2024). The Hoosiers’ 7-0 start in Big Ten play marks the second time in program history an Indiana team started with an unblemished mark through at least seven conference games (7-0; 2024).
• Through 11 weeks, seven Big Ten quarterbacks are in the top 25 for passing efficiency, which is the most of any conference. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin currently leads the nation with a 192.6 passer rating, while Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is second with a 178.6.
• The Big Ten claimed back-to-back national championship titles for the first time since 1942 last season as Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, 34-23, in the 2024 College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Buckeyes brought home their sixth national championship to the Horseshoe in Columbus and first since the inaugural CFP National Championship in the 2014-15 season.
• The 2025 Discover Big Ten Championship Game will be held on Saturday, December 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and will be broadcast by FOX. The winner will represent the conference as the Automatic Qualifier (AQ) to the College Football Playoff.
• Abbott and the Big Ten Conference are kicking off Season 2 of the We Give Blood drive. Students, fans, alumni and communities across the country are backing their favorite Big Ten schools by donating blood. Every donation can help save up to three lives – and bring your school one step closer to winning $1 million to advance student or community health. The top school will be announced at the 2025 Discover® Big Ten Football Championship Game on December 6, 2025.
NO. 20 VIRGINIA’S TRIP TO DUKE TOPS ACC’S WEEKLY SLATE AS CRITICAL PAIRING OF 1-LOSS LEAGUE TEAMS
Things to watch this week in the Atlantic Coast Conference:
Game of the week
No. 20 Virginia (8-2, 5-1 ACC) at Duke (5-4, 4-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
The Cavaliers had lost at N.C. State in an unusual nonconference matchup between longtime ACC teams, but they suffered their first official loss in the standings with Saturday’s home stumble against Wake Forest. The game saw starting quarterback Chandler Morris sidelined early by a hit to the head area, which could lead to some uncertainty about his status or effectiveness leading into Saturday.
The Blue Devils are coming off a loss at UConn, which had followed their thrilling win at Clemson. But that didn’t impact the race for a spot in the league title game. This one will, though, with Virginia and Duke among the five one-loss teams in the ACC standings.
The undercard
N.C. State (5-4, 2-3) at No. 16 Miami (7-2, 3-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The Hurricanes have gone from looking well positioned for a trip to the ACC title game and the College Football Playoff to looking up at the jumbled group of one-loss teams ahead of them in the ACC standings. They’re still in the chase, but can’t afford a loss to the Wolfpack — who rode a dominating offensive performance to stun then-unbeaten Georgia Tech before heading into last week’s open date.
Clemson (4-5, 3-4) at No. 19 Louisville (7-2, 4-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The Cardinals squandered their own strong footing in the ACC race with last week’s home stumble in overtime to California. They’re set to host a Clemson team that opened the year as preseason ACC favorite but is battling just to ensure bowl eligibility.
Impact players
— Pittsburgh QB Mason Heintschel. The freshman is 5-0 as a starter and has sparked the 23rd-ranked Panthers’ rise. Next comes a visit from No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday.
— Georgia Tech QB Haynes King. He’s had a week off to regroup from the loss at N.C. State, which came despite King accounting for 511 yards of total offense and four TDs. The Yellow Jackets return to action Saturday at one-win Boston College.
Inside the numbers
The league has four teams in the AP Top 25 poll with No. 14 Georgia Tech, No. 16 Miami, No. 19 Louisville, No. 20 Virginia and No. 23 Pittsburgh. … North Carolina’s defense has had a turnaround from a woeful opening month. Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels have 18 sacks in the past three weeks, according to Sportradar. They had nine last weekend against Stanford and visit the Demon Deacons on Saturday. … Florida State hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday having gone 2-12 in ACC play since the start of the 2024 season. That’s at least two wins fewer than every other league team. … California, SMU, Stanford and Syracuse have an open week.
NO. 15 UTAH LOOKS TO CONTINUE PUSH FOR SHOT AT BIG 12 TITLE GAME, NO. 12 BYU LOOKS FOR REBOUND WIN
Things to watch this week in the Big 12 Conference:
Game of the week
No. 15 Utah (7-2, 4-2 Big 12, No. 13 CFP) at Baylor (5-4, 3-3), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Utah’s four Big 12 wins are by an average margin of nearly 36 points, and its only losses are to No. 8 Texas Tech and at No. 12 BYU. The Utes need to keep winning and will need some help to get into the Big 12 championship game. With dual-threat quarterback Devon Dampier, Utah is second in the league averaging 477 total yards and 39.6 points per game. Standout pass rusher John Henry Daley (9 1/2 sacks) and the defense are second in the Big 12 allowing 301 yards and 14.2 points a game.
Kyle Whittingham is in his 21st season at Utah, making him the second longest-tenured active FBS coach — behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz in his 27th season. Sixth-year Baylor coach Dave Aranda needs another strong finish. A six-game winning streak at the end of the 2024 regular season took some heat off Aranda, but the Bears are 22-25 since winning a Big 12 title in 2021, the coach’s second season. They are coming off an open date after a 30-3 home win over UCF, but lost back-to-back games before that.
The undercards
— TCU (6-3, 3-3) at No. 12 BYU (8-1, 5-1, No. 12 CFP), Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
BYU looks to bounce back from its first loss to Texas Tech. After getting to 9-0 last year, the Cougars had consecutive losses that kept them out of the Big 12 title game after a four-team tiebreaker. TCU won three of its four games in October and was coming off an open date before last week’s home loss to Iowa State, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
— Arizona (6-3, 3-3) at No. 22 Cincinnati (7-2, 5-1), Saturday, noon ET (FS1)
The Bearcats had won seven games in a row before the 45-14 loss at Utah on Nov. 1 in their last game before an open date. They need to rebound without looking ahead to another home game next week against BYU.
Impact players
— Texas Tech running back Cameron Dickey has a Big 12-high 11 rushing touchdowns and is second in the league with 86.7 yards per game for the Red Raiders (9-1, 6-1, No. 6 CFP), who host UCF. Dickey ran for 121 yards last week against BYU while league-leading rusher LJ Martin was held to 35 yards in that game.
— Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson is still the Big 12 leader at 309 yards passing per game, even while being held to 404 yards total the last two games. He threw five TDs in those games and shares the national lead at 26 with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Inside the numbers
West Virginia (4-6, 2-5), which has won its last two games and has to win out to be bowl eligible, plays Arizona State (6-3, 4-2) for the first time as Big 12 opponents. They last met in the 2015 Cactus Bowl that the Mountaineers won 43-42. … Kansas State has averaged 34.2 points over their past five games, but lost two of them. The Wildcats (4-5, 3-3) play at Oklahoma State (1-8, 0-6). … Arizona, Cincinnati, Houston, Texas Tech and Utah all have already exceeded their win totals from last season.
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NFL NEWS
TREVEYON HENDERSON’S 3 TDS SEND PATRIOTS PAST JETS FOR 8TH WIN IN ROW
TreVeyon Henderson found the end zone three times and the New England Patriots sailed to their eighth straight win, 27-14 over the New York Jets on Thursday night in Foxborough, Mass.
Henderson ran for a pair of 7-yard touchdowns during the second quarter and added a 6-yard scoring catch after halftime to put the Patriots (9-2) in firm control. Drake Maye completed 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards, and Henderson tallied 93 total yards (62 rushing, 31 receiving on five catches).
New England’s Stefon Diggs hauled in nine catches for 105 yards.
Justin Fields ran for a touchdown and threw for another for the Jets (2-8), who had a modest two-game winning streak ended. John Metchie III, in his second game as a Jet following a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, had three receptions for 45 yards and a score.
The Patriots only led 21-14 entering the final quarter but soon tacked on two field goals by Andy Borregales (44, 26 yards). The latter kick was set up when Fields fumbled a low snap on the first play of a drive in the shadow of the Jets’ goalpost.
Fields took the Jets into the red zone on a late drive, but he was sacked by Elijah Ponder on third down and threw incomplete on fourth down. Fields connected on 15 of 26 passes for 116 yards and led the Jets with 67 rushing yards.
The Jets opened the game with a 14-play, 72-yard touchdown march, only for the Patriots to match it with a 13-play, 69-yard scoring drive.
New York converted four third downs on its opening drive before Fields hustled to the right corner of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown. New England converted a fourth-and-2 with Maye’s 7-yard completion to DeMario Douglas before Henderson notched his first rushing score of the night in the first minute of the second quarter.
The Patriots forced three consecutive three-and-outs while adding Henderson’s second score to build a 14-7 halftime lead. Borregales missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt as time expired in the half.
Henderson plucked a pass out of the air in the back of the end zone to put the Patriots up 21-7 with 7:46 to go in the third quarter.
The Jets responded when Fields hit a wide-open Metchie for a 22-yard touchdown with 3:10 left in the third.
RAIDERS, COWBOYS EAGER FOR BRIGHTER DAYS AFTER FACING ADVERSITY
When the NFL schedule makers revealed the Week 11 Monday Night Football matchup in mid-May, it’s safe to say they were expecting both the host Las Vegas Raiders and visiting Dallas Cowboys to be in a much better predicament than they are at present.
The Raiders (2-7) have gotten off to a nightmarish start in their first season under the esteemed Pete Carroll, highlighted by a four-game losing streak from Week 2 through Week 5 and another three-game drought beginning in Week 7 through last Thursday’s loss to the Denver Broncos, a heartbreaking 10-7 setback which Las Vegas seemingly refused to win.
Even with all the hope that placated the Raiders fanbase this offseason, the Carroll regime is in the same place Antonio Pierce was through nine games if you look solely at the record. When you dive deeper into the results, however, the Raiders have been far more competitive this season and are truly just a few bad breaks away from additional wins.
“It’s been crappy, and this is not what I expected to happen,” Carroll said. “I didn’t feel like we would be this far behind at the start of the season … It’s a kick, it’s a blocked kick, it’s an OT catch. There are four to five games here that could have flipped just like that, just with small margins of better play, better execution, better calls, and all of that.”
The Cowboys’ (3-5-1) season has been a bit more of a rollercoaster ride.
Quarterback Dak Prescott’s offense is averaging 40.3 points per game in their three wins thus far, in addition to battling to a 40-40 tie in a Week 4 duel against Green Bay. In the Cowboys’ five losses, the offense has only crossed the 24-point plateau once.
Monday will also mark the Cowboys’ first game since tragedy struck the organization during the team’s bye week.
Defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died via a self-inflicted gunshot wound per authorities after a police chase near the team’s facility in Frisco, Texas. Kneeland’s death came just days after he recovered a fumble for a touchdown in Dallas’ 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 13.
While members of the Cowboys’ organization undoubtedly had their lives changed by the sudden loss of their teammate last week, coach Brian Schottenheimer believes Monday night will bring a welcome sense of normalcy.
“I don’t think there’ll be much that’s different,” Schottenheimer said. “I think these guys are going to be excited to be out there with their brothers and doing what they love to do.
“It’s not just a distraction for me, it’s a distraction for them. A lot of them have lived through a lot of tragedy in their life. Their escape is to come and be in the locker room with their brothers, put their helmets on, go out to the practice field. We might be feeling a lot of emotions, I’m sure we will. My hope and what I believe is that it won’t feel that different.”
On the injury front, Cowboys defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (calf) missed practice Thursday, while starting safeties Donovan Wilson (elbow, shoulder) and Malik Hooker (toe) were limited, along with four others.
For the Raiders, wide receiver Tyler Lockett (knee) was limited and linebacker Cody Lindenberg (Achilles) didn’t practice.
TEXANS QB C.J. STROUD TO MISS 2ND GAME WITH CONCUSSION
The Houston Texans have ruled out quarterback C.J. Stroud for the second straight week due to a concussion.
Coach DeMeco Ryans said Thursday that safety Jalen Pitre (concussion) and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (quad) will also be sidelined when the Texans (4-5) visit the Tennessee Titans (1-8) on Sunday.
Davis Mills will make his second consecutive start in Stroud’s absence after throwing for 292 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend’s 36-29 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Stroud, 24, was injured during the second quarter of an 18-15 home loss to the Denver Broncos on Nov. 2 when the back of his helmet struck the turf at the end of a scramble.
Stroud has passed for 1,702 yards with 11 TDs and five interceptions this season. Since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2023, the only other games he has missed were also due to a concussion in Weeks 15-16 of his rookie season.
Mills, 27, made his first start since 2022 last weekend. He has played in 41 games over five seasons with the Texans, including 11 starts as a rookie in 2021 and 15 starts the following year.
RAVENS QB LAMAR JACKSON (KNEE) RETURNS TO PRACTICE
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was back at practice Thursday, one day after sitting out the session due to soreness in his knee.
Jackson’s return to practice is promising news for the Ravens (4-5), who carry a three-game winning streak into Sunday’s contest against the host Cleveland Browns (2-7).
The two-time NFL MVP absorbed several hard hits but finished Baltimore’s 27-19 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
He previously missed three games with a hamstring injury, replaced by Cooper Rush for two starts and Tyler Huntley for the other.
Jackson, 28, has completed 70.1% of his passes for 1,249 yards with 15 touchdowns and one interception in six starts this season. He has rushed for 216 yards and one score.
While Jackson was back at practice, the following players were not participating: wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (finger), running back Justice Hill (toe) and linebacker Jay Higgins (knee).
49ERS IN PLAYOFF HUNT DESPITE INJURIES, HOPE FOR QB PURDY’S RETURN VS. CARDINALS ON SUNDAY
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals are two NFL teams that have had rough luck dealing with an avalanche of injuries so far this season, constantly shuffling important pieces through the lineup.
One team has weathered the storm significantly better than the other.
In an impressive show of resiliency, the 49ers (6-4) remain in the playoff race and are hoping for the return of starting quarterback Brock Purdy when San Francisco travels to face the Cardinals on Sunday. Purdy has played just two games this season because of a toe injury, throwing for 586 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy’s mobility and accuracy were much better in practice last week, and he’s trending toward playing for the first time since Week 4.
“You can just feel it,” Shanahan said. “A guy you’ve been around for a while like I have Brock, you can just feel how the ball comes off, how he moves, how he reacts.”
The Cardinals (3-6) — who have lost six of their past seven — will be using backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett for the fifth straight game in place of two-time Pro Bowl selection Kyler Murray, who is on injured reserve because of a foot injury. Brissett has played well for the most part, throwing for 1,118 yards, eight touchdowns and an interception.
Now the Cardinals are also dealing with a run of injuries for the team’s receivers. No. 1 option Marvin Harrison Jr. will be out because of surgery for appendicitis while Zay Jones (Achilles tendon) and Simi Fehoko (arm) were put on IR this week.
Third-year coach Jonathan Gannon said he wouldn’t spend time making excuses.
“You see who’s available and you put a plan together,” Gannon said. “That’s all I can really say about that. Everybody goes through it. (Plans) A, B, C, and D change weekly.”
Lacking captains
The injury bug has hit some of Arizona’s most important players this season.
The team named seven players captain before the season and at least four of them will miss the 49ers game. Murray, running back James Conner (foot), linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (ribs) and special teams ace Joey Blount (neck) are all out. That leaves center Hjalte Froholdt, defensive lineman Calais Campbell and safety Budda Baker as the team’s leaders.
“That’s a good question — our captains will do a good job,” Gannon said. “A lot of other guys got votes too and they know that. They need to step up and lead the team. It’s about the collective. I do think that when you have guys in and out of the lineup like that, people need to step up.”
Searching for explosive runs
The 49ers are still searching for their first big run of the season even with Christian McCaffrey back healthy. San Francisco is the only team in the NFL without a run of at least 20 yards and has gone 290 consecutive carries without one since Patrick Taylor’s 29-yarder against the Cardinals in Week 18 last season. The lack of big runs has contributed to the Niners averaging only 94.8 yards rushing per game for their worst total through 10 games since 2007.
“If you don’t get big runs, you’re never going to have those yards, you’re never going to have those stats,” Shanahan said. “I think we’ve done a better job running the ball here this last month, but we still haven’t found a big one and that’s what we need to get.”
Top role for Wilson
Michael Wilson will get his shot to be the No. 1 option at receiver for the Cardinals on Sunday after Harrison had surgery earlier in the week because of appendicitis. Wilson is a third-year receiver out of Stanford who has been a solid No. 2 or No. 3 option throughout his career, with at least 500 yards receiving in his first two years.
“The only change is there’s a little more anticipation of getting the rock a little more, knowing the ball is coming my way,” Wilson said. “But in terms of the way I play the game, I don’t think it changes. My job description is still the same. It’s to run fast, block, get open, catch the ball and be a good teammate.”
Going deep
The expected returns of Purdy and Ricky Pearsall could open up the deep passing game for the 49ers as Mac Jones has focused more on getting rid of the ball quickly on short throws. With both Purdy and Pearsall out the past six games, the Niners are just 3 for 16 on throws at least 20 yards down field. The two connected on 4 of 6 deep throws in their two games together this season.
EAGLES STAR A.J. BROWN SEEKS BIGGER ROLE HEADING INTO MATCHUP WITH HIGH-POWERED LIONS
When the Philadelphia Eagles take the field Sunday night for a matchup between division leaders, defeating the Detroit Lions will not be the only challenge facing them.
There’s also the mood of Philadelphia star wide receiver A.J. Brown, who could use some soothing with more involvement in the offense.
The defending Super Bowl champs are winning, entering Sunday’s game with a 7-2 record and would be the top seed in the NFC if the playoffs were played prior to the Week 11 games. But Brown’s production has been off, and the three-time Pro Bowl receiver was targeted just three times in Monday night’s 10-7 win at Green Bay.
Brown took to social media afterward to express his displeasure, saying on Twitch that fantasy owners should drop him from their teams. He defended his comments to Philadelphia media on Wednesday.
“I see the offense struggling, and I want to help contribute,” Brown said. “I didn’t get those opportunities. So I’m going to have a problem with that, especially the player that I am and the player you want me to be. That’s tough for me. We’re trying to put ourselves in the best situation to make those plays. You just have to get the opportunity. I didn’t get that.”
Brown made two catches for only 13 yards against the Packers, upping his season total to 408 receiving yards after accumulating 1,079 last season. He was the target for the failed fourth-and-6 with 35 seconds left from the 35-yard line when quarterback Jalen Hurts and Brown didn’t connect on a deep ball down the left sideline.
Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni tried to downplay any controversy on Wednesday.
“He’s working hard, and he is a big part of this game plan,” Sirianni said. “And I’m excited to have him.”
Said Hurts, “A.J. plays a pivotal role in what we’ve been and what we’ve done.”
But Brown’s role — or lack of it — is exactly what is bothering him.
He took issue with the idea that as long as the Eagles are winning that everything is fine. To be the team they want to be, Brown said they need to be executing offensively at a higher level.
“If we’re really focused on winning, we can’t just keep slapping a Band-Aid over defense doing their job and getting us out of trouble,” Brown said. “At what point are we going to pick up our slack as an offense? It’s not about I don’t care about winning. It’s been week after week we’re not doing our job on offense. I want to win. I want to help contribute as well.”
Power play
The NFC East-leading Eagles likely will need Brown’s help to keep up with the high-powered and NFC North-leading Lions, who rank second in the NFL with 31.4 points per contest behind the strong play of Jared Goff. Detroit’s quarterback is first in the league in completion percentage (74.0) and ranks second in passing touchdowns (20) and quarterback rating (117.7).
With Lions coach Dan Campbell calling the plays, Detroit produced a season-high 546 yards in Sunday’s 44-22 win at Washington. The head coach will be calling the plays again on Sunday night against the Eagles.
“I just feel like it’s the right thing to do right now and I’m going to do it,” Campbell said. “Am I perfect? No, I’m not perfect. Players are going to have to bail me out.”
Sirianni, who is looking to go 11-0 against opponents from the NFC North since taking the reins in Philadelphia, knows Campbell and the Lions will provide a stout test.
“We expect their best, and we know this is a really good team,” he said.
Detroit is the only team in NFL history with at least 21 passing touchdowns, 13 rushing scores and six or fewer turnovers through the first nine games of a season.
Goff has completed 70% or more of his passes in eight straight road games, the longest streak in league history.
Home “sweet” home
The Eagles have won 13 of their last 14 games in Philadelphia. Campbell knows the Eagles have a strong home-field advantage from its passionate fan base, and he said the Lions are embracing the challenge of playing in such a hostile environment.
“When you’re a competitor, you just love it,” he said. “You go on the road, and it’s you against everybody else. And it’s very clear that it’s you against everybody else there. You go some places and they wave at you, like we’re so happy you’re here to play against us. This is not one of those places. It’s as far from that as you can possibly get. I loved playing in atmospheres like that. And I just know the type of guys we have. I think they’re going to eat it up. I really do.”
EAGLES HOST LIONS ON SUNDAY NIGHT IN A MATCHUP OF NFC DIVISION LEADERS
Detroit (6-3) at Philadelphia (7-2)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC
BetMGM NFL Odds: Eagles by 2 1/2 points
Against the Spread: Lions 6-3; Eagles 6-3
Series record: Eagles lead 18-16-2
Last meeting: Eagles defeated the Lions 38-35 on Sept. 11, 2022, in Detroit
Lions offense: overall (6), rush (6), pass (10), scoring (2).
Lions defense: overall (7), rush (8), pass (12), scoring (13).
Eagles offense: overall (23), rush (21), pass (25), scoring (12).
Eagles defense: overall (18), rush (19), pass (14), scoring (10).
Turnover differential: Lions plus-6; Eagles plus-5.
Lions player to watch
Jahmyr Gibbs. The NFC Offensive Player of the Week had 172 yards from scrimmage and three TDs last week. In Detroit’s wins, the dual-threat RB has accounted for at least 87 yards. In three losses, Gibbs has been held to an average of 48 yards from scrimmage.
Eagles player to watch
A.J. Brown. The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver was targeted just three times in Monday night’s 10-7 win at Green Bay, bringing his season totals to a pedestrian 31 catches for 408 yards after 1,079 receiving yards last season. Brown voiced his displeasure on social media following the game and defended his comments to media in the Philadelphia locker room on Wednesday, saying he wants to be more involved in the offense.
Key matchup
Lions’ high-powered offense vs. Eagles’ solid defense. Detroit puts up 31.4 points per contest and ranks high in several other offensive categories, helped by amassing a season-high 546 yards in Sunday’s 44-22 win at Washington. QB Jared Goff is first in the league in completion percentage (74.0 percent) and ranks second in passing touchdowns (20) and quarterback rating (117.7). The Eagles, under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, have held opponents to 21.3 points.
Key injuries
Lions: Oft-injured CB Terrion Arnold is in concussion protocol. … All-Pro S Kerby Joseph has been out for a month with a knee injury. … TEs Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. … CB D.J. Reed (hamstring) was limited in practice Wednesday, moving closer to playing for the first time since late September.
Eagles: C Cam Jurgens (knee) missed the last two games but would have been a limited participant in practice on Wednesday if the Eagles did not hold a walkthrough. RT Lane Johnson (ankle) also would have been a limited participant. Johnson limped off the field and was carted to the locker room after getting injured late in the first half against the Packers but returned in the fourth quarter.
Series notes
The Eagles have averaged 41 points in their last two games on the road against the Lions, winning 38-35 in 2022 and 44-6 in 2021.
Stats and stuff
The Eagles and Lions are the two teams in the NFC with 40-plus regular-season wins over the last four years. … Detroit is tied with Chicago atop the NFC North and owns the tiebreaker with a win over the Bears in their first matchup. … Lions coach Dan Campbell began calling plays last week, taking the role away from offensive coordinator John Morton. … Detroit had a season-high 546 yards, averaging 8.0 per play, at Washington . … Goff, who threw for 320 yards and three TDs last week, has had 44 games with 300-plus yards passing and just two players (Patrick Mahomes, who has done it 49 times in his nine seasons) and Matt Ryan (45) have hit the mark more often in their first 10 seasons. … Gibbs, who turns 24 in March, has 40 TDs from scrimmage and just four other players — Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (47), Randy Moss (43), Emmitt Smith (43) and Jim Brown (42) — have reached that total before their 24th birthday. … WR Amon-Ra St. Brown has five or more catches in eight straight games and is another five-catch game away from matching Jarvis Landry (58) for the most in the first five years of an NFL career. … Philadelphia has won 13 of its last 14 games at home and is 10-0 versus the NFC North, including playoff games, under head coach Nick Sirianni. … Jalen Hurts leads the league with a 16:1 touchdown to interception ratio. … Moro Ojomo tops the club with 4.0 sacks. … Edge Jaelan Phillips made six tackles, recovered a fumble and helped stop a crucial fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter in his debut for the Eagles in Monday’s win over Green Bay. … RB Saquon Barkley is well off his pace of 2,005 rushing yards last season, as he has gained just 579 yards on the ground through nine games.
Fantasy tip
Philadelphia TE Dallas Goedert has been one reason why the Eagles are ranked first in the NFL in percentage of touchdowns after entering the red zone, at 81.0%. More than 20% of Goedert’s receptions, seven of 34, have gone for touchdowns.
COWBOYS FACE RAIDERS ON MONDAY NIGHT IN FIRST GAME SINCE DEATH OF DALLAS’ MARSHAWN KNEELAND
Dallas (3-5-1) at Las Vegas (2-7)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST, ESPN/ABC
BetMGM line: Cowboys by 3.
Against the spread: Cowboys 4-5, Raiders 4-5.
Series record: Raiders lead 7-6.
Last meeting: Raiders beat Cowboys 36-33 in OT on Nov. 25, 2021, in Arlington, Texas.
Last week: Cowboys lost to Cardinals 27-17, Raiders lost to Broncos 10-7.
Cowboys offense: overall (4), rush (13), pass (3), scoring (4)
Cowboys defense: overall (31), rush (28), pass (29), scoring (31)
Raiders offense: overall (30), rush (29), pass (27), scoring (31)
Raiders defense: overall (15), rush (14T), pass (16), scoring (22)
Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-4; Raiders minus-4.
Cowboys player to watch
DT Quinnen Williams is set for his Dallas debut after the trade deadline deal that brought him from the New York Jets. The Cowboys gave up a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2026 second-rounder and underperforming DT Mazi Smith. For this season anyway, Williams is a last-gasp attempt to improve the NFL’s second-worst defense with Dallas sitting on the periphery of the NFC playoff race. The 2022 All-Pro is also a longer-term play. The game is also the first for the Cowboys since the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
Raiders player to watch
QB Geno Smith. This has not been the season envisioned when Smith was traded from Seattle to reunite with coach Pete Carroll. Smith has thrown 12 interceptions, second only to Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa’s 13. Given the Cowboys’ defensive issues, this is a chance for Smith to show why Carroll wanted him so badly. Another disappointing performance, and Carroll could be compelled to make some decisions at the position.
Key matchup
Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty vs. Cowboys defense. Like Smith, Jeanty hasn’t put together the kind of season largely expected after he was drafted sixth earlier this year. Much of that isn’t his fault. Las Vegas’ porous offensive line has allowed Jeanty to gain just 0.6 yards on average before contact with the defense, according to Next Gen Stats. Given Dallas is 28th against the run, maybe Jeanty will find more running room.
Key injuries
Cowboys: LB DeMarvion Overshown could see his first action this season and CB Shavon Revel could make his NFL debut after both were moved to the active roster from injured reserve this week. Both suffered season-ending knee injuries last year. Revel’s was at East Carolina. … S Juanyeh Thomas was placed on the non-football illness list and will miss at least four games. Thomas has been dealing with migraines that already sidelined him twice. … S Donovan Wilson (knee) could return from a two-game absence.
Raiders: There is optimism Smith (quadriceps) and G Dylan Parham (ankle) will play.
Series notes
This is the Cowboys’ first visit to Las Vegas. … Dallas won 20-17 in its final visit to Oakland eight years ago. That was the game when now-retired referee Gene Steratore infamously used an index card to determine a critical first down for the Cowboys on their drive to a tiebreaking field goal in the final 2 minutes.
Stats and stuff
Dallas is coming off consecutive losses for the first time under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer. … The Cowboys have the NFL’s most road wins coming off the bye since 1990 with 15 in 24 games. … QB Dak Prescott is 0-3-1 with six touchdown passes and three interceptions in his past four prime-time games. He had a six-game winning streak in prime time before that with 12 TDs and three picks. … Since a four-game run with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions each time out, Prescott has one scoring toss and three picks the past two games. … WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are thriving in their first season together. Lamb has at least five catches for at least 70 yards in five of the six games he has played. Pickens has reached those marks in four of his past six games. Pickens has another game in that stretch with 82 yards on four catches. However, Pickens has gone without a touchdown for three straight games after getting at least one score in five in a row. … DT Kenny Clark had five tackles and a sack against Arizona. He had those same numbers the last time he faced the Raiders, with Green Bay two years ago. … LB Logan Wilson is set for his Dallas debut after coming over in a trade with Cincinnati. Wilson is one of three players with at least 10 interceptions, five sacks and five forced fumbles since 2020. … Raiders DE Maxx Crosby’s 118 tackles for loss since his rookie season in 2019 are the most in the NFL. … Las Vegas’ 15 passes defended by linemen are the most in the league. New Orleans is next with 11. … S Jeremy Chinn needs one sack to become the eighth defensive back since 1982 with six consecutive seasons with at least one. … K Daniel Carlson’s 215 made field goals since he entered the league in 2018 are tied with Justin Tucker, who is no longer playing. … A victory would give coach Pete Carroll No. 173 for his career, which would move him into a tie for 16th with Jeff Fisher. Carroll is tied with Bill Parcells.
Fantasy tip
QB Dak Prescott has been playing at an elite level and though the Raiders’ defense isn’t bad, no one will mistake it for Philadelphia’s. This is an opportunity for Prescott to put up some strong numbers.
HEAT IS INCREASING ON MATT LAFLEUR AS THE PACKERS VISIT THE GIANTS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers are in a precarious position and coach Matt LaFleur is under the microscope after two straight losses with a combined 20 points scored.
They can stop the skid Sunday at the New York Giants, who have interim coach Mike Kafka making his debut fresh off the firing of Brian Daboll. LaFleur said this week he’ll continue to call plays for an offense that is struggling to produce as the pressure mounts to get back on track.
“As frustrated as anybody may be out there, I promise you that you’re not as frustrated as I am,” said LaFleur, who led Green Bay to the playoffs in five of his first six seasons. “We’re working hard at it. I promise you. We’re working hard, and bottom line is on Sunday, we have to go out and perform better.”
The good news for the Packers (5-3-1) is they get to face one of the NFL’s worst-ranked defenses, which is allowing over 27 points a game. The Giants (2-8) in have struggled especially against the run, giving up an average of just over 152 yards — 31st out of 32 teams.
“They’ve given up a lot of explosive runs, but I think we’ve got to come into it with the mindset that we’re going to play our game,” said Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love, who was 20 of 36 for 176 yards with a fumble in a loss Monday night to Philadelphia. “Obviously, we want to establish the run and be able to take advantage of that, but also at the same time, I want to be able to throw the ball.”
Safety Xavier McKinney, part of a defense that has been a strength, called this a must-win game after he and his teammates fell into a sticky situation — the Packers trail the 6-3 Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in the NFC North. The top-five unit certainly has the chance to be a difference-maker at New York, which is starting Jameis Winston at quarterback with rookie Jaxson Dart in concussion protocol.
“Their defense is a true bend-but-don’t-break defense,” Winston said. “This is one of the fastest defenses that we’ve seen in terms of how they run to the football. They’re high energy, and they’re very sound.”
Giants could get a new coach bump with Mike Kafka, but they’ll miss Jaxson Dart
The Giants blowing another late lead for their fourth consecutive defeat contributed to Daboll losing his job, as ownership decided it was time for a franchise that had only fired a coach midseason twice over the previous 90-plus years. The game at Chicago also came with Dart hitting his head and exiting with a concussion that will sideline him against the Packers.
Green Bay is a 7-point favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook, slightly down after opening at 7 1/2. Winston will make his debut for the Giants while Kafka auditions for the full-time job.
“I’m excited for Kaf,” said Winston, who last played 11 months ago for Cleveland. “I know he’s been waiting on this moment — not waiting but preparing for this moment to be a head football coach. And I know he’s going to do the best that he possibly can.”
Xavier McKinney faces the Giants for the first time
McKinney played his first four NFL seasons with the Giants from 2020-23 before signing with Green Bay. This is his first game against his former team.
“I don’t get into all that,” said McKinney, who earned All-Pro honors in ’24. “I just try to go out there and play a good game regardless of who I’m playing, try and go out there and be productive and be the player that I know I am. It’ll be fun just to be back in the city, though, and get to see a lot of old faces and familiar faces. But it should be fun, though.”
A second-round pick, McKinney had nine interceptions in 49 games with New York.
“This is my first time playing the Giants since I’ve been gone, so I’m going to definitely be juiced up, but it’s all out of good intention and just looking to have a good game,” McKinney said.
Packers will be without starting center Elgton Jenkins
Green Bay’s offensive line took a hit when Jenkins went down with a left ankle injury against the Eagles. He went on injured reserve, and LaFleur called it “highly unlikely” Jenkins is able to return this season.
Sean Rhyan filled in and is expected to take over at center moving forward.
“He’s got a lot on his plate, and we’ll just kind of work through the week,” Love said. “We’ll get another week this week to kind of hone in all those things. Obviously, we’ll be on silent count with the away game, that plays a whole other factor in Sean’s thought process being at center.”
If the Giants’ last home game — a sea of red San Francisco 49ers fans — is any indication and “Cheeseheads” fill the stadium with green and gold, the Packers may not need the silent count, after all.
DAN QUINN PRAISES MIKE MCDANIEL’S SOBRIETY JOURNEY AHEAD OF THEIR FIRST MEETING AS HEAD COACHES
Dan Quinn had a lot of praise for Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel this week.
Quinn spoke highly of McDaniel’s coaching acumen. He lauded his leadership and quick processing ability. But more than anything, he said, he’s proud of McDaniel’s personal journey and how far he’s come since their time working together nearly 10 years ago.
Quinn, in his second year as Washington’s head coach, was the Atlanta Falcons coach in 2016 when he, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and current Falcons coach Raheem Morris sat down with McDaniel — then a Falcons offensive assistant — and confronted him about his drinking.
“I think when there’s an issue, sometimes you don’t want to let somebody you’re with know,” Quinn said Wednesday ahead of Washington’s game against Miami in Madrid.
“You’re counting on them. They’re counting on you,” Quinn added. “But really, you’re leaning in, that’s the biggest strength we can do. And in that space, all I want to do is help and give support, and then the real work begins for the person who’s in that spot. And that’s exactly what Mike did. … And it’s part of the reason I’m so proud of him.”
McDaniel often describes that moment as a much-needed wakeup call. Years earlier, he had been fired from his job as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans and had continued to struggle with his sobriety.
But since that day — Jan. 4, 2016, McDaniel remembers — he vowed to never drink again. McDaniel had relayed that conversation with Quinn to his wife, saw the disappointment in her face, and has been sober since.
“Dan Quinn holds a special place in my heart, in my career,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “He was there, ground zero, when I became sober and supported me and believed in me and gave me the opportunity to continue what I love to do. For that, I‘ll be forever indebted to him.”
Sunday’s game will be the first time the two face each other as head coaches as the NFL wraps its 2025 international slate with the league’s first regular-season game in Spain.
The Commanders and Dolphins are both 3-7. While the Dolphins are coming off a win over the Buffalo Bills that could mark a turning point in their season, the Commanders are in a free-fall, going from 3-2 to 3-7 with a five-game losing streak.
“That’s a big confidence booster for our team,” Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “We were able to enjoy that win for 24 hours. We want to put that to rest and we want to focus on the Commanders this week and find every possible way that we can to help win the game.”
The Commanders have barely been competitive during their five-game skid, losing by 21 to Kansas City in Week 8, by 24 to Seattle in Week 9 and by 22 against Detroit last week. Quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss his fifth game this season with an injury, this time a dislocated left elbow.
“At the end of the day, in order to get things going in the right direction, you have to be transparent, you have to be honest,” said backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who again will start in Daniels’ place. “And I don’t think we are who we think we are.”
Quinn replaces Whitt
Quinn needed to do something after a succession of poor performances by Washington’s defense, so he opted to take over as the defensive coordinator, demoting Joe Whitt Jr.
“Whenever you have a move like that,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said, “then that kind of means the players are not executing at the level that they need to be. … We have to execute better, regardless of who’s calling the defense.”
Washington has given up 2,737 yards passing and 8.9 yards per pass attempt — both the worst in the entire NFL. Last week, the Lions scored on each of their first eight possessions.
Where is everybody?
Nearly half of the 22 starters on offense and defense that the Commanders were expected to have at the start of the season will miss Sunday’s game.
That’s mostly because of injuries, but they’re also without defensive tackle Daron Payne, who was suspended for one game without pay by the NFL for punching a player in last week’s loss.
The other nine: Daniels, RB Austin Ekeler, WRs Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown, DEs Dorance Armstrong and Deatrich Wise Jr., CBs Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos, and S Will Harris.
Ekeler, Armstrong, Wise and Lattimore are done for the season; Brown, Amos and Harris are on injured reserve.
Family affair
Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul will be playing against his brother, Commanders left guard Chris Paul, for the first time in their careers on Sunday.
Patrick Paul has had a stellar second season with the Dolphins and has been one of Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded tackles in the NFL. And after earning the starting left guard role earlier this season, Chris Paul has been a bright spot on Washington’s offense.
“It’s another special moment,” Patrick Paul said. “My rookie year we had him in preseason but now we have a regular-season game, so we’re all going to Spain. The whole family is coming out – family, cousins, everybody. I think I requested maybe 10 to 12 tickets. I’ve got a big crowd coming to Spain, so it’ll be fun.”
KLIFF KINGSBURY RETURNS TO EUROPE CELEBRATING HEALTHY COMMANDERS OFFENSIVE LINE
MADRID (AP) — Kliff Kingsbury knows his way around Europe, from his time vacationing in Spain to his playing career with the Cologne Centurions in Germany.
The Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator has returned to Europe this week with a tough task: help the Commanders (3-7) snap a five-game losing streak Sunday when they face the Miami Dolphins (3-7) in the NFL’s last international game of the season.
Kingsbury said it has been a challenge to deal with so many injuries, but he arrived in Madrid celebrating a healthy offensive line that could be key in helping the Commanders end their poor run.
The line — first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr., Laremy Tunsil, Tyler Biadasz, Chris Paul and Sam Cosmi, who just returned from an injury — has been playing well in recent weeks.
“Yeah, it’s been a good group,” Kingsbury said. “I think we’ve had the same starting lineup for about three weeks straight, which has been nice, and I think each week we’ve gotten better as a unit.
“Watching Josh kind of come along has been really exciting, and then Cosmi getting his legs back, has definitely improved, that has been a consistent group for us this season, and we need it,” he said.
Kingsbury said it’s been a unique experience coping with the absence of all the injured players, including star quarterback Jayden Daniels, wide receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Austin Ekeler.
“But I’ve been really proud of the guys who have stepped up,” Kingsbury said. “I thought last week, some guys made plays for us that just got here, and are playing hard, playing with great effort.”
The Commanders are coming off a 44-22 loss to the Detroit Lions at home. Kingsbury’s offense was held to seven points against the Kansas City Chiefs and to 14 points against the Seattle Seahawks.
European trip
Kingsbury said the trip to Madrid presents a good change of scenery for the team.
“Just to come together as a team on the road, playing a new city, an awesome environment, that’ll be revved up,” he said. “I think that’ll be really good for us.”
Kingsbury said he was among the few Commanders who had visited Madrid in the past.
“Huge fan of the city, been here before on vacation, so it’s been awesome,” he said. “There’s probably three guys that have been here prior, so to everybody else it’s been a new experience, and it’s been cool to see them enjoy.”
Kingsbury said he is a big soccer fan and was thrilled by the chance to play at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
“Really excited about that,” he said. “The play where (Kylian) Mbappé and Cristiano (Ronaldo) played will be pretty special for me, personally, and I know our team is excited about it as well.”
Kingsbury was a New York Jets quarterback when he was allocated to the Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe in 2006.
“That was an awesome experience,” he said. “I got to see some incredible places I never would have gotten to, so for our players to get a chance to do that and see the fanfare, and just the excitement of the city, it’s really special.”
THE STEELERS AND AARON RODGERS WILL TRY TO SNAP OUT OF THEIR RECENT FUNK WHEN CINCINNATI VISITS
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are in first place in the AFC North. It just doesn’t necessarily feel like it.
Three losses in four games, each troubling in its own way, will do that. The optimism that followed Pittsburgh’s hot start has been met with a steady dose of reality that, while the Steelers (5-4) can compete with anyone when they’re at their best, manufacturing their best regularly has proven more difficult than all involved would prefer.
“It’s just consistency,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, coming off his worst game of the season last Sunday night in a lopsided setback against the Los Angeles Chargers. “If the process is right, you don’t have to make any major changes or freak out. It’s the nature of the league. There’s going to be a stinker every now and then.”
Rodgers and his teammates hope they’ve burned up their allotment for the season when they take the field on Sunday against the Bengals (3-6), who sent Pittsburgh into its mini-tailspin with a 33-31 loss in Cincinnati last month.
“I think the young guys think it’s the end of the world after you lose, which is very, very acceptable because you want those type of competitors in the locker room,” Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf said. “But also, it’s a long season.”
Cincinnati is banking on it. Joe Burrow returned to practice this week and while he remains a few weeks away from being cleared following foot surgery, a sweep of the Steelers increases the odds of the Bengals playing meaningful football down the stretch.
“Right now you look at it, you’re 2-0 in the division, we have a chance to go 3-0,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. “That would be a huge step in the right direction of putting us back in with the teams that are at the top two of our division.”
‘Unc’ Bowl 2.0
Rodgers and Flacco and their combined 39 years of NFL experience put on a show in Cincinnati last month. Rodgers threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns — each one of them to tight ends — while Flacco lit up the Pittsburgh secondary for 342 yards and three scores.
While Flacco has continued to produce in Burrow’s absence, Rodgers and Pittsburgh’s offense have regressed. The Steelers have failed to top 300 yards in each of their last three games, and their 41-year-old quarterback looked his age against the Chargers, tossing a pair of picks (one of which wasn’t his fault) and getting dropped for a safety.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin has no long-term concerns about Rodgers’ play, putting it on the unit as a whole. Maybe, but Rodgers understands the downward trend can’t continue if the Steelers want to keep surging Baltimore at bay.
“You just got to bounce back, get back to the things you do, and get back in your routine and try and be better the next week,” the NFL’s oldest active player said.
Disappointing Defense, Vol. 1
The Bengals are near the bottom of the league in nearly every defensive category in Al Golden’s first season as coordinator. Cincinnati is allowing a league high 426.6 yards per game, including 166.4 yards on the ground.
A big reason for the Bengals’ woes is poor execution on tackling. Cincinnati’s 109 missed tackles are tops in the NFL. Opponents have gained nearly 800 additional yards against the Bengals after making the first defender miss.
“I look at each one individually. I know it’s easy to lump together,” Golden said. “I look at the angles, I look at the space. Close quarters, space tackles. … We just have to find a better way to teach it and keep moving forward with it and keep addressing it.”
Time Running Short for Flacco
Flacco is averaging 313.5 yards passing in his four starts with the Bengals after being acquired from Cleveland. But the 40-year-old knows time is running short with Burrow looking “really sharp” in his return to practice, according to Taylor.
While Burrow has been ruled out of Sunday’s game and is likely questionable for next week’s visit by AFC East-leading New England, there’s a very real chance he could be back for a Thanksgiving night matchup against the Ravens.
Flacco is under no delusion that he could somehow play his way into the starting job on a full-time basis. It’s one of the reasons he doesn’t think it’s awkward being asked about Burrow’s imminent return. Flacco understands he’s merely a caretaker, albeit a highly effective one.
“I think I have a job to do and I’m focused on doing that job,” he said. “If that comes to an end at some point, I just want to feel good about the job that I’m doing when I’m asked to do that job.”
Disappointing Defense, Vol. 2
That the Cincinnati defense is the worst statistical unit in the league isn’t a surprise considering the lack of resources invested in that side of the ball.
That’s not the case in Pittsburgh, where the league’s highest-paid defense finds itself 30th in the league in yards allowed and dead last against the pass. Ja’Marr Chase torched the Steelers for a franchise-record 16 receptions in the first meeting, a night that followed a familiar pattern.
Pittsburgh failed to create a takeaway during that Thursday night shootout and is just 1-3 this year when it doesn’t force at least one turnover.
“We can’t continue to live and die by the turnovers as a defense,” outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. “We need to get off the field, we need to stop the run. Critical third-downs, we need to do a better job of. No excuse for it. We need to play better.”
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MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
BRADEN SMITH HELPS GUIDE NO. 2 PURDUE TO WIN AT NO. 8 ALABAMA
Braden Smith scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half and collected seven rebounds to lead No. 2 Purdue to an 87-80 victory over No. 8 Alabama on Thursday night in a nonconference showdown at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Trey Kaufman-Renn recorded 19 points and matched his career best of 15 rebounds in his first game this season due to hip and back injuries. Oscar Cluff added nine points and 11 rebounds for the Boilermakers (3-0), who owned a dominating 52-28 rebounding edge
Aden Holloway made five 3-pointers and scored 21 points for the Crimson Tide (2-1). Taylor Bol Bowen had 13 points, Aidan Sherrell had 12 and Labaron Philon added 11 for Alabama.
Smith drained five treys as Purdue hit 9 of 21 while finishing at 47% overall from the field while defeating Alabama for the third straight season.
The Crimson Tide trailed by seven before Bowen scored on a dunk, Philon stole the ball and drove in for a slam and Houston Mallette drilled a trey to tie it at 80 with 1:42 remaining.
Smith scored on a layup 24 seconds later and then made two free throws with 47.6 seconds left to give the Boilermakers an 84-80 lead. Cluff split two free throws with 29.2 seconds left to make it a five-point lead.
Philon’s missed 3-pointer on the other end was followed by two free throws from Cluff with 20.4 seconds left as Purdue closed it out.
The Crimson Tide made 42.4% of their shots and were 16 of 44 from behind the arc.
Smith buried a 3-pointer to give Purdue a 53-48 lead with 16:12 remaining in the game.
Alabama answered with a 13-4 spurt. Holloway capped it with a jumper to give the Crimson Tide a 61-57 lead with 11:34 left.
Smith responded with five straight points, including a trey to put Purdue ahead by one with 11 minutes to play. Smith connected on another 3-pointer to make it 66-63 before Philon drained a tying trey with 8:37 remaining.
The score was later knotted at 68 before the Boilermakers put together an 11-3 run. Daniel Jacobson capped it with an inside hoop to make it 79-71 with 5:11 remaining.
Kaufman-Renn scored 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the first half as the Boilermakers took a 43-41 lead. Holloway had 14 first-half points for the Crimson Tide.
The Boilermakers had a 25-11 rebounding advantage. The Crimson Tide made 10 3-pointers in the half, four by Holloway.
NO. 17 MICHIGAN STATE FENDS OFF SAN JOSE STATE IN BATTLE OF SPARTANS
Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler each posted 17 points and Jeremy Fears Jr. added 15 points as No. 17 Michigan State held on for a 79-60 win against San Jose State on Thursday in East Lansing, Mich.
Kohler totaled a career-high 18 rebounds and Fears went 3-for-5 from 3-point range for Michigan State (3-0), which led by 23 points at the half. Kur Teng added 10 points for the hosts.
The Big Ten side was coming off an electric 69-66 win against then-No. 14 Arkansas over the weekend, and there were concerns that Thursday’s game would be a letdown following that win. Thursday’s game marked Michigan State’s sixth straight home victory dating back to last season.
Colby Garland posted 22 points, and Yaphet Moundi had 13 points and 11 rebounds for San Jose State (0-3), which has started its 2025-26 season on the road.
Both teams shot below 30% from 3-point range. Michigan State eclipsed San Jose State with 45 total rebounds compared to 26.
Moundi got San Jose State on the board with a layup at 18:16 to make the score 4-2, but the visitors were then held without a basket as Michigan State went on a 12-0 run early in the first half. The visiting Spartans missed back-to-back free throws at 15:32, along with missing their first 10 3-point attempts.
Garland went 2-for-2 from 3-point range in the first half to keep San Jose State competitive, but Michigan State tallied 26 rebounds and 16 points off the bench as the hosts took a 46-23 lead into the half.
The Mountain West side opened the second half with an 8-0 run to cut Michigan State’s lead to 15 points. Michigan State later answered with an 8-0 run that included 3-point shots from Fears and Kohler.
Moundi made seven free throws to forge a 7-0 San Jose State run that cut Michigan State’s lead to 12 with 6:59 left in the second half. A 3-point shot by Sadraque NgaNga brought the deficit to 65-55 with 5:40 to go.
Kohler went 2-for-2 from the free throw line and Fears made a pair of 3-point shots as the hosts went up 77-60 with 1:30 left.
KEVIN MACKEY, WHO LED CLEVELAND STATE TO A HISTORIC NCAA UPSET OVER INDIANA, DIES AT 80
CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Mackey, who coached Cleveland State to an improbable victory over Bob Knight-led Indiana in the 1986 NCAA Tournament on the way to a berth in the Sweet 16 but whose college coaching career ended abruptly under the cloud of drug abuse, has died. He was 80.
Mackey died of a sudden heart attack Tuesday, according to his son, Brian.
Mackey, who earlier coached at the high school level in Boston, had been an assistant at Boston College where he was known as a master recruiter when he was named head coach of Cleveland State in 1983.
He went 14-16 his first season with the Vikings, then had six straight winning years. He compiled a seven-year record of 144-67 at the school.
In 1985-86, the 14th-seeded Vikings went 29-4 and led by Ken “Mouse” McFadden beat No. 3 seed Indiana 83-79 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in what remains to this day one of the tourney’s biggest shockers.
The team beat No. 6 seed Saint Joseph’s 75-69 in the second round before being bounced out 71-70 by No. 7 seed Navy, featuring David Robinson, in the Sweet 16.
But his time at Cleveland State ended in 1990 just days after he signed a lucrative two-year contract with the school after he admitted using crack cocaine. Mackey was arrested on July 13, 1990, on a charge of driving while intoxicated as he left a suspected drug house.
Acting on a tip from a caller that Mackey was sleeping on a couch inside the house, police watched for more than five hours until Mackey and a woman left in Mackey’s car. Mackey was arrested when he was seen driving erratically and left of center, police said at the time.
Mackey enrolled in a Houston treatment center operated by former NBA player John Lucas, and spent three months in rehabilitation programs.
“I can’t go anywhere and speak without talking about John Lucas, who saved my life,” Mackey said in June 1991. “He’s my best friend. His program is great.”
He later coached minor league basketball and worked as a scout for the Indiana Pacers at the behest of Larry Bird, but he never returned to the college ranks.
Funeral arrangements were still being planned.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS
CLEVELAND PITCHER EMMANUEL CLASE ARRESTED AT NY AIRPORT IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGED GAMBLING SCHEME
NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Guardians star pitcher Emmanuel Clase was arrested Thursday at John F. Kennedy Airport on charges accusing him of taking bribes to help gamblers win bets on his pitches.
Clase, 27, was taken into custody after arriving on a morning flight from his native Dominican Republic, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year is expected to appear in Brooklyn federal court later Thursday for his arraignment.
His Guardians teammate Luis Ortiz, who was also implicated in the alleged scheme, pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
The two pitchers have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July, when MLB began investigating what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched.
According to prosecutors, the two accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to help two unnamed gamblers in their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 on bets placed on the speed and outcome of their pitches.
They allege that Clase, who is on the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract, began providing the bettors with information about his pitches in 2023, but didn’t ask for payoffs until earlier this year.
Prosecutors say Clase often threw the rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat, making sure to throw the ball in the dirt and well outside the strike zone in order to assure the umpire called it a ball rather than a strike.
During an April game against the Boston Red Sox, Clase even spoke to one of the betters by phone just before taking the mound, prosecutors contend. Minutes later, the bettor and his associates won $11,000 on a wager that Clase would toss a certain pitch slower than 97.95 mph (157.63 kph).
Prosecutors say Clase recruited Ortiz to join the scheme earlier this year and sometimes provided money to the gamblers to fund the bets.
Michael Ferrara, one of Clase’s lawyers, has said the Guardians’ all-time saves leader maintains his innocence.
“Emmanuel Clase has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win,” Ferrara said in a statement Wednesday.
Chris Georgalis, a lawyer for Ortiz, has also denied the charges, saying payments between his client and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for legal activities.
Clase and Ortiz are each charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison.
Following the pitchers’ indictments, Major League Baseball announced new limits on betting on individual pitches.
The charges against Clase and Ortiz are the latest gambling scandals to roil American professional sports following the landmark 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized sports betting in most states.
Last month, more than 30 people, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in a gambling sweep that involved leaked inside information about NBA athletes and rigged poker games backed by Mafia families.
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WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S TOP 25 ROUNDUP: NO. 12 TENNESSEE EKES PAST BELMONT
Kaniya Boyd sank a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3:58 to play as No. 12 Tennessee rallied for a 68-58 nonconference win over Belmont on Thursday in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Bruins led by five points early in the fourth quarter and were up 56-54 after Tuti Jones made 1 of 2 free throws with just under five minutes to go.
A tip-in from Tennessee’s Deniya Prawl tied the score and started a game-changing 10-0 run. Talaysia Cooper hit 1 of 2 foul shots with 1:01 remaining, giving the Lady Vols a 64-56 advantage.
Cooper paced Tennessee (3-1) with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Janiah Barker added 11 points for the Lady Vols, and Zee Spearman had 10 points and eight boards. Belmont (1-2) got 14 points from Avery Strickland, 13 from Jailyn Banks and 10 from Hilary Fuller.
No. 9 Maryland 88, Towson 70
Addi Mack scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half as the Terrapins downed the Tigers in College Park, Md.
Kaylene Smikle added 13 points for Maryland (4-0), which led by 28 points at halftime and by at least 16 for the entire second half. Oluchi Okananwa, Yarden Garzon and Breanna Williams contributed 10 points apiece.
India Johnston logged 23 points and Thalia Shepard scored 20 for Towson (2-2). Zoli Khalil finished with 10 points.
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NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: ROAD-RAMPAGING HAWKS DOWN JAZZ
Onyeka Okongwu scored a career-high 32 points and Jalen Johnson added a career-best 31 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 132-122 win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday in Salt Lake City.
Atlanta posted its Eastern Conference-leading sixth road victory of the season, in eight attempts.
Johnson also tallied career highs in rebounds (18), assists (14) and steals (seven) in his third career triple-double. Okongwu added 11 rebounds. Vit Krejci made six 3-pointers and scored 20 points off the bench. The Hawks sank 24 3-pointers and shot 51.1% from long range.
Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 40 points. Rookie Ace Bailey added a career-high 21 points and Keyonte George chipped in 19 for the Jazz, who have lost four of their past five games.
Suns 133, Pacers 98
Devin Booker scored 16 of his 33 points in the third quarter, Dillon Brooks had 24 of his 32 in the first half and host Phoenix routed struggling Indiana for its fifth consecutive win.
Oso Ighodaro had a career-high 17 points and added seven rebounds for the Suns. Grayson Allen scored 12 points but exited for good in the second quarter due to a right quad contusion.
Andrew Nembhard had 21 points and eight assists while Pascal Siakam had 19 points for the Pacers, who have lost six in a row. Aaron Nesmith (left knee soreness) exited in the third quarter.
Raptors 126, Cavaliers 113
Scottie Barnes collected 28 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and five blocked shots and Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points as visiting Toronto beat Cleveland.
Jakob Poeltl added 20 points for Toronto, which is 6-1 since winning in Cleveland on Oct. 31. The Raptors are a season-high two games over .500 and 5-1 against East foes on the road.
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and made 15 of 17 free throws for the Cavaliers, who also got 18 points from Nae’Qwan Tomlin and 16 from De’Andre Hunter. Cleveland lost for the second time in its past seven games.
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BASEBALL NEWS
SHOHEI OHTANI, AARON JUDGE MAKE HISTORY WITH BACK-TO-BACK MVPS
While Shohei Ohtani had his greatness reconfirmed, Cal Raleigh learned not even the greatest season by a catcher in Major League Baseball history could stop Aaron Judge from adding another Most Valuable Player award to his trophy case.
Minutes after Ohtani secured his third consecutive MVP award and fourth in the last five years — leaving him just three shy of Barry Bonds for the most in MLB history — Judge was announced as the American League’s MVP in a close vote with Raleigh on Thursday night.
Ohtani and Judge became the first duo to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the same back-to-back seasons.
The New York Yankees outfielder secured 17 of a possible 30 first-place votes and 355 points. The Seattle Mariners catcher claimed the other 13 first-place votes and finished with 335 points.
In the end, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters determined that Judge’s MLB-leading batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.688) outweighed Raleigh’s AL-best 60 homers and 125 RBIs.
“It’s pretty wild,” Judge said. “You try not to think about it during the season. I try to keep my head down through all 162 and do whatever I can in today’s game to help our team win.”
For the 33-year-old Judge, it marks his third MVP award. That puts him in an exclusive neighborhood with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Mike Trout and a handful of others — but Ohtani no longer resides there.
The 31-year-old Japan native received all 30 first-place votes for the National League MVP.
Ohtani earned his latest honor after piling up a career-high 55 homers, a majors-best 146 runs and an NL-high a .622 slugging percentage and 1.014 OPS in 158 games.
He also returned to the mound after taking 18 months off and forged a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts. He registered 62 strikeouts versus just nine walks over 47 innings.
“It was a great year,” Ohtani said on MLB Network via translator. “Like I said, I’m grateful to my teammates, the coaching staff … but not only them. The fans were the ones who really rooted us on and supported us.”
Ohtani added eight home runs in 17 postseason games while leading the Dodgers to their second consecutive World Series title, though his playoff exploits did not factor into the BBWAA voting.
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who produced a league-high 56 homers and 132 RBIs while playing in all 162 games, finished second in the balloting. He was followed by New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (43 homers, 38 stolen bases), Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (.290 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs, 27 steals) and Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (league-leading .304 average with 36 steals).
In the American League, Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (30 homers, 44 steals) finished a distant third.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (23 homers, 38 steals) and Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal, who claimed his second consecutive Cy Young Award with a 13-6 record and 2.21 ERA, rounded out the top five.
MLB AWARDS: JACOB DEGROM, RONALD ACUNA JR. WIN COMEBACK HONORS
Jacob deGrom was already a two-time Cy Young Award winner, a Rookie of the Year winner and an ERA champion. Now he can add Comeback Player of the Year to his list of accolades.
The Texas Rangers right-hander captured the American League Comeback Player of the Year award on Thursday during the MLB awards show in Las Vegas.
Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was chosen as the National League Comeback Player of the Year.
deGrom, 37, missed most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned to make three brief starts for Texas in September 2024, then went 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA in 30 starts this year. deGrom struck out 185 and walked 37 in 172 2/3 innings while earning his fifth career All-Star selection.
Acuna, 27, saw his 2024 season end in May due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. He made his 2025 season debut days shy of one year later, and he hit .290 with 21 homers and 42 RBIs in 95 games this year.
Acuna is the second consecutive Atlanta player to win NL Comeback Player of the Year, following Chris Sale.
Shohei Ohtani, honored earlier Thursday as the National League’s Most Valuable Player, captured the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for the fifth consecutive year.
The two-way Los Angeles Dodgers star batted .282 with 55 homers and 102 RBIs. He led the league in total bases (380), slugging percentage (.622) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.014).
Ohtani won the DH award from 2021-23 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Now he has captured the award twice with the Dodgers.
There was more hardware for Ohtani on Thursday, as he was named the Hank Aaron Award winner as the best offensive player in the NL. It was Ohtani’s third straight after previously winning last year with the Dodgers and in 2023 claiming the AL award with the Angels.
Just like with MVP, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge took home the AL Hank Aaron Award. Judge hit an MLB-best .331 with 53 HRs and 114 RBIs and led all of baseball in on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.688) and OPS (1.144). It was also the third win of the award for Judge.
Milwaukee Brewers general manager Matt Arnold became the first-ever two-time winner of the Executive of the Year Award. He also won last year, and then this year the Brewers posted the best record in the major leagues, 97-65.
The relievers of the year were both previous winners.
Boston Red Sox left-hander Aroldis Chapman captured the Mariano Rivera Award as the AL’s top reliever. He also won the trophy with the New York Yankees in 2019.
Chapman, 37, had 32 saves, a 5-3 record and a 1.17 ERA in 67 outings this year.
New York Mets right-hander Edwin Diaz received the Trevor Hoffman Award, given to the NL’s best reliever. He also won the Hoffman award in 2022, and he won the Rivera award while pitching for the Seattle Mariners in 2018.
Diaz, 31, logged 28 saves, a 6-3 record and a 1.63 ERA in 62 appearances in 2025.
The 2025 All-MLB First and Second Teams were also revealed Thursday, with the Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies leading the way with four selections each. View the entire rosters below.
All-MLB first team
C Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
2B Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
3B Jose Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
SS Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
OF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
OF Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
OF Juan Soto, New York Mets
DH Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
SP Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox
SP Max Fried, New York Yankees
SP Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
SP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
RP Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox
RP Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins/Philadelphia Phillies
All-MLB second team
C Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
1B Nick Kurtz, Athletics
2B Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
3B Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
OF Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees
OF Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
DH Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
SP Hunter Brown, Houston Astros
SP Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
SP Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia Phillies
SP Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
SP Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners
RP Edwin Diaz, New York Mets
RP Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners
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INDIANA HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES
COLTS FOOTBALL NEWS
COLTS NEED JONATHAN TAYLOR, DANIEL JONES TO PROVIDE THE HORSEPOWER FOR A FINISHING KICK AFTER BYE
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has provided glitzy, breakaway runs routinely. Daniel Jones has been the consistent, gritty quarterback Indianapolis desperately needs.
Together, they’ve just kept winning.
After traveling to Berlin and beating Atlanta in overtime last weekend, the Colts enter their bye week with the league’s top rusher, the league leader in yards passing, the league’s highest scoring offense and a 2 1/2-game lead in the AFC South.
Things couldn’t look much better for Indy (8-2) as Taylor and Jones hear their names mentioned as MVP candidates. Surprised? Not in this organization.
“Even when we went back to the spring and training camp, you could feel the vibes,” coach Shane Steichen said. “To win close games, I think it says a lot about our football team and where we’re at from a collective unit. Finding ways to win at the end are huge in this league.”
Taylor is having his best season since winning the NFL’s 2021 rushing and scrimmage yard titles. He averages a league-best 6.0 yards per carry, is tied with James Cook of Buffalo for most 100-yard games this season (five) and at this rate would top 1,900 yards and may even challenge LaDainian Tomlinson’s single-season record for total touchdowns (31). He already has five games with three total TDs and needs just one in Indy’s last seven games to tie Tomlinson’s single-season record.
How good has he been?
Indy’s new franchise leader for TD runs also has the longest run of the season, a spectacular 83-yard go-ahead TD midway through the fourth quarter Sunday. He then capped Indy’s final, seven-play drive with the last of his six carries being the decisive 8-yard TD run.
If he does win the rushing title, he would be join a short list of players who had gaps of three or four years between their titles — Adrian Peterson, Barry Sanders, Bill Dudley and Cliff Battles.
“He’s the best running back in the NFL and he still doesn’t take the credit for it,” left tackle Bernhard Raimann said in Germany. “That’s just the kind of human he is, the kind of competitor he is, and he’s still one of the hardest workers on the team. He’s leading us. As an offensive line, it just makes it fun blocking for him.”
Jones, meanwhile, is having his own career year just 12 months after requesting and being granted his release from the New York Giants. Steichen was plotting the possibilities from the moment Indy signed Jones as a free agent in March.
Steichen named Jones the starter over injury-prone Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023. And while Richardson again landed on injured reserve, all Jones has done is win. His eight victories are one short of a career high and he’s on pace for career bests in yards passing, completion percentage and TDs.
The lingering question, though, is whether Jones can keep playing this well?
He’s shown some cracks over the past two games when he was responsible for seven turnovers and took 12 sacks. So getting a chance to refresh and reset now could be just what he needs.
The Colts also have a manageable schedule with trips to Kansas City (5-4) and Seattle (7-2), a home Monday night game against San Francisco (6-4) and four games against Jacksonville (5-4) and Houston (4-5).
But if the dynamic duo that has fueled Indy’s strong start provides the horsepower for a finishing kick, the Colts could continue to be a surprise contender.
“We’ve got a good football team, we’ve got a really good running back, that’s for sure,” Jones said Sunday. “But I think across the board, when you look at a lot of those things today, we hurt ourselves in some key spots that we can’t afford to do, and that’s on me. Obviously, we’ll look to correct that, but the fact we were able to win anyway and to battle through a number of those situations, I think, says a lot about our team, says a lot about our fight, our mental stamina, our mental toughness.”
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INDIANA PACERS NEWS
GAME REWIND: PACERS 98, SUNS 133
Playing the final game of a four-game Western Conference road trip, the Pacers (1-11) fell to the Suns (8-5) on Thursday night in Phoenix, 133-98.
It was the sixth straight loss for Indiana and the fifth straight win for Phoenix. The Suns led by 22 entering the fourth quarter then opened the final frame with a 20-0 run, leading by as many as 46 points on their way to victory.
Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 21 points and nine assists in the loss. Pascal Siakam added 19 points and five rebounds.
Devin Booker scored 33 points and dished out seven assists, while Dillon Brooks scored a season-high 32 points for the Suns.
Already with seven players sidelined due to injury or illness entering Thursday, the Pacers suffered another blow when starting wing Aaron Nesmith exited early in the third quarter with a left knee injury.
The Pacers opted to start Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Tony Bradley for the second straight game, and both made early contributions on Thursday. Robinson-Earl tallied four points and six rebounds (four of them offensive boards) in the first quarter, while Bradley scored eight points and grabbed three boards.
Indiana jumped out to an early 13-8 lead, but the Suns closed the frame with an 11-2 run and took a 31-23 lead into the second quarter.
After the two teams traded baskets in the opening minute of the ensuing frame, Phoenix used another 11-4 spurt to extend its lead to 15 points.
Siakam and Nembhard did their best to try to keep the Blue & Gold within striking distance, as Nembhard scored 11 points in the second quarter and Siakam added 10.
But the Suns got 12 points from Brooks and 11 from Booker in the frame. The Suns duo capped the half with six unanswered points in the final minute, with Brooks converting a three-point play and then Booker knocking down a three in transition to extend the margin to 70-52 entering the intermission.
The Suns shot 61.4 percent in the first half, while the Pacers converted just 39.5 percent of their shots. Phoenix was 7-for-16 (43.8 percent) from 3-point range, while Indiana was just 2-for-10 (20 percent).
The Pacers suffered a brutal blow early in the second half. Less than three minutes into the third quarter, Aaron Nesmith went down awkwardly and injured his left knee, slamming the floor in disgust. Nesmith was helped up and walked back to the locker room with assistance from the training staff, but was quickly ruled out for the game with left knee soreness.
Despite losing Nesmith, the Pacers hung around for the next several minutes. They trailed 88-77 following two Jarace Walker free throws with 3:43 left in the third quarter.
But the Suns then reeled off 16 unanswered points — 10 of them from Booker — to effectively put the game away.
Phoenix led 106-84 entering the fourth quarter, then opened the final frame with a 20-0 run as the Pacers went scoreless for the first 6:10 of the period.
Bradley and Nesmith finished with 10 points apiece, the only Pacers aside from Nembhard and Siakam to reach double figures.
Six Suns scored in double figures on the night. Oso Ighodaro had 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Grayson Allen scored 12 points in as many minutes before exiting in the first half with a groin injury. Jordan Goodwin tallied 10 points, nine boards, and six assists, while Collin Gillespie had 10 points and four boards.
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Toronto on Sunday, their first home game in 10 days.
Inside the Numbers
The Suns shot 57.6 percent from the field to Indiana’s 36.4 percent.
Nembhard surpassed 20 points for the third time in four games since returning from a shoulder injury at the start of the road trip and was one assist away from recording his first double-double of the season.
Bradley scored in double figures for the second time this season. He had 12 points in a loss at Minnesota on Oct. 26.
The Pacers did get to the free throw line often and converted at a high rate on Thursday, going 27-for-29 (93.1 percent) from the charity stripe. Nembhard was 10-for-11 and Siakam was 7-for-8.
Brooks’ 32 points were a season high and tied for the fourth-highest single-game output of his career. Brooks went 12-for-18 from the field, 3-for-7 from 3-point range, and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
You Can Quote Me On That
“Tough game. We did a lot of good things for two-and-a-half, three quarters. And then they hit too many bursts.” -Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle on the loss
“We’ve got to stay in a highly competitive mode. NBA games are difficult, they’re physical. Everybody’s amped up the physicality and the pressure. And so we’re going to need to do the same.” -Carlisle on where the team needs to go from here
“They hit some very difficult shots…Booker’s a big-time player. The guy’s on the Olympic team, he’s an All-Star, and all that. And Brooks made difficult shots. A lot of those shots are shots you want to try to force — difficult, contested, running two-point shots. On nights where guys are hitting shots like that, you live with it and you try to make up for it in other ways. But we just couldn’t.” -Carlisle on Phoenix’s shot-making
Stat of the Night
Over a 9:08 stretch spanning the end of the third to the start of the fourth quarter, the Suns outscored the Pacers 38-7.
Noteworthy
Carlisle said after the game he was hopeful the Pacers “may have dodged a bullet” in regard to Nesmith avoiding a major injury, but still believed that he will still “miss some time.”
Phoenix’s win snapped a three-game win streak for the Pacers over the Suns. The two teams will meet again on March 12 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Cody Martin, who is on a 10-day hardship contract with Indiana, missed Thursday’s contest due to illness.
Allen subbed out with 8:15 remaining in the second quarter and did not return. He was diagnosed with a right quad contusion.
Up Next
After a four-game road trip, the Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 PM ET.
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INDY FUEL NEWS
FUEL LOOK FOR TWO IN A ROW AGAINST RAPID CITY
FISHERS– The Fuel will host the Rapid City Rush for a second game in a row on Friday night. After coming back to defeat them in overtime 5-4 on Wednesday night, the Fuel will ride the momentum from a big win into the weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was Wednesday night when Indy went down 4-1 in the first half of the game. After a 17-shot second period to close the gap, the Fuel forced overtime and Lee Lapid scored his second game-winning goal of the season to claim the big win. Kevon Lombardi extended his point streak to six games with a goal and an assist. Owen Robison also had a two-point night and Sahil Panwar scored two goals, one being on the power play.
CRUSH THE RUSH
With a goaltender change going into the second period, the Fuel’s offense also picked up a lot of momentum on Wednesday night after the first frame. Outshooting the Rush, 38-18 in regulation, Indy proved that possession of the puck and high shooting chances can make all the difference when mounting a comeback.
STANDINGS SEEKERS
While it is still early in the season, the Fuel are setting themselves up for success stringing together wins that keeps them in playoff contention. Heading into Friday, the Fuel are in second place in the Central division behind the Fort Wayne Komets. They only trail the Komets by three points. The Rush are in sixth place in the Mountain division.
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INDIANA FOOTBALL NEWS
NO. 2 INDIANA TRIES TO COMPLETE A 2ND STRAIGHT PERFECT HOME SEASON WHEN WISCONSIN VISITS
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has experienced nothing but success in his one season at No. 2 Indiana. Receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has been through just about everything in his four years with the Hoosiers.
Now the tandem that created one of college football’s biggest plays this season hopes to deliver another memorable moment in what could be their final home game together Saturday against struggling Wisconsin.
This will not be just another senior day at Indiana (10-0, 7-0). For the second straight year, the Hoosiers enter their final two home games with a perfect record, on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot and the possibility of reaching their first Big Ten title game.
But second-year coach Curt Cignetti doesn’t believe the narrative will become a distraction from how the Hoosiers have reached this point.
“I doubt any of them are thinking about the end right now because everybody understands sort of where we’re at and what’s possible,” Cignetti said this week. “I think we’re on a little bit of a mission here, and that’s really been the focus. I think that’s how the kids are thinking, too.”
Mendoza emerged as one of the top players in the transfer portal last year and wound up choosing the Hoosiers in part to reunite with his younger brother, Alberto. The older brother has been even better than advertised by leading the league with 31 total TDs while emerging as a Heisman Trophy favorite and possibly the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
Cooper, meanwhile, endured 4-8 and 3-9 seasons and won only three Big Ten games in his first two years at Indiana but has since become a key figure in a remarkable two-year turnaround.
The Hoosiers are trying to extend their school record 14-game winning streak at home and protect the program’s highest ranking against the Badgers (3-6, 1-5). And Cooper’s incredible go-ahead TD catch in the final minute not only gave Indiana its first win at Penn State, it helped them — finally — shed the label of America’s losingest football program. Northwestern now has 716 losses all-time, one more than the Hoosiers.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell knows what his team is up against after snapping an 11-game losing streak against Power Four opponents last week.
“I don’t even know if you asked a coach from within (the program) like if they could pinpoint exactly what it is,” Fickell said when asked about the Hoosiers turnaround. “There’s a lot of things that have gone into it. Great coaching is one of them, great quarterback is another. But whatever they’ve done a really, really good job of in the last few years.”
Quarterback questions
The biggest question for Wisconsin is who will play quarterback Saturday.
Billy Edwards Jr. was the opening-day starter but sprained his knee in that first game and has only played, briefly, in one game since. Danny O’Neil and Hunter Simmons started a combined total of seven games, but when O’Neil was carted off the field with a leg injury last week, Fickell went with first-year quarterback Carter Smith who went 3 of 12 with 8 yards and scored on a 2-yard run in a 13-10 win over then No. 23 Washington.
Who will start Saturday?
“You always have a plan,” he said when asked what he’d do if the Badgers lose any more quarterbacks to injuries. “We’ve still got to figure out who’s one and two before we start to think about who’s the fourth going into a game like this.”
CFP talk
Given the schedule, the CFP selection might want to consult with the Badgers before making its final pairings.
Saturday’s game will be Wisconsin’s sixth this season against a team ranked in the CFP’s Top 25. The Badgers already have faced No. 1 Ohio State, No. 4 Alabama, No. 8 Oregon, No. 18 Michigan and No. 21 Iowa.
But Fickell’s players aren’t blaming the brutal schedule for their losses.
“I love every bit of it,” outside linebacker Mason Reiger said. “I’d rather play the best five teams in the country than play none of them. It’s a challenge, sure. It’s not easy to play these good teams, but at some point in college football you want to play the best teams because to be the best, you’ve got to go against the best.”
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INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER NEWS
AULT NAMED BIG TEN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The NCAA leader in goals (16) and points (42), Indiana men’s soccer senior forward Palmer Ault earned the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award via a poll of the conference coaches.
The conference office announced its postseason awards on Thursday (Nov. 13). In addition to Ault’s player of the year and unanimous first-team All-Big Ten honors, junior forward Collins Oduro featured in the All-Big Ten second team, forward Colton Swan in the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, and junior defender Alex Barger was IU’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Indiana forwards have won five offensive player of the year awards as well as each of the last two; Ault follows up 2024 winner Tommy Mihalic, who also wore No. 10 during his time at Indiana.
Three IU forwards land in the 2025 postseason awards, representing Indiana’s attacking capacity. The Hoosiers rank No. 2 in the country in scoring with 46 goals this season, an average of 2.56 goals per game.
Ault is the second Big Ten player in the 21st century to eclipse 15 goals and 10 assists in a single season, joining only fellow Hoosier Pat Noonan who recorded 16 goals and 12 assists in 2001. 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Jon Bakero (16 goals, 14 assists) was the last NCAA Division I player to achieve the feat.
As well as volume, Ault has also modeled versatility and consistency. Ault has scored with his right foot, left foot, inside of the foot, in the air and has assisted from open play as well as from three different kinds of set pieces: corner kick, free kick and throw-in. Over 18 matches, Ault has not played consecutive matches without producing a goal or assist. Indiana has a 10-1-1 record when Ault scores or assists.
After earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors in 2023, Oduro returned to the postseason awards during a season in which he’s produced career-highs in assists (6) and points (14) to go along with four goals.
Swan landed in the Big Ten All-Freshman Team while recording three goals and three assists in his rookie season. Indiana’s No. 9 ended the regular season on a high, scoring a brace against Rutgers to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for the final cycle.
A mainstay at left back since his 2023 freshman season, Barger has improved his attacking dimension as a junior, sporting career highs in goals (3) and points (8).
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INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
PRINCE-ALEXANDER MOODY SIGNS WITH INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Four-star combo guard Prince-Alexander Moody has signed his letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Indiana University under head men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries, the program announced on Thursday.
Prince-Alexander Moody
Guard | 6-4 | 185
District Heights, Md. | Bishop McNamara
No. 107 on 247Sports | No. 132 on Rivals
Three-year letterwinner for head coach Jay Gavin at Bishop McNamara … compiled 1,075 career points, 119 made 3-pointers through 85 career games in high school … 2025 All-WCAC Second Team selection … 2025 All-Met player … 2025 Washington Post Honorable Mention … 2025 Peach Jam Standout player … named one of the 2025 EYBL Best Performers … averaged 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game for Team Takeover during the 2025 EBYL season … 2024 Made Hoops Next Up Camp MVP … held over 20 NCAA Division I offers … member of the National Honor Society … son of Aljeanatha Moody and Derrick L. Wells … has two sisters: Princess Moody and Tanzania Johnson … born on Sept. 19, 2006.
DeVries on Moody:
“Prince is the ultimate team guy and competitor. He has a great feel for the game and will fit in perfectly with what we do at both ends of the floor.”
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INDIANA XC NEWS
IUXC TRAVELS TO NCAA GREAT LAKES REGIONAL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana men’s and women’s cross country teams prepare for the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals. The Evansville Regional Sports Commission and the Missouri Valley Conference will host the meet in at the Angel Mounds Historic Site in Evansville, Ind., on Friday morning.
MEET INFO.
Course: Silver Mounds Historic Site (Evansville, Ind.)
Tournament Central | Livestats
Tickets & Parking: Parking is free of charge. There will be a $10 entrance fee for spectators.
Coverage: Follow Indiana XC at iuhoosiers.com and on social media at @IndianaXCTF
SCHEDULE (All times ET)
Women’s 6k – 11:00 a.m.
Men’s 10k – 12:00 p.m.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Indiana will race against 34 teams in the Great Lakes region.
The women are ranked 14th in the region and are set to compete against nationally ranked teams in No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 23 Michigan State and No. 25 Wisconsin at regionals.
The men’s squad will face the top competitors in the region with five teams ranking in the top 30. The Hoosiers will see three Big Ten competitors in No. 13 Michigan State, No. 15 Wisconsin, and No. 26 Michigan. Indiana will also see in-state rivals in No. 14 Butler, who holds the top spot I the Big East rankings, and No. 16 Notre Dame.
HOOSIER LINEUP
Men’s 10k: Skylar Stidam, Martin Segurola, Abe Eckman, Dylon Nalley, Tony Provenzano, Nolan Satterfield, Aaron Lord and Brayden Henkle.
Women’s 6k: Mariah Wehrle, Lily Myers, Claire Overfelt, Tori Schmidt, Elka McFarland, Emma Everhart-Deckard, Joey Rastrelli and Katelyn Winton.
BIG TEN RECAP
Nolan Satterfield crossed the finish line first for the Hoosiers, recording a lifetime best mark of 24:20.6.
Ava Jarrell earned a spot on the All-Freshman team with her finish in East Lansing, Mich. She set a personal best time of 21:02.5 to finish 45th overall.
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PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
#2 PURDUE RECORDS MASSIVE TOP-10 ROAD WIN AT #8 ALABAMA
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Braden Smith scored 29 points, including 21 in the second half, and No. 2 Purdue beat eighth-ranked Alabama 87-80 on Thursday night in the first matchup of top-10 teams this season.
Trey Kaufman-Renn added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Boilermakers (3-0), who notched the program’s first road win against a top-10, non-conference opponent since winning at Louisville in 1982.
Purdue dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Crimson Tide 52-28. Alabama (2-1) kept it close by hitting 16 of 44 from 3-point range.
Aden Holloway led the Tide with 21 points. Taylor Bol Bowen added 13.
Houston Mallette’s 3-pointer tied the game at 80 with 1:42 remaining, but Smith took over from there. He drove for a layup on the other end and then hit two free throws with 47 seconds left to give the Boilermakers some breathing room.
The game featured 21 lead changes. Kaufman-Renn, Purdue’s leading scorer from last season, missed the first two games to injury and made his debut in Tuscaloosa. He had 17 points and eight rebounds in the first half.
His physical presence ignited a Purdue team that finished with 19 offensive rebounds.
Alabama made up for its deficiencies with high-level 3-point shooting. Six Crimson Tide players combined for 10 3s in the first half. Alabama entered the game shooting only 30.6% from 3 this season but shot a blistering 48% in the first half.
2-ranked Purdue improved to 3-0 with an 87-80 win over No. 8 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Thursday night.
Purdue has now started 3-0 on the season for the fifth consecutive year.
The win was Purdue’s third in the last three seasons against Alabama, all coming by at least six points. The Crimson Tide have lost 22 games total since the start of the 2023-24 season. Three of them have come to Purdue.
Purdue was +24 (52-28) on the glass against Alabama, the highest margin against a top-10 team on the road since Xavier held a 27-rebound advantage against #10 Seton Hall on Feb. 1, 2020.
Purdue improved to 10-3 in its last 13 games against the SEC.
Purdue is 12-5 under Matt Painter in AP Top-10 showdowns. The Boilermakers are 4-2 under Painter on the road in top-10 showdowns.
The win was Purdue’s first non-conference road win over a top-10 team since Dec. 4, 1982, at #7 Louisville (89-83). It was Purdue’s first non-conference road win between two top-10 teams ever.
Purdue is 109-5 under Matt Painter when scoring at least 80 points.
Purdue is 24-14 (.632) against ranked teams since the start of the 2021-22 season, the third-best winning percentage in the country (UConn, Memphis).
The win was the 90th since the start of the 2022-23 season, and this year’s senior class now owns a 90-23 career record.
The victory was the 499th career victory of Matt Painter’s career in his 22nd He owns a 499-220 career record.
The win was Matt Painter’s 27th win over a top-10 team and it improves his record against all ranked teams to 78-102.
After Alabama tied the game at 80-80 with 1:42 to play, Purdue scored the last seven points of the game.
Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer started their 113th consecutive game on Thursday, setting a new school record for consecutive starts.
Braden Smith scored 29 points with seven rebounds and four assists. In three career games against Alabama, Smith averaged 24.3 points, 7.3 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Purdue improved to 18-1 in games that Braden Smith scores at least 20 points.
Braden Smith now has 1,430 career points, 782 career assists, 551 career rebounds and 185 career steals. He is one of six players in NCAA history with at least 1,400 polnts, 775 assists, 550 rebounds and 175 steals.
When Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith combine for at least 30 points during their career, Purdue is 25-2.
Trey Kaufman-Renn became the third player in the last 30 seasons to have at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a top-10 matchup, joining North Carolina’s Joe Forte (2001) and Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan (1996). He tallied 19 points, 15 rebounds (T-career high) and five assists in his first game of the season.
Oscar Cluff has 24 games of at least 10 rebounds in 35 games since the start of last year (11 vs. Alabama). In two games vs. Alabama, Cluff averaged 15.0 points and 13.0 rebounds (21 & 15 last year while at South Dakota State).
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PURDUE BASEBALL NEWS
GOFF ANNOUNCES BASEBALL’S FULL SCHEDULE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball’s 2026 schedule features weekends at three different Triple-A stadiums plus six home series as part of a 26-game slate at Alexander Field.
Head coach Greg Goff has announced a 56-game schedule that includes a season-opening, eight-game road trip in Texas; home weekends against Oregon, Illinois, Indiana and 2025 College World Series qualifier Murray State; and a season-ending series against Iowa at the Minor League Baseball stadium in the state capital of Des Moines.
The Boilermakers will play at the Triple-A stadiums of the affiliates of the Houston Astros (Constellation Field in Sugar Land), Texas Rangers (Dell Diamond in Round Rock) and Chicago Cubs (Principal Park in Des Moines). It will mark the first time the program has played in three different MiLB stadiums since doing so in consecutive years in 2012 and 2013.
Purdue opens Big Ten play with a home series against defending conference co-champion Oregon, a program led by former Purdue head coach Mark Wasikowski (2017-19). Wasikowski originally brought Goff to West Lafayette as an assistant coach in the summer of 2017. The series (March 6-8) will mark the first-ever meetings between the Boilermakers and Ducks.
Murray State enjoyed a Cinderella run to Omaha last year, winning an NCAA Regional at Ole Miss and a Super Regional at Duke. When the Racers come to West Lafayette from May 1-3 as part of the teams’ open weekends in their Big Ten and Missouri Valley Conference schedules, MSU will join Louisville (in 2014) as visiting teams to play at Alexander Field the year after an appearance at the College World Series. Alexander debuted in the spring of 2013.
Purdue is slated to open its season with a four-game series at Constellation Field in Sugar Land for the fifth consecutive year, hosting first-time foe Portland (Feb. 13-15). With the previously announced Round Rock Classic in the Austin area set for Weekend No. 2 (Feb. 20-22), the Boilermakers have opted to remain in the Lone Star State for the week between. Goff scheduled a midweek game at seven-time College World Series qualifier Rice for Feb. 18. Purdue practiced at Rice’s Reckling Park on day one of its time in the Houston area during last year’s season-opening weekend.
The Boilermakers close the regular season (May 14-16) on the road for just the second time in the program’s Alexander Field era. Purdue makes only its third trip to Iowa since 2013 – this year’s series with the Hawkeyes being moved 115 miles west to the state capital. Principal Park in Des Moines is the home of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Following the series, the Boilers plan to make the short trip west across the Missouri River for the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha (May 19-24).
Purdue also returns to Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C., for the fifth consecutive season. Marist is the opponent this year for a four-game series during weekend No. 3 (Feb. 27-March 1).
Since 2022, the Boilermakers are 14-2 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, 22-5 at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs and 25-6 in the state of North Carolina.
The annual rivalry series with Indiana is set for May 8-10 as the final home weekend at Alexander Field. Penn State (March 20-22), Illinois (April 3-5) and Ohio State (April 17-19) join Oregon and IU as Big Ten rivals to visit West Lafayette this spring. Ohio State is now led by second-year head coach Justin Haire, who Goff hired as an assistant at Campbell and eventually succeeded Goff as the head coach in Buies Creek. When Haire left for OSU in June 2024, Campbell hired former Purdue assistant Chris Marx as head coach.
The Boilermakers visit both the East and West Coast for Big Ten play this season. They fly east to Maryland for weekend No. 2 (March 13-15) of the conference season and west to Los Angeles for a first-ever series with USC (April 24-26). Purdue has not played in California since series at Cal State Northridge and Santa Clara during the 2017 spring break trip.
The Boilermakers play home-and-home midweek dates with both Indiana State and Ball State. A St. Patrick’s Day game at Butler represents Purdue’s first game in Indianapolis since 2015. The Boilers are scheduled to play 29 of their 56 (52%) regular-season games in the state of Indiana.
A full list of gameday promotions and special dates at Alexander Field will be released in late February. Purdue has set attendance records at Alexander each of the last three years.
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PURDUE WRESTLING NEWS
#20 PURDUE HOSTS BOILERMAKER DUALS IN LAMBERT FIELDHOUSE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — No. 20 Purdue Wrestling is bringing back its annual Boilermaker Duals tradition, hosting a quad meet in Lambert Fieldhouse on Saturday.
It will be Purdue’s first time wrestling in historic Lambert Fieldhouse since Nov. 15, 2008, 17 years ago to the day. It is a temporary setup due to Volleyball competing in Holloway later Saturday night.
On a two-mat layout, the Boilermakers (2-0, 0-0 B1G) will compete against Buffalo (0-1, 0-0 MAC), Northern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 MAC) and American (0-1, 0-0 EIWA). Each team will rotate to wrestle against the others, with the exception of Buffalo vs. NIU, since the two MAC conference mates will face each other later in the season.
Purdue will first match up with Buffalo at 10 a.m. ET as American battles NIU on the adjacent mat. At the end of each dual, there will be just a five-minute break before the next set of duals begins. The start times of the second and third duals are estimates, but they will likely start before the listed times assuming duals don’t take the full two hours.
Admission is free to all fans. Bleacher seating will be available on the floor next to the mats. A broadcast of Purdue’s matches will be available on B1G+.
SCHEDULE
10 a.m. ET: Purdue vs. Buffalo | American vs. NIU
∼12 p.m. ET: Purdue vs. NIU | American vs. Buffalo
∼2 p.m. ET: Purdue vs. American
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Purdue
125 | Ashton Jackson / Jacob Macatangay / Isaiah Quintero
133 | #21 Blake Boarman / Isaiah Schaefer / Vincent Paino
141 | #21 Greyson Clark
149 | Gavin Brown / Wyatt Krejsa / Cole Solomey
157 | #21 Stoney Buell / Isaac Ruble
165 | #3 Joey Blaze / Adrian Pellot
174 | #20 Brody Baumann / Aidan Costello
184 | #25 James Rowley / Quinn Herbert
197 | #25 Ben Vanadia / Noah Weaver
285 | #31 Hayden Filipovich / Dominic Burgett
American
125 | JJ Peace / Coen Bainey
133 | Raymond Lopez / Colin Martin
141 | Elijah White
149 | Gage Owen / Leo Maestas
157 | Kaden Milheim / Cameron Milheim
165 | Austin Craft
174 | Hunter Hohman / Liam Packer
184 | Caleb Campos / RJ Robinson
197 | Caleb Close
285 | Emmanuel Ulrich / Liam Volk-Klos
Buffalo
125 | Caden Barrientos
133 | Troy Guerra / Max Elton
141 | Gianni Silvestri
149 | Sam Ewing
157 | Kaleb Burgess
165 | Kelin Laffey
174 | Rafael Knapp
184 | Marcus Petite
197 | Connor Jacobs
285 | Jack Macdonald
Northern Illinois
125 | Talan Parsons / Josh Vazquez
133 | #28 Markel Baker / Lucian Brink / Calvin Werden
141 | Charles “Deuce” Curtis / Tee Ward
149 | Tommy Curan / Lucan O’Brien
157 | Collin Arch / Tyler Turzinski
165 | Brett Smith / Colin Young
174 | Tommy Bennett / Tyler Schofield
184 | Dominic Heim / Caleb Roe / Damarion Ross
197 | Spencer Mooberry
285 | Jacob Christensen / Devon Dawson
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NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL NEWS
SURGING NO. 9 NOTRE DAME WILL TRY TO STRENGTHEN ITS CFP SPOT AGAINST RESILIENT NO. 23 PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pat Narduzzi was kidding. Mostly anyway.
Asked what it means when No. 23 Pittsburgh hosts No. 9 Notre Dame on Saturday, the longtime Panthers coach did a little math and then offered a somewhat tongue-in-cheek response.
“I would gladly get beat 103 or 110-10 in that game,” Narduzzi said. “They can put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that.”
Casually saying he was OK if the Panthers lose by a video-game score is Narduzzi’s typically idiosyncratic way of taking some of the pressure off a team whose season threatened to careen out of control after back-to-back losses to end September.
All Pitt has done in the interim is rip off five straight behind true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, which is why, regardless of the outcome at Acrisure Stadium this weekend, the Panthers (7-2) can earn a spot in the ACC title game by toppling No. 14 Georgia Tech and No. 16 Miami to end the regular season.
Notre Dame (7-2) has no such wiggle room. A seven-game winning streak by an average of nearly four touchdowns has put the Irish back in the College Football Playoff mix, though another misstep likely leaves them on the outside looking in when the 12-team field is released next month.
It’s why coach Marcus Freeman bristled this week when he received a text from a friend who labeled the meeting with the Panthers as a “trap” game. Considering the heater Pitt is on thanks to Heintschel and a defense creating the “havoc” that has become Narduzzi’s signature during his 11 seasons, Freeman doesn’t see it that way.
“This is not a trap game,” Freeman said. “This is a challenge. This is a real challenge, a great challenge.”
It’s also Notre Dame’s final chance to impress the CFP committee. The Irish finish with injury-riddled Syracuse and rebuilding Stanford. A wobble against a Pitt team eager to prove it’s worthy of the buzz it has generated over the last six weeks could be damaging.
Love isn’t all they need
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has seen his Heisman Trophy stock rise in recent weeks. Yet even as his Heisman campaign has gained traction, he’s hardly the only back fueling one of the most imposing rushing attacks in the country.
Backups Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams are also thriving. Price has 95 carries, 598 yards and nine TD runs, one TD catch and two kickoff returns for scores. Williams is coming off his most productive college performance, too, carrying five times for 72 yards and his second touchdown of the year against Navy.
Mason’s Moxie
Pitt’s surge into relevance has come in lockstep with Heintschel supplanting Eli Holstein in early October.
All Heintschel has done is top 300 yards passing in four of his five starts while throwing for 12 touchdowns against five picks. While Heintschel’s profile has risen dramatically in recent weeks, his teammates and coaches aren’t worried about the attention going to his head. It wasn’t that long ago that Heintschel was just a high school kid in northwest Ohio who didn’t have a single offer from a Power Four school until the Panthers reached out.
“I’ve never been around a true freshman that prepares like an NFL 10-year vet,” offensive coordinator Kade Bell said. “He prepares like he’s playing over here for the (Pittsburgh) Steelers. And he loves it, and he wants to get better and learn. The one thing I love about him is that a lot of times he doesn’t make the same mistake twice.”
Carr in command
In a college football world dominated by veteran quarterbacks transferring from one school to the next, Saturday’s matchup is a rarity — a game with two first-year starters playing quarterback.
But C.J. Carr might be ahead of Heintschel in the experience category. Carr has started all nine of Notre Dame’s games this season and after a slow start has been rounding into form. The grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has topped the 200-yard mark seven times this season and has 19 TD passes and four interceptions — none over the last two weeks.
Keeping it in perspective
Pitt appearing in the CFP rankings at any point this season seemed remote after blowing fourth-quarter leads to West Virginia and Louisville to end September.
The Panthers have rallied to check in at No. 23 in the CFP this week, and they’re well aware it could be a mere cameo if they don’t pull off a stunner against the Fighting Irish. While there is a fair amount of attention being paid — ESPN’s popular “College Gameday” will broadcast from just outside Acrisure Stadium for just the second time in 20 years — the pain from last season’s late collapse, in which Pitt started 7-0 before dropping its final six games, remains fresh.
“I think last year we got too focused on the opponent, too focused on the moment, the game, the atmosphere, what’s going on outside of the building,” Panthers wide receiver Kenny Johnson said. “In all reality, it’s us. It’s us on that field. It’s our 11 versus their 11, and we got to go execute.”
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NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER NEWS
MEN’S SOCCER SIGNS THE #1 CLASS IN THE COUNTRY
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – McFarland Family Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chad Riley announced eight new additions to the Notre Dame men’s soccer program on Thursday as part of the 2026 incoming freshmen class.
The Irish have the top-ranked class of the year according to Top Drawer Soccer, with five players landing in the top 200 of the outlet’s rankings.
“I’m excited that we’re one step closer to bringing this exceptional group of young men to Notre Dame,” said Riley. “They embody everything we look for. They’re serious, ambitious students, athletes, and people. We can’t wait to get started working with them.”
The eight players that make up the class are Eli Ackerman, Michael Capretto, Patrick Cuneo, Adrian Hrvojevic, Evan Lim, Maverick McCoy, Thaddeus Sawyer and Tristan Tropeano.
ELI ACKERMAN
Position: Defender
Club: New England Revolution
Hometown: Natick, Massachusetts
Why Notre Dame?
“On top of Notre Dame being a great academic and athletic school, the culture around the team and campus was amazing. It really made me excited and able to see myself there for 4 years.”
MICHAEL CAPRETTO
Position: Forward
Club: FC Delco
Hometown: Hockessin, Delaware
Why Notre Dame?
Rich tradition of success
I love all the coaches and staff working for the soccer program
Competitive, successful soccer team
Great academics and alumni network
Amazing campus and college life
PATRICK CUNEO
Position: Forward
Club: NYCFC & FC Westchester
Hometown: Patterson, New York
Why Notre Dame?
“I chose Notre Dame because when I visited, I knew that Notre Dame would give me the opportunity to be great, whether it be in soccer or not in soccer. Notre Dame will give me the perfect, well-rounded college experience and enable me to meet new and incredible people.”
ADRIAN HRVOJEVIC
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: HNK Hajduk Split
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
EVAN LIM
Position: Midfielder
Club: NYCFC
Hometown: Cedar Grove, New Jersey
Why Notre Dame?
“I had always heard about how academically rigorous Notre Dame was, so naturally, I have always wanted to go there. Additionally, when I visited, I was really impressed with the athletic facilities and campus.”
MAVERICK McCOY
Position: Defender
Club: Indy Eleven
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
Why Notre Dame?
“I believe that Notre Dame is the place where I can achieve both my academic and athletic goals. The faith-based culture of the University and the legacy of the Mendoza College of Business closely parallels my own beliefs and ambition, as well as the historic soccer program.”
THADDEUS SAWYER
Position: Defender
Club: Nashville SC
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
Why Notre Dame?
“I found a great connection with the staff and loved the campus. The academics are some of the best in the country and I also was able to talk with alumni and hear fantastic things about the soccer program along with Notre Dame’s college community.”
TRISTAN TROPEANO
Position: Midfielder
Club: Nashville SC & Huntsville City FC
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Why Notre Dame?
“Notre Dame has an incredible soccer team and is undeniably one of the best universities in the country. From my first visit, the coaches made me feel at home. Because of the rigorous academics coupled with a strong Christ-centered environment, I felt it to be the best place I could choose.”
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NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL NEWS
IRISH RETURN HOME TO HOST #14 MIAMI, FLORIDA STATE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – After playing four of its past five games on the road, the Notre Dame Volleyball team returns to Purcell Pavilion this weekend for a clash against 14th-ranked Miami on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. before hosting Florida State at noon on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on ACCNX and admission is free.
The Irish are coming off a come from behind win last Sunday at NC State. After dropping the first set, Notre Dame won the second and third set before closing out its 9th win of the season in the fifth set. It was the second five-set win for the Irish this season including the season opening win over Santa Clara on August 29th.
Morgan Gaerte continues to shine in her sophomore campaign. The native of Angola, Indiana has been one of the top attackers in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. She is fourth in the conference in kills per set (4.36) and points per set (5.07) and is in the top-20 in points per set in the country. Her 353 kills this season are also the fourth-most in the conference.
Gaerte has double-digit kills in 22-straight games to start the season, the second-longest streak in program history. She’s three games away from tying the record and four games away from breaking the program record.
Friday’s game against #14 Miami will be the sixth different ranked opponent Notre Dame has faced this season. The Irish are 5-4 all-time against Miami at home, but haven’t beat the Hurricanes since March 7, 2020.
Notre Dame will look for its first win against Florida State since the 2021 season when the Irish swept the Seminoles in Tallahassee. The last win for Notre Dame against FSU in South Bend was in 2017.
HISTORY VS. MIAMI
This is the 21st overall meeting between Notre Dame and Miami. The Irish trail the series 9-11 (5-10 ACC)
Notre Dame’s last win against the Hurricanes was on March 7, 2020, sweeping Miami 25-18, 25-19, 25-15 in Purcell Pavilion
The Irish are 5-4 all-time against Miami at home
HISTORY VS. FLORIDA STATE
This is the 22nd overall meeting between Notre Dame and Florida State. The Irish trail the series 5-16 (3-12 ACC)
Notre Dame last beat the Seminoles on November 21, 2021, sweeping FSU 25-22, 25-22, 25-23, on the road in Tallahassee.
The last win for Notre Dame over Florida State in South Bend was on October 1, 2017 with a five-set win for the Irish, 25-21, 23-25, 19-25, 25-12, 15-12.
THE GAERTE PARTY
The All-ACC Preseason Selection broke the school record for kills in a match against Illinois back on september 5th with 34. Kathy Cunningham’s record of 33 kills had stood for over 37 years. Those 34 kills at the time were tied for the most in a single match so far this season in the country with Racquel Frazier of Hampton.
She is the just the third player in Irish history to have three consecutive games of 20 or more kills and would be the first to do so in seperate occasions with 20 or more kills against Miami. She has six total games of 20 or more kills this season after her 25 kills at Wake Forest and 21 at NC State.
Gaerte is fourth in the conference and 28th nationally with 4.36 kills per set. In points per set, she is fourth in the ACC and 18th in the country with 5.07
The sophomore has double-digit kills in every single game so far this season (22-consecutive)
FRESH FACES
The Irish have five freshmen to the team, bringing the Irish to a roster size of 20.
The freshman class consists of Maya Baker (S), Maya Evens (DS/L), Mae Kordas (OH/O), Chichi Nnaji (OH), Sophia Thornburg (OH).
Baker, who was a two-time Max Preps All-American, leads the team with 427 assists, is third on the team with 117 digs and has 16 aces. She had a career-high 31 assists (10.33 assists per set) in the sweep over Duke.
The Irish pair a duo of former high school teammates in the incoming freshman class. Maya Evens and Mae Kordas both played together at Cathedral Catholic High School in Carlsbad, California. The duo was part of two Open State Championships (2022, 2024).
Evens has played in 78 sets and leads the team with 258 digs on this season. She also has 69 assists.
Kordas had the best game of her early career at California. In her home state, she had a nine kills, five digs and five blocks in the three set sweep over the Golden Bears. She also had back-to-back games with 10 kills against Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Chichi Nnaji and Sophia Thornburg were high school teammates in Dallas, Texas at the Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Thornburg was named to the Prep Volleyball Top 100 National List for the Class of 2025 while both spent time working with the USAV National Team Development Program.
Nnaji has made an impact from game one. She is third on the team with 96 kills and has 43 total blocks for 118.5 points.
The Irish added one player from the portal, outside hitter Sydney Helmers from Texas. She was a member of the 2023 National Champion team as a freshman for the Longhorns. The junior has 204 kills, 140 digs and is third on the team with 22 service aces this season.
In the win over NC State, Helmers had 14 kills, a career-high 19 digs, 3 service aces, 3 blocks and was a perfect 50/50 on receptions
KEY RETURNERS
The Irish return 14 to the roster; 5 outside hitters, 3 defensive specialist/liberos, 3 middle blockers, 2 setters and 1 opposite.
Notre Dame returns all three middle blockers; Mallory Bohl, Anna Bjork and Grace Langer for their sophomore seasons.
Langer and Bjork have been a dominant presence in the middle for Notre Dame. Langer leads the team with 98 blocks with Bjork behind her at 91. Offensively, Langer has 81 kills to Bjork’s 79.
In a homecoming match at Colorado State, Langer tallied nine kills on a career-best .600 hitting percentage to go along with 4.0 blocks.
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BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
BARON WALKER SIGNS WITH BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
Central Indiana standout Baron Walker signed with the Butler Men’s Basketball Program Wednesday as part of National Signing Day. Walker will have four seasons of eligibility beginning with the 2026-27 campaign.
“Baron is a physical guard who willingly takes on the toughest defensive assignment each game,” said Butler head coach Thad Matta. “In addition to being able to knock down shots, he has the ability to make plays both for others and himself. He’s a team-first guy who loves to compete and impacts winning. We’re excited to add him to both our locker room and the Butler University community.”
Walker is a 6-3 guard from Noblesville High School, just north of Indianapolis. He averaged 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior, helping the Millers to a 19-6 record and an appearance in the sectional championship game. Walker shot 50 percent from the field, including 40.2 percent from the three-point line (37-for-92) and 82 percent from the free throw line.
Walker was named an Indiana Junior All-Star following the 2024-25 season. He spent the summer of 2025 playing for Grand Park Premier on the Puma PRO16 circuit. Walker led Grand Park Premier to the Puma regular season title and earned circuit second-team honors, averaging 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Butler is 3-0 on the young season and returns to action Saturday, traveling to Dallas for a true road game at SMU. The Bulldogs will play South Carolina and Virginia in the Greenbrier Tip-Off Nov. 21 and 23, respectively before returning to Hinkle for a Nov. 28 tip against Wright State.
BULLDOGS AND SMU SET TO TIP SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN DALLAS
Butler Bulldogs (3-0) at SMU (3-0)
Saturday, Nov. 15 • 1PM CT
Moody Coliseum • Dallas, Texas
TV/Stream: The CW • Evan Lepler & Seth Davis
Radio/Audio: 92.7FM, Sirius XM App, Butler Sports App & ButlerSports.com • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
The Series: Butler leads, 2-0
Streak: Butler, W2
In Dallas: First Meeting
First Meeting: 1939-40 Season; Butler won, 42-37 (at Hinkle)
Last Meeting: Nov. 15, 2024; Butler won, 81-70 (at Hinkle)
What the Bulldogs Have Been Up To
• Saturday’s tip in Dallas completes a home-and-home series between the two programs that began exactly one year ago (Nov. 15, 2024) in Indianapolis.
• Butler won last year’s match-up, 81-70. Of the 19 players who saw minutes in that contest, only five are part of this year’s rosters. That includes Yohan Traore, who played for SMU in the 2024 game and will suit up for Butler in Saturday’s contest.
• Butler’s Finley Bizjack is from Trophy Club, Texas, which is approximately 30 miles from the SMU campus.
• The Bulldogs have opened the season with three straight 30-point wins. Butler also opened the 2023-24 season with three consecutive wins of 30+ points. Butler’s scoring margin of +31.3 points per game is 25th nationally.
• Michael Ajayi has opened the season (and his Butler career) with three consecutive double-doubles. Through Wednesday’s games, Ajayi is one of only five players nationally to already have three double-doubles on the season.
• Ajayi ranks tenth nationally at 12.3 rebounds per game; his 9.0 defensive rebounds per game are fifth in the NCAA.
• The Bulldogs rank eighth in the NCAA in rebounding margin (+20.0 per game). The Bulldogs only had six games last season with a rebounding margin of +10 or better but have accomplished the feat in all three games so far this season. Averaging 50.3 rebounds per game, Butler ranks 11th nationally.
• Butler hit 17 three-pointers in Tuesday’s 98-66 win over Chicago State. That was just three shy of the program record and the most by the Bulldogs since hitting Butler hit 17 against Northern Illinois in a 95-68 win Dec. 8, 2018.
• Bizjack hit five three-pointers against Chicago State (one shy of his career-high). Both Jamie Kaiser Jr. (matching his career-high) and Evan Haywood (setting a new career-high) hit four three-pointers.
• Kaiser finished with a career-high 16 points against Chicago State. He registered the first double-double of his career with 12 points and a career-best 10 rebounds against USI in the season opener Nov. 5.
• Butler is averaging 34.0 free throw attempts per game, a number that is tenth in the NCAA.
• The Bulldogs are averaging 99.3 points per game on the young season; that ranks 18th nationally.
• Six different Bulldogs have at least two double-figure scoring games for Butler through three contests; that includes both Traore and Azavier Robinson off the Butler bench. The Bulldogs are averaging 43.3 bench points per game, which is 23rd nationally.
• Butler has 11 players averaging at least 12 minutes per game; nine Bulldogs are averaging at least 6.7 points per game.
• Butler handed out 24 assists on 30 made field goals Tuesday night against Chicago State. The team is averaging 20.0 assists per game (30th nationally).
• Butler had 11 blocks in the Nov. 8 win over IU Indy, the most by the Bulldogs since they also had 11 in a Nov. 19, 2022 win over The Citadel. The Bulldogs are averaging 6.7 blocks per game, which is 21st nationally.
• Butler’s 112 points Nov. 8 against IU Indy are the most by the Bulldogs since scoring 144 in a win over The Citadel Nov. 14, 2015.
• Butler’s 61 points in the second half of the Nov. 8 win against IU Indy is the first 60-point half for the Bulldogs since Nov. 6, 2023 against Eastern Michigan.
• In the season-opener vs. USI Nov. 5, Ajayi and Kaiser became the first Butler duo to post double-doubles in the same game since Aaron Thompson and Bryce Nze accomplished the feat Feb. 9, 2021 against St. John’s.
• Butler opened the season Nov. 5 against USI by scoring the first 17 points of the contest.
• Butler limited USI to 29-percent shooting Nov. 5; the Bulldogs last held an opponent to less than 30-percent shooting Nov. 22, 2024 (against Merrimack).
Musing on the Mustangs
• SMU is 3-0 on the season with wins over Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Murray State.
• The Mustangs do a lot of damage at the free throw line as they lead the NCAA in makes per game (27.0), are 13th in attempts per game (33.3), and 21st in free throw percentage (.810).
• SMU is scoring 89.0 points per game while surrendering 75.0 per game to opponents.
• Boopie Miller, at 20.7 points per game, leads five Mustangs averaging double figures. Miller ranks in the Top 10 nationally in free throws made and attempted so far this season.
One Year Ago
• Six Bulldogs scored in double figures as Butler used a strong performance down the stretch to post an 81-70 win over SMU Nov. 15 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Jahmyl Telfort led the Bulldogs with 19 points, adding six rebounds and five assists.
• After seven straight points gave SMU its first lead of the second half at 50-48 with 13:11 remaining in the game, Butler responded with a 16-2 run to make it 64-52 in favor of the home team.
• Butler went 19-for-24 from the free throw line (79 percent).
• The Bulldogs made 12 three-pointers (on 26 attempts) compared to only five for SMU.
There’s No Place Like Hinkle
• Butler is 85-5 in their last 90 home games against non-conference teams.
• Thad Matta is 27-4 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 will play South Carolina and Virginia in the Greenbrier Tip-Off Nov. 21 and 23, respectively before returning to Hinkle for a Nov. 28 tip against Wright State.
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BUTLER XC NEWS
BUTLER TRAVEL TO EVANSVILLE FOR NCAA GREAT LAKES REGIONAL
The Bulldogs are set to toe the line at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, Nov. 14.
The event is hosted by the Evansville Regional Sports Commission, and will take place at Angel Mounds State Historic Site in Evansville, Ind.
The women’s championship race will begin at 11 a.m. ET, while the men’s championship race will begin at 12 p.m. ET. Live results for the meet can be found here.
Men’s Preview
The men will enter the Great Lakes Regional fresh of their fourth BIG EAST championship in the past six seasons. Butler placed seven runners in the top 16 of that race. William Zegarski won the 2025 BIG EAST individual title, covering the 8k course in 23:08.41. Matthew Forrester finished right behind Zegraski in second, while Jesse Hamlin and Austin Gabay also finished in the top 10.
A season ago, Zegarski was the Regional individual champion, covering the 10k championship course in 29:12.7, helping the Bulldogs to a third-place finish in the team standings. Currently, Butler is ranked No. 14 in the latest USTFCCCA Coaches Poll and ranked second in the Great Lakes Region behind only No. 13 Michigan State. No. 15 Wisconsin, No. 16 Notre Dame and No. 26 Michigan are also nationally-ranked squads in the Great Lakes Region.
The Butler men will look to continue their strong season and earn their place in the NCAA Championship.
Women’s Preview
The Butler women are coming off a sixth-place finish at the 2025 BIG EAST Championship. Kylie Cline led the way for the Dawgs as she covered the 6k course in 21:22.89.
Notre Dame is ranked No. 6 nationally and The Fighting Irish are the defending Regional champion. The field also includes No. 23 Michigan State and No. 25 Wisconsin.
Up Next
The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Selection Show will air on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. ET on NCAA.com. A link to the show will be on the front page of NCAA.com.
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BUTLER SOFTBALL NEWS
BUTLER SIGNS SEVEN STANDOUTS FOR 2026 CLASS
Butler Softball has announced the signing of seven standouts for the 2026 class. Paige Bodenheimer, Adalynn Foster, Jaylyn Hobbs, Avry Miller, Grace Parkhurst, Lauren Voss, and Yesenia You will join the program beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year.
“The 2026 class has been a fun group to watch develop over the last several years,” expressed Bulldogs head coach Scott Hall. “Spanning a number of states, and highly varied in their versatility and tools on the field, this is an incredibly well-rounded class. Each student-athlete possesses awesome tools on the softball field, but more importantly they are high-quality students and high-character people. They will be excellent additions to our team and to Butler University as a whole!”
______________________
Paige Bodenheimer, OF, Kaukauna, Wis. – Kaukauna HS
Bodenheimer is a three-time All-State selection who has 123 hits and 110 stolen bases over three seasons at Kaukauna. Her team has a pair of state championships along with several conference, regional, and sectional titles. Bodenheimer travels with the Beverly Bandits and is a High Honors student in the classroom.
Why Paige chose Butler: “I chose Butler because of the culture and the people.”
Coach Hall on Bodenheimer: “Paige is a speedster with multiple tools at the plate. Her ability and range in the outfield will be a great addition to our roster, and she will be a tremendous addition for our run-game.”
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Adalynn Foster, C, Indianapolis, Ind. – Franklin Central HS
Foster’s high school team was county champion in 2024 and 2025. The catcher travels with Indiana Gators 08 Premier and also plays volleyball at Franklin.
Why Adalynn chose Butler: “I chose Butler not only for the incredible education I’ll receive, but also because the campus atmosphere truly feels like home. From the moment I stepped on campus for my visit, I knew I wanted to spend the next four years playing for Coach Hall. It’s clear he cares deeply about developing his players, both on and off the field, preparing them to succeed in all aspects of life. Go Dawgs!”
Coach Hall on Foster: “A solid, defensive catcher with a great arm, Adalynn is going to be an awesome addition to the infield for us. Not only can she cut down runners, but her ability to play infield, and hit for power will make her a great fit for our squad.”
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Jaylyn Hobbs, OF/P, Sullivan, Ind. – Sullivan HS
Hobbs is a two-time All-State selection who holds single-season records at Sullivan that include hits (54), RBI (56), doubles (17), and home runs (14). Her high school team has multiple sectional and conference championships, and her Indiana Magic Gold travel team won the Alliance nationals in 2024. Hobbs is a National Honor Society member and is at the top of her class academically.
Why Jaylyn chose Butler: “The first time I was on campus for a softball camp I fell in love with the atmosphere of the school and the softball program. I love the smaller campus and the small faculty-to-student ratio.”
Coach Hall on Hobbs: “Jaylynn is a crafty lefty with awesome power at the plate. Her ability on both sides of the ball makes her an awesome addition to our pitching staff in the circle, and a tough out at the plate.”
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Avry Miller, Util., Pendleton, Ind. – Pendleton Heights HS
Miller was a captain and defensive MVP at Pendleton Heights, a team which won the county championship, the Horseshoe Classic, and regional and sectional championships in 2023. She tallied 48 RBI over her first three seasons at Pendleton. Miller travels with the Indiana Bombers, is a member of the National Honor Society, and also plays basketball.
Why Avry chose Butler: “I chose Butler for a lot of reasons: the incredible coaches, the players, the academics, and the culture. The Butler softball team truly felt like a family that I wanted to be a part of the moment I stepped on campus. The atmosphere was genuine, supportive, and full of people who actually care about each other. The campus is beautiful, and everyone I met was so kind and welcoming. I also love that it’s only about 45 minutes from home – close enough that I still have support nearby, but far enough that I get independence and a fresh start. Butler Softball values culture, character, and development just as much as skill, and that aligns perfectly with who I am and how I want to grow. I’m excited for this new chapter in my life, and I know Butler is a place where I can truly thrive.”
Coach Hall on Miller: “Avry is a true athlete who brings a ton of versatility with her. A multi-sport athlete, Avry has the potential to contribute for us in a number of ways – bringing consistency, speed, and athleticism on offense and defense.”
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Grace Parkhurst, IF, Maineville, Ohio – Kings HS
Parkhurst is a three-year varsity captain and has earned first team All-State, All-District, and All-Conference accolades. In 2025 she was named Ohio D2 Player of the Year. Her school records include single season home runs, single season RBI, and career home runs. She also holds the single season home run record for her conference. Her Kings high school team has produced multiple conference and district championships. Parkhurst also plays for Tennessee Mojo and is a National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society member.
Why Grace chose Butler: “I chose Butler because of the outstanding academics, after-graduation job opportunities, and the family-like team culture. I wanted a college that felt like my home away from home, and Butler was exactly what I was looking for!”
Coach Hall on Parkhurst: “Grace is a force at the plate. A true power-threat to all fields, Grace has continued to challenge herself both on and off the field, and she will be a great addition to Butler.”
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Lauren Voss, IF, Hartford, Wis. – Hartford Union HS
Voss is a two-time first team All-State selection and was named conference Player of the Year in 2025, when her team won the conference championship. She travels with Wisconsin Lighting softball and has received Academic All-State recognition over multiple semesters. Voss also plays basketball at Hartford Union.
Why Lauren chose Butler: “I wanted a college that would prepare me well for my future, and it seems as though Butler is just that. I really like the sense of community and how welcoming everyone is. It feels like a place I can grow academically and feel at home.”
Coach Hall on Voss: “An elite infielder with a solid bat to go with it. Lauren has all the tools to be an elite defender in the Big East, and we are excited to see what she brings for the Dawgs!”
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Yesenia You, OF, Perrysburg, Ohio – Perrysburg HS
You has All-District and All-Northern Lake League honors over two seasons, and she holds school records for single season stolen bases (37), single season batting ave. (.547) and career stolen bases (62). Her Perrysburg team has won multiple district and conference championships, going 26-2 and 15-0 in the NLL her junior season. You travels with Finesse Munoz and was ranked the No. 11 outfielder in the 2026 Midwest class by Extra Innings Softball. In the classroom, she is a high honor roll student.
Why Yesenia chose Butler: “I chose Butler because I loved the campus, it wasn’t too big but also not too small. I also loved my coaches, right when I met them, and how much all the other athletes on the team seem to love it. The university also has very strong academics. It’s also the perfect distance away from home for me.”
Coach Hall on You: “Yesenia has game-changing speed, and we are excited to see what she will do at Butler. An outfielder with great range, her ability to play the short-game and steal bases will be an awesome fit for our lineup.”
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IU INDY XC NEWS
CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS GEARED UP FOR NCAA GREAT LAKES REGIONAL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The IU Indianapolis men’s and women’s cross country teams will wind down the 2025 campaign on Friday (Nov. 14) when the Jaguars head to Evansville for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional at Angel Mounds Historic Site. The women’s 6K race will start at 10:00 a.m. CT (11 ET), followed by the men’s 10K race at 11:00 a.m. CT (12 ET).
Interim head coach Justin Amburgy’s men’s team is coming off a third-place finish at this year’s Horizon League Championships, keyed by redshirt sophomore Luke Shappell’s all-league effort.
On the women’s side, Julie Smith leads the Jaguars after having earned a first team All-Horizon League award at this year’s league championships.
MEN’S ENTRIES: Joey Ashman, Nick Cook, Sam Grimes, Nolan King, Joey LaPatra, Riley Nixon, Eli Oetken, Carter Schorr, Luke Shappell
WOMEN’S ENTRIES: Carina Alanis, Wini Barnett, Grace Bragg, Emily Bruns, Ella Colclesser, AnnMarie Gibson, Hannah Robbins, Julie Smith
UP NEXT: Should any Jaguars qualify for the NCAA National Championships, it will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo.
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IU INDY MEN’S BASKETBALL
JAGUARS TO FACE EASTERN MICHIGAN ON FRIDAY NIGHT
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Coming off an emphatic first home win, the IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team will head back on the road on Friday night (Nov. 14) when the Jaguars head to Eastern Michigan (1-1) for a non-conference tilt. Friday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard locally on 1430 Indy’s Sports Ticket as Jimmy Cook (pxp) is on the call.
Friday’s game caps a home-and-home series as the two schools met in Indianapolis last season.
This year’s Jaguars (1-3) are coming off a 121-77 victory over IU Columbus in front of 5,568 fans inside Corteva Coliseum. Fifth-year senior Matt Compas led four Jaguars in double-digits with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and sophomore Micah Davis scored a career-high 17 points, including three threes. Aiden Miller came off the bench with a career high 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, and Finley Woodward added 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Jaguars collected a school record 25 steals, forcing 36 IU Columbus turnovers. After leading by just 10 at intermission, the Jaguars scored 73 second half points in racing to a 44-point win. The team’s 38 assists fell just one shy of tying a program record as well.
QUOTABLE
“I think (the win) is going to give some guys confidence. Winning solves a lot of issues. It’s been a locker room that’s kind of been somber a little bit, but I think winning solves a lot of those issues. I think the energy will be better and we’ve got a pivotal game on Friday,” head coach Ben Howlett said following the IU Columbus win.
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
EMU is 1-1 to start the season with a win over Georgia State and a road loss at Pitt. The Eagles have held opponents to just 39.8 percent shooting for the season while outrebounding opponents by 6.5 rebounds per game. Carlos Hart is averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while Mohammad Habhab checks in at 15.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while also leading the team in assists (6) and blocked shots (3).
INSIDE THE SERIES
IU Indy is just 1-4 all-time against EMU with the lone win having been an 83-71 victory in Indianapolis on Nov. 19, 2016. The lone meeting in Ypsilanti was as 67-64 defeat to EMU back in 2000. EMU won last year’s game inside the Jungle, 74-71.
UP NEXT
The Jaguars will travel to Charleston, S.C., to take on Charleston Southern on Tuesday night (Nov. 18) on ESPN+.
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IU INDY VOLLEYBALL NEWS
VOLLEYBALL TO HOST NORTHERN KENTUCKY FOR REGULAR SEASON FINALE
INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy volleyball team will host the Northern Kentucky Norse for back-to-back matches on Friday, November 14 at 6:00 PM and Saturday, November 15 at 2:00 PM inside the Jungle. Heading into the match, the Jaguars are 17-11 overall with a 11-5 Horizon League mark. IU Indy and NKU have gone head-to-head 17 times. The most recent matchup was on Nov. 16, 2024, when the Jaguars won 3-2.
The Jags are leading the Horizon League in hitting percentage, assists, and kills. Senior Morgan Ostrowski leads the Horizon League in hitting percentage with a mark of .394. Ostrowski also sits at eighth in blocks with 99 and an average of .94 per set. Freshman Jillian Tippmann sits at sixth with a hitting percentage of .293 as well as fifth in kills with 361 and a 3.68 average per set. Junior Grace Purichia leads the Horizon League in assists with 1166 and an average of 11.10 per set.
The NKU Norse are coming into the Jungle with a 19-8 overall record with a 15-1 Horizon League mark. The Norse are leading the Horizon League in blocks and service aces. Freshman Abigail Pickard sits at second in assists with 1013 and a 10.55 average per set. Junior Ivey Stocks sits at third in blocks with 107 total and 1.08 average per set. Sophomore Allison Risley leads the Horizon League followed by Senior Lucy Cluxton. Risley has an average of 0.44 per set; Cluxton had an average of 0.35 per set.
The Jaguars and NKU Norse are set for a 6:00 PM first serve on Friday, November 14 followed by a 2:00 PM start on Saturday, November 15. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+ and tickets are available for purchase online.
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BALL STATE WOMEN’S GOLF NEWS
MUNCIE, Ind. – – Ball State women’s golf head coach Cameron Andry is excited to add a trio of highly decorated players to the team for the 2026-27 season with the signing of Elizabeth Coleman, Taylor Larkins and Lexi Ray to national letters of intent.
“I couldn’t be more excited about these three talented young ladies joining our Ball State Golf family,” Andry exclaimed! “Elizabeth, Taylor, and Lexi are three of the most decorated junior golfers in the Midwest and they will all have an immediate impact on our program. Each of them comes from wonderful families and I am excited to be part of their continued development here at Ball State!”
Name Hometown (High School)
Elizabeth Coleman Medina, Ohio (Highland)
ANDRY ON COLEMAN: Elizabeth possesses a wonderful combination of skill, competitive fire, and a love for the game that will make her a great fit for our program. She has proven herself as one of the best players in the Midwest and she is only scratching the surface of her potential. She is a powerful player with elite ball striking and a dogged work ethic that will allow her to continue developing into an excellent collegiate player.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A four-year letterwinner in golf at Highland High School for coach Mary Becker … earned first team all-state honors as a junior after placing second at the OHSAA Division I State Championship … earned second team all-state honors as a senior, placing seventh at the state championship … was a four-time first team All-Suburban League American Conference honoree, earning Suburban League American Conference Player of the Year accolades as a senior … team captain as s junior and senior … first team All-Medina County all four years, earning County MVP honors as a junior and senior … OHSAA Division I District medalist as a senior and Greater Akron-Canton Player of the Year as a junior … helped guide the Hornets to four Suburban Leage titles, four Division 1 sectional championships, three top-four district finishes, and a pair of top-five finishes at the state championships … finished her high school career with the lowest round in program history at -9 (63) … owns the Fox Meadow Country Club course record and the Medina Country women’s golf scoring record … set the Medina County scoring record with a 35.2 nine-hole average … also had a successful prep tour career, including back-to-back wins of the GolfWeek Junior Tour – NCR Country Club event … she won this past season’s event by five strokes, shooting -5 (137; 68-69), after earning the playoff win at -2 (140; 67-73) the previous year … also owns back-to-back top 10 finish as the WOSGA Ohio Junior Girls events at the Marion Country Club, including a second-place finish this past summer with a score of -1 (215; 71-74-70).
WHY BALL STATE: Ball State has a lot to offer! A major part of my decision to attend Ball State is Coach Andry. I really like him and what he is building within the Ball State women’s golf program, the positivity that he brings, and his winning mindset. Ball State is a great educational institution, it has a beautiful and safe campus, and academically it has the majors I am considering.
Name Hometown (High School)
Taylor Larkins Fort Wayne, Ind. (Carroll)
ANDRY ON LARKINS: Taylor is a gifted player, fierce competitor, and outstanding young lady which makes her a great fit for our program. Her junior and amateur golf accomplishments speak for themselves, and we are always thrilled to keep Indiana’s best players right here in the state. Her ball-striking is superb and combined with her elite competitive mentality and tremendous work ethic, she has all the tools to develop into a great collegiate player.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A four-year letterwinner in golf at Carroll High School for coach Bryan Koehlinger … a four-time all-state selection … earned top 16 finishes at the IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals all four years, highlighted by a fifth-place finish as a senior and a ninth-place finish as a junior … regional champion as a junior and senior … captured medalist honors at 16 total events over her high school career … team MVP all four seasons and team captain as a senior … holds the Carroll program record for both nine-hole, 31, and 18-hole, 64, scoring … helped guide the Chargers to sectional championships as a freshman and sophomore, as well as 10th-place finishes at the state finals her sophomore and senior seasons … also had a successful prep tour career, earning Indiana Golf Junior Girls Player of the Year 2022 and 2023 … claimed five event wins during the 2023 Indiana Golf season, along with one win and four top three finishes in the 2025 Indiana Golf season … finished runner-up in the 2025 PGA Indiana Women’s Open Championship, falling in a playoff, after carding rounds of 72-73 at Delaware Country Club … finished runner-up in the 2025 Indiana Women’s Golf State Match Play Championship, included a six-under-par 66 in the stroke play qualifying round at Rock Hollow Golf Club … qualified for the 2024 US Girl’s Junior and the 2025 Junior PGA National Championship … 2025 Fort Wayne Women’s Golf Association City Tournament Champion
WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because I loved how nice the coach and players were on the golf team. I also loved the campus and thought all the training areas and facilities for practice were really nice.
Name Hometown (High School)
Lexi Ray Franklin, Ind. (Franklin Community)
ANDRY ON RAY: Lexi is one of the state’s best players and we are thrilled to keep her right here in Indiana. She is a ferocious competitor with superb power, athleticism, and a fun, team-first attitude which make her a great fit for our program. Her junior and amateur golf accomplishments are indicative of the talent she has, and she is only beginning the process of reaching her full potential.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A four-year letterwinner in golf at Franklin Community High School for coach Ted Bishop … IHSAA All-State honoree as a freshman and senior … earned top 18 finishes at the IHSAA Girls Golf State Finals all four years, highlighted by a second-place finish as a senior and a sixth-place finish as a freshman … sectional champion in each of her final three seasons and a three-time county champion … four-time All-Mid-State Conference honoree and four-time all-county selection … team captain as a senior and team MVP all four years … helped guide the Lady Grizzley Cubs to three team appearances at the state finals, including a fifth-place team finish her junior season and a sixth-place team finish her senior campaign … helped Franklin Community win sectional and regional titles as a junior and senior … also had a successful prep tour career, including winning the 2024 Indiana Golf Girls State Junior Championship and placing fourth in the championship in 2025 … captured medalist honors at the 2023 Indiana Golf Southern Junior Masters … competed in the 2025 Indiana Women’s Amateur Championship, as well as the 2024 and 2025 Girl’s Junior PGA Championships … competed in the 2024 US Girls Junior Amateur Championship.
WHY BALL STATE: The reason I chose Ball State was because as soon as I stepped on campus and met the girls, I instantly knew that’s where I belong. The girls were so kind and treated me like family, and Coach Andry always kept in touch with me. He not only wanted to know how things were going, but also made sure I got to truly experience what it was like to be part of the team during my visit, rather than just showing me around campus. That was something I thought was really unique and something most coaches don’t do.
Another reason I love Ball State is because of the size of the campus. I’ve always wanted to go to a larger school, and Ball State gives that big-school atmosphere while still maintaining the close-knit feeling of people knowing each other. My mom also went to Ball State and played volleyball there. Her team was a multiple-time conference champion, so being able to attend the same school she did and hopefully accomplish some of the same things is a really special experience for me.
Finally, I chose Ball State because I believe the golf program is on the rise. With Coach Andry being new to the program and eager to succeed, I’m confident that we’ll accomplish great things. I also believe that Coach Andry and the incredible facilities available to us will help me improve tremendously over the next four years. I’m so happy to finally be a Cardinal. #chirpchirp
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BALL STATE MEN’S GOLF NEWS
FLECK ADDS LAMBORNE AND UPCHURCH FOR 2026 MEN’S GOLF SEASON
MUNCIE, Ind. — Mike Fleck continued a strong recruiting trend this week, adding two more first-team all-state selections to a Ball State roster that is already setting program records this fall with its strong cast of youth. Brayden Lamborne, from Evansville, and Mattingly Upchurch, from Fishers, both are ranked among the top 10 players in the state of Indiana by Junior Golf Scoreboard.
“Brayden and Mattingly both know how to shoot low scores and will join a roster that is committed to continuing our tradition of success,” said Fleck, the veteran coach who continues his 28th season as head coach when the Cardinals resume their 2025-26 schedule in February. “We were again able to attract some of the very best players from the state with these two young men joining our family. No doubt, they will compete and continue to push that winning mentality and mindset with their teammates and the program.”
Lamborne was a first-team all-state selection as a junior, and has been a first-team all-conference player in three straight seasons for Castle High School in Evansville. In junior golf, he qualified for the Notah Begay National Championship (71-69), won the 2025 Golfweek Junior Tour at Purdue with a 70-64 and tied for second in the Golfweek Junior conducted at Ball State (71-71). He is ranked as the third best player in the 2026 class from Indiana.
“Brayden is one of the best players in our state in this class,” said Fleck. “He has a proven and successful record against some of the best players around, including competing through his high school and junior golf career against two of our current Evansville freshmen, Luke Johnston and Brody Sorrell. Brayden has sharpened his skillset playing high level junior golf and we are excited for him to bring that competitive mindset and talent to Ball State.”
Upchurch signs with Ball State as the No. 6-ranked Indiana player in the 2026 class. He was a second-team all-state pick last year, and first-team as a sophomore. While leading Hamilton Southeastern High School, he earned all-conference honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior — and was a sectional and regional medalist. In junior golf, he bagged three wins in 2025 including the Golfweek Junior Tour at Ball State (67-64), the Indiana Age Group Championship (67-70) and the Indiana Junior Golf Fall Series event in Kokomo (72-70). He also finished fourth this fall at the Hoosier Junior Championship (68-75).
“Mattingly will compete anywhere, anytime and that’s what really attracted us to him and his game,” said Fleck. “He loves the competition and what it creates while establishing himself as one of the top players in the field in almost every tournament he plays. He will fit right in with an ultra-competitive mindset and culture here with our guys and we are looking forward to him joining our squad.”
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BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL NEWS
FIRST TO 20; WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS CMU IN THURSDAY NIGHT #MACTION
MUNCIE, Ind. – – The Ball State women’s volleyball team became the first program from the Mid-American Conference to reach 20 overall wins this season with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-18) sweep of Central Michigan Thursday evening at Worthen Arena.
It marks the 31st time the Cardinals (20-9; 16-1 MAC) have reached the 20-win mark in the storied history of the program which secured its 11th MAC regular season championship last week at Eastern Michigan.
In Thursday’s victory over the Chippewas (9-20; 6-11 MAC), sophomore outside Carson Tyler led all players with 14 kills marking the 27th time this season she has reached double figures. She also collected 10 digs for her 17th kill/dig double-double of the year, while serving up a match-high three aces.
Right behind Tyler was graduate outside Noelle VanOort with nine kills, while sophomore opposite Tiffany Snook and junior middle Camryn Wise added eight apiece. Wise, the league’s top attacker by percentage, also hit a match-best .385 (8-3-13).
In another solid split setting performance, junior Lindsey Green and freshman Reese Axness ran the Ball State offense at a .246 (47-18-118) rate of success. Green dished out a match-high 22 assists, to go along with a match-high tying 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Axness added 14 assists and six digs.
Graduate opposite Christyn Ashby led the Cardinals at the net with three total blocks, while chipping in four kills. Tyler and Wise also had a pair of blocks each, while junior middle Gwen Crull added one and four kills.
In the Ball State backcourt, sophomore libero Sophie Ledbetter tied for match-high honors with 11 digs and sophomore defensive specialist Elizabeth Tabeling added nine.
For Central Michigan, Natalia Rejment and Taylor Cripe tied for team-high honors with seven kills apiece, with Cripe also tying for match-high honors with 11 digs. Overall, the Ball State defense limited CMU to a .130 (33-19-108) hitting mark, including a .083 (10-7-36) effort in the second stanza.
For the year, Ball State is 16-0 when holding the edge in attack percentage and 19-0 when holding opponents under a .249 rate of success.
The Cardinals close out the home portion of the 2025 regular season Friday, when it hosts Senior Night at 6 p.m. versus the Chippewas. After the conclusion of the match, Ball State will honor seniors Katie Egenolf, Ashby and VanOort.
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INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
TREES OPEN THREE-GAME ROAD TRIP FRIDAY AT WKU
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State opens a three-game road trip Friday night as the Sycamores visit Western Kentucky for a 7:30 p.m. tip in Bowling Green. The game will be aired on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
Indiana State women’s basketball made its 2025-26 home debut Tuesday night inside Hulman Center and delivered an emphatic response, cruising past Eastern Illinois 90-69 to notch its first win of the season.
Tierney Kelsey once again led the way off the bench, posting a game and career-high 22 points. Jayci Allen followed with 21 points and Clemisha Prackett chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Sycamores’ first double-double of the season. Kennedy Claybrooks directed the offense with eight assists as the Sycamores improved to 1-1 on the year.
Indiana State led for nearly the entirety of the game, but things didn’t come easy in the early stages. The Sycamores used a 15-2 run early in the second quarter to take control as Kelsey and Allen both hit double-figures in the first half, but EIU fought back and was within two possessions at the half. Indiana State extended its lead back to double-digits in the third quarter and used a 14-3 run to start the fourth quarter to effectively put the game out of reach. Prackett nearly recorded a double-double in just the fourth quarter as the Trees picked up their first win of the season in the home opener.
Sycamores Stepping Up
Indiana State’s bench production has been noteworthy through two games this season, with the Trees averaging 46 bench points per game. The Sycamores have scored 30-plus bench points in each of their first two games this season, including a 59-bench point outing in their home-opening win over Eastern Illinois.
Indiana State has had multiple players in double-figures off the bench in each of the first two games, including a pair of 20-point scorers off the bench in its win over Eastern Illinois in Tierney Kelsey (22) and Jayci Allen (21). Clemisha Prackett also added a double-double off the bench against EIU (14 points, 10 rebounds), while Kelsey and Allen both hit double-figures in the season opener at IU Indy as well.
Fourth Quarter Feasting
Indiana State has made a living in the fourth quarter this season, with the Sycamores outscoring their opponents 48-25 in the final frame.
The Trees have won the fourth quarter by double digits in each of the first two games this season, outscoring IU Indy 20-9 and Eastern Illinois 28-16 in the last 10 minutes.
Double-Double Trouble
Indiana State junior forward Clemisha Prackett made the most of her time on the court in the Sycamores’ home-opening win over Eastern Illinois.
Prackett recorded the first double-double by a Sycamore this season, finishing with season highs of 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Panthers. The junior forward was a force in the fourth quarter, putting up 10 points and nine rebounds in the last 10 minutes of the home-opening win.
TK Can Play
Indiana State sophomore guard Tierney Kelsey has given the Sycamores major contributions off the bench this season, as the Memphis native leads the Blue and White in scoring at 18.5 points per game through the first two games.
Kelsey has scored at least 15 points in each of Indiana State’s first two games this season, including a career-high 22 points in the Sycamores’ home-opening win over Eastern Illinois. The 22 points against EIU marked the first 20-point game of Kelsey’s young career.
Dropping Dimes
Indiana State senior guard Kennedy Claybrooks led the Sycamores’ all-out attack in the home-opening blowout win over Eastern Illinois. Claybrooks dished out a career-high eight assists against the Panthers, with most of that production coming in the Trees’ 48-point second half performance.
Six of Claybrooks’ eight assists in Tuesday’s game came in the second half, and she added six points, four rebounds and two steals as Indiana State cruised to victory.
Step Up? No Problem
Indiana State redshirt junior wing Jayci Allen has made her transition to the Division I level look seamless despite spending her first three years as a collegiate athlete split between the NAIA and junior college ranks.
Allen has been Indiana State’s second-leading scorer through the first two games, averaging 16.0 points on an efficient 54.2 percent clip from the field. Allen ranks in the top 10 in the MVC in scoring (eighth), field goal percentage (10th) and 3-point percentage (ninth) entering Friday’s game.
On This Date
Indiana State has played eight games on November 14 in its Division I, going 4-4 in those previous contests. The Trees’ last win on this date came in 2014 over Saint Louis, while Indiana State’s last road win on this date came in 2009 at Kansas State.
2005 – at No. 9 UConn (L, 43-86)
2007 – No. 17 Vanderbilt (W, 77-72 (OT))
2009 – at Kansas State (W, 77-73)
2010 – UT Martin (W, 70-62)
2014 – Saint Louis (W, 63-60)
2016 – at Florida Atlantic (L, 67-70)
2019 – at Western Illinois (L, 72-83)
2021 – at Saint Louis (L, 58-65)
Western Kentucky At A Glance
Western Kentucky enters Friday’s game at 2-1 following an overtime win at home over Wichita State. The Lady Toppers’ wins have come against Wichita State and Kentucky State, with their lone loss coming on the road at Longwood.
Jeniffer Silva paces the Lady Toppers with 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, with Torri James also scoring in double-figures at 10.7 points per game. WKU features seven players averaging at least six points per game this season, while three Lady Toppers average five boards per game. Tia Shelling adds 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game for the Lady Toppers, while Silva adds 2.3 blocks per game.
Greg Collins is in his eighth season as head coach at Western Kentucky and owns a 126-91 record at the helm of the Lady Toppers. Collins has led the Lady Toppers to a pair of WNIT appearances as head coach and has three 20-win seasons.
Series History Against Western Kentucky
Indiana State is 1-6 all-time against Western Kentucky, with the Lady Toppers winning each of the last six in the series. WKU won last year’s season opener between the teams in Terre Haute, 71-59.
Indiana State’s lone win in the series was an 80-69 victory in Bowling Green during the 1976-77 season.
Last Meeting Against Western Kentucky (Nov. 4, 2024)
Keslyn Secrist paced Indiana State with career-highs of 21 points and five rebounds, but visiting Western Kentucky stifled the Sycamores in the second half in a 71-59 defeat for the home side inside Hulman Center.
Mia Simpson and Chloe Williams tallied nine points each, with Williams also adding a career-high seven rebounds. Savannah White added a career-high eight points for the Sycamores, while Deja Jones dished out a game and career-high six assists.
Indiana State used a fast pace to jump out to an early lead, with Secrist catching fire from behind the arc en route to 14 first-half points. The Trees led 22-17 after the opening quarter and shot 62.5 percent from the field in the first half as the teams went to the locker room deadlocked. Western Kentucky’s pressure intensified as the game went on, though, and the Lady Toppers outscored Indiana State 34-22 in the second half, largely off a pair of scoring runs in each of the last two quarters, to spoil the Sycamores’ season opener.
Up Next
Indiana State’s three-game road swing continues Sunday afternoon at Austin Peay, with tipoff in Clarksville slated for 2 p.m.
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INDIANA STATE SC NEWS
SYCAMORE CROSS COUNTRY RETURNS TO EVANSVILLE FOR NCAA GREAT LAKES REGIONAL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State cross country heads to Angel Mounds Cross Country Course for the second time in the last three weeks, as the Sycamores take part in the 2025 NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Evansville.
The women’s 6k race will start at 11 a.m., with the men’s 10k to follow at noon. Admission is $10 per person, cash only.
Regional Format
The NCAA Great Lakes Regional consists of all Division I schools from Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. The top two men’s and women’s team at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional will automatically qualify for the NCAA Cross Country National Championships, with at-large bids also up for grabs for high-ranking teams which don’t finish in the top two at their respective regional.
In addition to the team qualifiers, the top four individuals not from a team which qualifies for the national championships will also earn a spot in the NCAA Cross Country National Championships field, with two individual at-large berths also up for grabs.
Last Time Out
Five Indiana State cross country athletes recorded top-20 finishes Friday at the MVC Cross Country Championships, as the Sycamores earned runner-up honors on the women’s side for the second straight year. Indiana State placed seventh on the men’s side.
Brittney Burak had the top result for the Trees, with her eighth-place finish earning her All-MVC honors. Peyton Smith earned Honorable Mention All-MVC accolades by placing 14th, with Sawyer DeWitt (17th) and Halle Miller (20th) also recording top-20 finishes. Ryan York earned a top-20 finish for the Blue and White on the men’s side.
Among The Region’s Best
Emma Gresham earned Indiana State’s first all-region honor for women’s cross country since 2017 last season at the 2024 NCAA Great Lakes Regional, as the 2024 MVC Champion earned a 23rd-place finish last season at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton, Ohio.
Indiana State also placed eighth as a team on the women’s side last season, its best finish since moving to the Great Lakes Region. The Sycamores were the second-best team in the state last season, behind only Notre Dame.
Back-to-Back
Indiana State earned runner-up honors at the 2025 MVC Championships on the women’s side, marking the second straight season that the Sycamores finished second in the team standings on the women’s side.
Indiana State had four top-20 finishers on the women’s side for a second straight year, including two who earned conference accolades in Brittney Burak (All-MVC) and Peyton Smith (Honorable Mention All-MVC). On the men’s side, Ryan York earned the first top-20 finish by a Sycamore men’s cross country athlete since Cael Light in 2022.
Trees In The Polls
Indiana State remained in the region rankings at No. 13 on the women’s side in the USTFCCCA Great Lakes region rankings following the Sycamores’ runner-up finish at the MVC Championships.
The Sycamores have been ranked as high as No. 8 in the region this season on the women’s side and have been inside the top 15 in every region ranking since the first meet of the 2024 season. The Trees will look to continue their success in the rankings after picking up a pair of top-five team finishes on both the men’s and women’s side to start the 2025 campaign.
Youth Movement
Indiana State features one of the youngest rosters in the MVC this season, with just one senior – Jocqael Thorpe – among the Sycamores’ 28 cross country athletes. Freshmen and sophomores account for more than 60 percent of Indiana State’s roster this season, with head cross country coach Brad Butler building a team to contend for titles both now and down the line.
Underclassmen have been mainstays within the Sycamores’ top five this season. Brittney Burak, Peyton Smith and Sawyer DeWitt have been among the Trees’ top four in every meet this season on the women’s side, while Mason Nobles and Chris Angeles have been among the Sycamores’ scoring contingent in nearly every meet on the men’s side.
Up Next
Should Indiana State have any qualifiers for the NCAA Cross Country National Championships (individual or team), that championship will take place Nov. 22 in Columbia, Missouri.
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INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
SYCAMORE BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO NATIONAL POWERHOUSE #4/4 DUKE ON FRIDAY
DURHAM, N.C. – Indiana State men’s basketball will play national powerhouse No. 4/4 Duke on Friday night inside Cameron Indoor Arena.
Last Time Out
Indiana State men’s basketball picked up its first win against a Division I opponent this season with a 64-55 win on the road against SIUE on Monday, November 10. Camp Wagner led the Sycamores’ offense with 16 points, and Sterling Young added 12. Ian Scott dominated the boards with 13 and added two blocks. Markus Harding also added three blocks on the defensive front, with Wagner chipping in three steals. The Sycamores shot 36.6% from the field (22-for-60) and 23.3% (7-for-30) from the three-point line. They also shot 76.4% (13-for-17) from the charity stripe.
The Series
This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Quick Notes
Through the first three games of the season, Ian Scott is averaging 14.3 PPG and 10 RPG. He combines with the other three bigs (Markus Harding, Derek Vorst, Enel St. Bernard) to shoot 47-69 from the field (68.1%). Scott’s scoring mark currently ranks 10th in the MVC, and his rebounding mark is 1st.
Through Indiana State’s first three games and through all games played through Nov. 12, Xavier Hall enters 12th in the nation in both total assists (22) and assists per game (7.3).
Markus Harding enters with 984 points and 490 rebounds.
Camp Wagner enters with 90 three-pointers made while at Indiana State and 96 total in his career.
A Note on Coach Graves
Indiana State men’s basketball head coach Matthew Graves will be taking a leave of absence, effective immediately, due to a medical procedure ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season. Associate Head Coach Mark Slessinger will serve as the Sycamores’ acting head coach in Graves’ absence.
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EVANSVILLE XC NEWS
CROSS COUNTRY READIES FOR NCAA GREAT LAKES REGIONAL AT ANGEL MOUNDS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s and women’s cross country teams return to the course at Angel Mounds on Friday for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. The day begins at 10 AM with the women’s 6k, followed by the men’s 10k at 11 AM. Live results can be found here.
Evansville welcomes 35 schools from four states (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) and nine different conferences competing Friday:
Conference Break Down (9 conferences represented)
Atlantic Coast (1)
Atlantic-10 (1)
Big East (3)
Big 10 (6)
Big 12 (1)
Horizon (9)
Mid-American (10)
Missouri Valley (3)
Ohio Valley (1)
Last Time Out
Evansville junior Samuel Lea (Worcester, United Kingdom/Worcester Sixth Form College) became the first Purple Aces men’s runner since 2006 to earn All-Conference honors, finishing eighth in the 8k at the MVC Championships on October 31. James Cruse (Melbourne, Australia) also made history, finishing 21st for the top finish of all freshmen to earn Evansville’s first-ever MVC Freshman of the Year award.
The sixth place finish by the men’s team is the best finish by an Evansville men’s squad since 2011, when the Aces finished sixth of nine teams. The Purple Aces women’s team placed 10th, led by freshman Kyleigh Wolf (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North), who posted the 11th-best 6k time in program history at 22:23.2.
Lea landed 12th on the program’s all-time 8k list with his time of 24:41.65 to pace the Aces. Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain/Colegio Claret) turned in a strong performance, finishing 17th overall and second on the team with a time of 25:06.32, followed by Cruse in 21st overall at 25:14.34. Woody Burrell (Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg) also came in with a time under 26 minutes, placing 51st with a time of 25:55.37.
On the women’s side, Wolf led the way, placing 41st and notching a personal best time. Avery Stephens (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) finished second for the Purple Aces, placing 50th and coming up one second short of a personal best. Josie Lynch (Brazil, Ind./Northview) and Veronica Wilgocki (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) posted personal-bests with times of 23:51.56 and 25:09.51, respectively.
Meet Information
Friday’s meet will be hosted at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course (8215 Pollack Avenue, Evansville, IN 47715) with an admission fee of $10.
Located on the banks of the Ohio River in southwest Indiana, Angel Mounds is on the site of a historic Mississippian Native American village. Within its nearly 600 acres, Angel Mounds is home to an interpretive center, nature preserve, hiking and biking trails, an 18-hole disk golf course, and a top-tier cross country course. Angel Mounds State Historic Site is home to the cross country programs at both the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana.
The flat and fast course is divided into 2k and 3k loops to accommodate 5k, 6k, 8k, and 10k courses. 15-20 feet of elevation change per loop. The course has hosted events such as the NCAA DII Cross Country Midwest Regional, NCAA DII Cross Country National Championship, NCAA DI Cross Country Great Lakes Regional, Great Lakes Valley Conference Cross Country Championship, and Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship.
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EVANSVILLE SWIMMING NEWS
RELAY PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHT OPENING DAY OF A3 INVITE
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Multiple stellar relay performances highlighted the opening day of the A3 Invite as the University of Evansville swimming and diving teams began the 3-day meet.
Action opened with prelims on Thursday morning with numerous Purple Aces advancing to the A Finals in their respective events. The top finish of the day belonged to the ladies who took second place in the 400-Medley Relay final. Ane Madina, Claire Mewbourne, Evelyn Chin, and Grace Moody swam a 3:49.01 in the finals to finish in second place. Their time was just three seconds off the school record. Full highlights from the first day are below.
TOP FIVE FINISHES
2nd place | Women’s 400-Medley Relay Final | Ane Madina, Claire Mewbourne, Evelyn Chin, and Grace Moody | 3:49.01 (3:51.03 seed time)
4th place | Women’s 200-Free Relay Final | Grace Moody, Jillian Giese, Evelyn Chin, and Mia Pesavento | 1:36.60 (1:38.01 seed time)
4th place | Men’s 400-Medley Relay Final | Boris Tavrovsky, Jesse Montano, Alex Willis, Michael Pruett | 3:24.00 (3:23.87 seed time)
5th place | Men’s 200-Free Relay Final | Sammy McCall, Michael Pruett, Brendan Ulewicz, and Alex Willis | 1:23.65 (1:24.90 seed time)
TOP TEN FINISHES
8th place | Men’s 500-Free A Final | Joseph Capo | 4:41.79 (4:37.24 prelim time)
9th place | Men’s 200-IM B Final | Chris Rector | 1:53.45 (1:56.57 prelim time)
10th place | Men’s 200-IM B Final | Alex Willis | 1:54.69 (1:56.51 prelim time)
TOP FIFTEEN FINISHES
11th place | Women’s 200-IM B Final | Jillian Giese | 2:08.43 (2:09.56 prelim time)
11th place | Men’s 200-IM B Final | Joao Pereira | 1:55.03 (1:56.49 prelim time)
11th place | Women’s 50-Free B Final | Grace Moody | 24.06 (24.07 prelim time)
12th place | Women’s 500-Free B Final | Luana Carrotta | 5:14.28 (5:13.55 prelim time)
12th place | Women’s 200-IM B Final | Claire Mewbourne | 2:08.94 (2:09.56 prelim time)
12th place | Men’s 50-Free B Final | Sammy McCall | 21.01 (20.97 prelim time)
14th place | Men’s 500-Free B Final | Tyler Jackson | 4:42.83 (4:45.72 prelim time)
15th place | Men’s 500-Free B Final | Luke Cook | 4:43.31 (4:44.84 prelim time)
15th place | Women’s 500-Free B Final | Hannah Krings | 5:18.13 (5:22.04 prelim time)
Both Purple Aces squads are in fourth place in the team standings entering Friday’s competition.
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EVANSVILLE VOLLEYBALL NEWS
UE VOLLEYBALL HOME FOR FINAL WEEKEND OF 2025
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The final weekend of the regular season will see the University of Evansville volleyball team host Drake and Southern Illinois in Meeks Family Fieldhouse. UE welcomes the Bulldogs on Friday at 6 p.m. before completing the season on Saturday versus the Salukis at 4 p.m.
Senior Night
– Following Saturday’s match, seniors Kora Ruff and Maddie Hawkins will be honored along with graduate assistant Jordan Holland
– Ruff will complete her time at UE ranking third in the record books for career assists while adding over 1,000 digs in her collegiate career
– Hawkins enters her final weekend having seen action in 415 sets while accumulating 387 digs and 78 service aces
Recapping the Weekend
– Last weekend marked the final two road matches of the 2025 season as UE fell by a 3-0 final at Illinois State before dropping Saturday’s match at Bradley in four sets
– Hinsley Everett posted 20 kills against the Braves while Chloe Cline (15) and Makenzie Miller (8) set career highs in kills
Hitting Her Stride
– Josdarilee Caraballo put together her top collegiate match at Murray State finishing with career marks in kills (19) and aces (6)
– Her 19 kills passed her previous mark of 13, which game against Georgia State
– She added eight digs in the contest and is averaging 2.37 per set – 26th in the Valley
– Caraballo has 13 services aces over the last five matches and has jumped to second in the league with 0.38 per set
Scouting the Opposition
– Drake opens the final weekend with an overall mark of 14-11 to go along with a 10-4 Valley record
– Macy Daufeldt (3.51) and Kacia Brown (3.41) are 6th and 7th in the MVC in kills
– The Salukis are 11-17 and 5-9 in the MVC as they open the last weekend
– They are led by Kelly Franklin’s average of 2.99 kills/set
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SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL NEWS
SCREAMING EAGLES GRAB FOUR-SET WIN OVER LINDENWOOD
EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball grabs the win over Lindenwood University in four sets inside Liberty Arena Thursday night.
The Screaming Eagles improve to 11-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play and 15-12 overall, remaining in third place in the conference standings.
Set 1: LU 25, USI 23
Lindenwood went on a five-point scoring run at the start of the match. Freshman Carley Wright led the court in kills, landing four on no errors to hit a .500 percent. She was able to swing the momentum for the Eagles in pivotal moments, ending the Lions’ serving runs to get the side out. Sophomore Audrey Small picked up four digs to lead the back row, keeping the Lions offense to a low .172.
Set 2: USI 25, LU 15
The Screaming Eagles quickly took control of the match with a 14-4 scoring run to start the first half of the set. Freshman Aysa Thomas landed three kills in the set, leading the offense with senior Bianca Anderson, who also added three. Junior McKenzie Murphy was a wall at the net for the Eagles. She added a solo block and five block assists, for six total in the set.
Set 3: USI 25, LU 13
USI maintained the lead for the entirety of the set, finishing with a 12-point advantage over the Lions. Anderson led the offense with three kills, followed by Thomas, Murphy, and Wright, who each added two. As a team, the Eagles hit a .429 hitting percentage, recording just one error in the set. Senior Keira Moore kept the pressure on Lindenwood from the service line, landing three aces during her six-point serving run.
Set 4: USI 25, LU 19
The Lions came back for the final set to fight, taking the lead three times in the first 10 points, before the Eagles took it over. Junior Ashby Willis landed four of her six kills for the evening in the final set. Small and Thomas each picked up three digs to keep the pressure on the LU offense.
For the game, OVC Freshman of the Week, Thomas tabbed her 19th career double-double, finishing with 35 assists, 10 digs, and a career-high seven kills. Anderson led the team with 10 kills, followed by Wright with nine.
Murphy ended with eight total blocks, helping the Eagles to 12 total, the most the team has had since the win over the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
For updates on the USI Volleyball’s home finale, fans can follow USI Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, and X for game coverage, as well as online at usiscreamingeagles.com.
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SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
USI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS SHIRLEY FOR 2026-27
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball announced the signing of Maddy Shirley to its incoming class of 2026-27.
“We are super excited to welcome Maddy to our family here at USI!” USI Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Stein stated. “She will be an awesome fit with our style of play and who we are as a program on and off the court. Maddy is a competitor and a winner, and she is a player who makes everyone around her better. She is tough, hard-nosed, and understands how to play the game on both ends of the court.”
Maddy Shirley (Evansville, Indiana) is a 6’0″ forward out of Evansville Central High School. Last season, Shirley averaged a double-double of over 25 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game as a junior. The forward shot for 54 percent from the floor, 44 percent from three, and 84 percent at the free-throw line. She also averaged just over three blocks per contest.
Shirley set numerous records in 2024-25, including a school and city single-season scoring record (715), a school single-game points record (46), and Central’s all-time scoring record (1,525). Additionally, Shirley set the school’s all-time rebounding record (756) and blocked shots record (208) after setting Central’s single-season record for rebounds (335) and blocks (91).
During her high school career, Shirley has been named back-to-back All-SIAC Player of the Year and All-Metro Player of the Year in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Plus, the local product was an Indiana Future All-Star in 2024 and an Indiana Junior All-Star in 2025.
Shirley was a member of Central’s 2022-23 Sectional Championship squad as well as last season’s team that went on to win the conference championship, sectional championship, and regional championship in 2024-25.
At the club level, Shirley was a top 10 3ssb scorer in 2024 and named to the 3ssb All-Tournament Second Team.
Shirley is one of two student-athletes to sign with the Screaming Eagles in the early 2026-27 signing period.
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VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM ANNOUNCES TRIO OF INCOMING FRESHMEN FOR 2026-27
The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program has announced the signing of three incoming freshmen who will join head coach Roger Powell Jr.’s team beginning with the 2026-27 academic and athletic year.
The Beacons are poised to welcome 6-foot-4 guard Justin Curry II (Noblesville, Ind. / Noblesville), 6-foot-7 forward Hudson Scroggins (Lake Bluff, Ill. / Lake Forest [Kimball Union Academy]) and 6-foot-1 guard Rajan Roberts (Chicago, Ill. / AZ Compass Prep) to 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.
“Justin is a high-level recruit from Indiana,” Powell said. “We want to continue to prioritize recruiting the state. He put up big numbers on the EYBL circuit. He has a good feel for the game and great size at the guard spot. He can really shoot it. I think he’s going to have an impact as a freshman. He comes from a great family and has already embraced being a Beacon.”
A reigning Indiana Junior All-Star, Curry hit a game-winning shot while playing for the Indy Heat Gym Rats this past summer. He helped Noblesville to a sectional championship his freshman season.
“Having the opportunity to play at the Division-I level is what every little kid dreams of,” Curry said. “This was my biggest dream growing up. My dad and my family pushed me to get to this goal, so I’m glad it could happen. The whole coaching staff really brought me in. It felt like a family from the first day on the unofficial visit and the official visit brought it all together. It made it feel like a second home already. I feel like I could talk to Coach Powell for hours about basketball and life.”
Off the court, Curry plans to major in business. He enjoys golfing and playing pickleball in his spare time.
“I’m very excited to get there and get to know people around campus,” he said. “I want to be someone who people are able to talk to and know. On the court, if you need me to knock down a 3, I’ll be there. I’m really good at working around a team, so whatever they need me to do, I’m ready for it.”
A 1,000-point scorer in the high school ranks at Lake Forest, Scroggins is spending this year at a prep school, Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, where he is focusing on getting bigger, faster and stronger before joining the Beacons.
“Hudson is a late bloomer who grew late,” Powell said. “He’s a versatile forward who will play really well in my system. He’s going to be someone who is going to develop and grow into his ability and his body. I’m excited about him being a huge contributor to the success of our program.”
The left-handed Scroggins committed to Valpo while on his visit.
“That was an easy decision,” he said. “My parents really liked the visit and loved the campus. The coaches were awesome. The coaching staff was really welcoming; I could tell I was important to them. They showed me a lot of love. This has been a goal of mine, and it’s really exciting and surreal to officially sign and be locked into a school for next year.”
During his junior year of high school, Scroggins helped his team to a road victory over Warren Township, which was viewed as a top-5 team in the state and one of the polls projected Lake Forest to have only a 10 percent chance to win. Lake Forest went on to garner a conference championship that season.
“Defense and rebounding are my strengths,” Scroggins said. “I also like to get down hill as a driver. I can shoot the 3 or mid-range. Another good skill of mine is being versatile on defense and being able to guard both bigger guys and smaller, shiftier guys.”
Off the court, Scroggins has played baseball most of his life and plans to play again this spring. He stuck with it because it was the main sport for a lot of his friends in high school. He also knows how to juggle and has a pond in his neighborhood where he enjoys fishing. He has interest in pursuing a degree in economics.
Roberts, a highly-rated prospect from Chicago, 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.
“Rajan is a high-level recruit who is very talented,” Powell said. “He is a tough, hard-nosed and talented Chicago guard who I love to recruit. I think he’s going to bring a lot of excitement as a freshman. I’m excited about him being a dynamic guard in our system.”
Originally from the west side of Chicago, Roberts went to Proviso West as a freshman and averaged over 21 points per game on varsity. He continued his prep career at Kenwood, where he was a sophomore on a team full of seniors. Last year, he attended Prolific Prep in Miami, and this year he’s at AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Ariz.
“I chose Valpo because it is a family-oriented place,” Roberts said. “I feel great there. The way Coach Powell goes about how he wants to play basketball and his faith really stood out to me. I love everything about the school. I went on my visit and they had a belief in me. All I need is someone who believes in me. This moment feels great; it’s something you dream about as a kid.”
Roberts had the opportunity to play in Chipotle Nationals last year and showed he belonged as someone the coaches put on the court among high-ranked players. This year, he has the goal of getting back there while playing a larger role on a talented team. Off the court, he plays NBA 2K in his spare time, but most of his time is spent focusing on his basketball-oriented goals.
“I’m coming to bring wins,” he said. “I want to bring a show. Anything that I need to do to win, whether it’s scoring, passing, playing defense or bringing energy is what I’ll do. I’m all about wins and having fun playing the game I love.”
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UINDY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
HOUNDS OPEN YEAR TWO OF SHARP ERA AWAY FROM HOME
vs. #6 Ashland Eagles (0-0)
Friday // November 14
2 p.m. ET // Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium
Watch | Live Stats | Listen | Tickets
vs. Malone Pioneers (0-0)
Saturday // November 15
5:30 p.m. ET // Osborne Hall
Watch | Live Stats | Listen | Tickets
The Greyhounds and second year head coach Jama Sharp begin its 2025-26 regular season on the road against two team featured in the WBCA Preseason Poll. The team’s first game of a two game road trip will be against 2024 NCAA Regional finalist, and will follow that match up with a showdown against Malone, who received 20 votes in the 2025-26 WBCA Preseason Poll.
Amyrah Sapenter, Halie Gilbert, Jaelynne Murray, Patricia Chikamba, and Ruby Garner, all return for the Hounds this season, with those five combining to account for 73% of the team’s scoring last season, racking up a combined 1,219 points.
The Hounds are meeting both the Eagles, and the Pioneers for the second year in a row, with both of the 2024-25 meetings taking place at Nicoson Hall. The Pioneers hold a 4-1 all-time record against the Greyhounds, while the Eagles and Greyhounds are separated by just one win in the all-time series, 21-20, in favor of Ashland.
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UINDY FOOTBALL NEWS
OUTRIGHT GLVC TITLE ON THE LINE THIS WEEKEND ON SENIOR DAY
GAME 11
vs. Upper Iowa Peacocks (8-2, 7-1 GLVC)
Black Out at Key Stadium
Saturday // November 15 // 2 p.m.
GLVC supremacy and an automatic playoff bid are on the line this weekend as conference-leading UIndy welcomes second-place Upper Iowa to Key Stadium Saturday afternoon. Led by reigning DII Offensive Player of the Week Gavin Sukup, the No. 10 Greyhounds have already clinched a share of the league title, but the Peacocks can do the same with a win. A number of additional festivities are on the docket this weekend, including a Black Out, Young Alumni Day, and most-importantly Senior Day.
The season’s third and final set of NCAA Division II regional rankings dropped on Monday. Both of Saturday’s opponents claimed premium spots, with UIndy staying at No. 3 and Upper Iowa moving up to No. 7. Selection Sunday comes Nov. 16 when the 32-team NCAA DII Championship field—eight from each super region—will be announced on NCAA.com. Seeds 1-4 will host a first-round contest on Saturday, Nov. 22.
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MARIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
KOGER NAMED CL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AS MARIAN DOMINATES ALL-CL TEAMS
Jackson, Mich. – Coming off the Marian women’s soccer program’s Crossroads League Regular Season Championship, the league released its All-Crossroads League honors on Thursday morning. Marian was well represented on the CL Teams, with Katie Koger earning the CL Player of the Year, while Justin Sullivan was named the CL Coach of the Year.
The Knights dominated during the regular season, carrying a record of 16-0-1 into the CL Tournament, while Marian went 8-0-1 and was undefeated during the league slate. The Knights finished as the league’s CL Tournament runner-up, falling in a penalty shootout against the three-seed Grace on Wednesday night.
Katie Koger highlighted the Marian student-athletes on the All-Crossroads League Teams, as she was named both a First Team honoree and the CL Player of the Year. Koger led the Knights in scoring in CL matches with nine, while assisting on three other goals. The senior scored three game-winning goals in CL play, and for the season, is the team’s leader in shots and goals. Koger has 14 total goals and five assists entering the NAIA Tournament.
Joining Koger on the Crossroads League First Team is Marian Corro Celma, Taylor Wert, and Kiley Jones. Corro Celma helped anchor Marian’s defense from the midfield throughout the season, as the Knights allowed just one goal in their nine-match Crossroads League season. The midfielder scored two goals during the season and had three assists, netting two game-winners in non-conference play. Wert had a breakout season in her first year at Marian, entering the NAIA Tournament as the Knights’ third-leading goal scorer. Wert scored all seven of her goals this season in Crossroads League play, securing the game-winning goal in two contests. Wert also has two assists in CL play, and has logged 24 shot attempts.
Like Corro Celma, Kiley Jones played a large role in Marian’s eight Crossroads League shutouts, as the defender earned All-Crossroads League First Team honors for the first time. Jones scored the game-winning goal in Marian’s regular season meeting with Grace and assisted on three goals throughout league play.
In addition to the Knights’ four First Team All-Crossroads League honors, Marian earned a pair of Honorable Mention Team spots, with Sienna Mullen and Erin Kelly taking the honors. Mullen scored one goal and assisted on another during the league season, totaling four goals and two assists on the season. Kelly played a pivotal role on Marian’s defensive line, and picked up one assist in addition to her work in the team’s season-total 13 shutouts.
Completing Marian’s honors is head coach Justin Sullivan, who was named as the Crossroads League Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Sullivan guided Marian to an unbeaten record in their non-conference play, while going an undefeated 8-0-1 in Crossroads League play. The Knights won the Crossroads League Regular Season Championship for the first time since 2022, and are ranked second in the NAIA this season.
The NAIA Selection Show airs Friday night, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. ET, with the Knights finding out which two teams will join them in Indianapolis for the NAIA Tournament First and Second Rounds.
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MARIAN MEN’S SOCCER
MARIAN MEN’S SOCCER EARNS FIVE ALL-CROSSROADS LEAGUE HONORS
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League announced its 2025 Men’s Soccer All-League honors on Monday following Bethel’s run to the CL Tournament Championship and regular season title.
The Marian men’s soccer team received five All-Crossroads League Honors, with Gustavo Nunes being named the Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Year and to the first team, with Matthew Loo joining him on the All-Crossroads League First Team. Joining Nunes and Loo on the All-Crossroads League Teams are Sebastian Gonzalez, Diego Regueira, and Kyohei Kuroda.
Gustavo Nunes was voted the All-Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Year and named to the All-Crossroads League First Team for the first time in his career. The junior forward played in 18 of the 19 games this season, starting in 18. Nunes was a crucial part of Marian’s success, leading the team in goals with 12, assists with five, and tying teammate Wehaus for game-winning goals with three.
Matthew Loo was named to the All-Crossroads League First Team for the second time in his career. The junior midfielder played in 12 games and started in eight for the Knights. Loo tallied two goals and one assist on the season. He also recorded 10 shots with four on goal throughout the year.
Sebastian Gonzalez was voted to the All-Crossroads League Team for the first time in his career, earning honorable mention honors. The senior defender played a huge role defensively, starting and playing in all 19 games. Gonzalez helped the Knights defensively, participating in six shutouts throughout the year. On the offensive side, he recorded one goal against Saint Francis (Ind.) on Senior Night.
Diego Regueira was voted to the All-Crossroads League Team for the first time in his career, earning honorable mention honors as well. The senior midfielder played in 14 games and started in 12 of them. He recorded one assist on the year with a pair of shots.
Senior defender, Kyohei Kuroda, earned All-Crossroads League Honors for the first time in his career, earning honorable mention honors. He was a crucial part of the defensive side for Marian, participating in six shutouts throughout the season. On the offensive side, he recorded two assists and one goal throughout the season.
Marian will see if they make it into the NAIA National Tournament First and Second Rounds tomorrow, Friday, November 14th, at 6 pm EST.
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MARIAN FOOTBALL NEWS
GAMEDAY GUIDE: NO. 7 MARIAN ENDS REGULAR SEASON AT NO. 25 ST. XAVIER
INDIANAPOLIS – The regular season finale is in the air for Marian football, as the seventh-ranked Knights conclude their regular season on the road with a matchup against long-time rival St. Xavier. The matchup at No. 25 St. Xavier will kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon.
THE SERIES
Marian has been behind in the series against St. Xavier, as the Cougars hold an all-time lead of 11-7. Marian won last year’s meeting and are 2-1 under head coach Ted Karras Jr. in his second stint at Marian. Coach Karras is 3-7 all-time against St. Xavier, while the Marian football program is 3-3 all-time against St. Xavier in the month of November.
In last year’s win, Isaiah Street had a monster game, making 10 tackles with 5.5 for a loss. Street had 3.5 sacks in the win a year ago, while Cade Houseman had a breakout performance with 16 tackles. Keagan La Belle scored two rushing touchdowns in the win, while Jameson Coverstone caught his first career score.
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights rolled to a senior day win last Saturday, crushing Judson 62-0 in the final regular season home game for 2025. Tristan Polk threw three touchdown passes in the win, while the defense scored a pair of touchdowns, as Darian Dixon returned a fumble for a score and Curtis Foust logged an 84-yard pick-six.
WATCH AND FOLLOW ALONG
Those fans unable to attend Saturday’s game can watch live through the St. Xavier Cougar YouTube Channel, listed above. The Knights’ broadcast duo of Scott McCauley and Zach Graves will be calling an audio-only broadcast of the game live from Chicago, streamed live through the ISC Sports Network. Fans can also find live statistics at marianstats.com. Live updates of the game will be posted periodically on the official Marian Athletics Twitter/X page, @MUKnights, along with the team page of @MarianUFootball.
WARM FRONT
Saturday’s game could be the last warm outing of the season for the Knights, with temperatures in the Chicago area forecasted in the low 60s throughout the contest.
MID-STATES CROWN
Marian has already clinched a share of the 2025 MSFA Midwest League Championship, but will be playing for an outright league win on Saturday afternoon. Marian has not won an outright regular season MSFA title since the 2019 season. The Knights have been co-champions in the MSFA in each of the last two seasons.
PLAYOFFS
The NAIA Football Championship Series begins on Saturday, November 22. The NAIA Selection Show unveiling the 20-team field will be released on Sunday night, November 16. The show airs at 7:00 p.m. ET, and can be seen on the NAIA YouTube channel. Marian is a favorite to claim at least an at-large bid to the postseason, and will learn their fate and potential future opponent on Sunday night.
Marian and St. Xavier square off at 1:00 p.m. ET in the Chicago suburbs this Saturday afternoon to close the regular season.
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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
Nov. 14
1943 — Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears becomes the first pro to pass for more than 400 yards (433) and seven touchdowns in a 56-7 victory over the New York Giants.
1964 — Gus Johnson and Walt Bellamy become the first NBA teammates to score 40 points apiece as the Baltimore Bullets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 127-115. Johnson has 41 points, Bellamy 40.
1964 — Detroit’s Gordie Howe becomes the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring leader, including playoffs, with his 627th career goal. Howe beats Montreal’s Charlie Hodge in a 4-2 loss.
1965 — Gary Cuozzo, subbing for injured Johnny Unitas, throws five touchdown passes to lead the Baltimore Colts to a 41-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
1966 — Muhammad Ali knocks out Cleveland Williams in the third round to retain the world heavyweight title in Houston.
1970 — Forty-three members of the Marshall football team die when their chartered plane crashes in Kenova, W.Va.
1993 — Don Shula breaks George Halas’ career record for victories with No. 325 as the Miami Dolphins defeat Philadelphia 19-14. Shula’s record: 325-153-6 in 31 seasons with Baltimore and Miami; Halas, 324-151-31 in 40 seasons with Chicago.
2004 — Chicago’s 19-17 win over Tennessee marks the second time an NFL game ended in overtime on a safety.
2004 — John and Ashley Force become the first father-daughter combo in NHRA history to win at the same event in the season finale. John Force races to his 114th Funny Car victory, and his 21-year-old daughter takes the Top Alcohol class at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway.
2009 — Toby Gerhart rushes for 178 yards and three touchdowns as Stanford annihilates Southern California 55-21. It’s the most points ever conceded by the Trojans, who played their first game in 1888.
2009 — Daniel Passafiume sets the NCAA record for most receptions in a single game, catching 25 passes for Division III Hanover College. Passafiume finishes with 153 yards receiving and two touchdowns in a 42-28 loss to Franklin.
2010 — John Force wins his NHRA-record 15th Funny Car season championship, completing an improbable and emotional comeback from a horrific accident in Dallas three years ago that left the 61-year-old star’s racing future in serious jeopardy. Force becomes the oldest champion in NHRA history on the same day that the series crowns its youngest champion, 20-year-old Pro Stock Motorcycle rider LE Tonglet.
2010 — The New York Jets defeat the Browns 26-20 in overtime at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Jets, who won 23-20 in OT at Detroit’s Ford Field last week, are the first team in NFL history to win road games in overtime in consecutive weeks.
2015 — Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds breaks the NCAA record for career rushing touchdowns, upping his total to 81 with four scores in the No. 22 Midshipmen’s 55-14 over SMU.
2015 — Kellen Dunham scores 24 points and No. 24 Butler breaks four school records in a 144-71 trouncing of The Citadel. The 144 points are the most points scored by a team in a men’s college basketball game featuring two D-I schools since TCU beat Texas-Pan American 153-87 in 1997.
2017 — Grayson Allen — Duke’s lone senior — scores a career-high 37 points, freshman Trevon Duval has 17 points and 10 assists, and the top-ranked Blue Devils beat No. 2 Michigan State 88-81 in the Champions Classic in Chicago. Wendell Carter Jr. adds 12 points and 12 rebounds, helping Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski improve to 12-1 in his career against Michigan State.
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Nov. 15
1879 — Princeton beats Harvard 1-0 in a college football game held in New Jersey. The Tigers unveil the concept of using blockers to help advance the ball.
1890 — Minnesota and Wisconsin square off for the first time in what has become the most-played series in college football history. The Gophers beat the Badgers 63-0 in Minneapolis.
1901 — Jim Jeffries knocks out Gus Ruhlin in the sixth round to retain the world heavyweight title in San Francisco.
1913 — Australia’s Ernie Parker beats New Zealand’s Harry Parker 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to win the Australasian Championships.
1952 — An NBA-record 13 players, five Baltimore Bullets and eight Syracuse Nationals, foul out in an overtime game. The Bullets win 97-91. So many Syracuse players fouled out that the officials let some of the players back into the game so the Nationals could keep five men on the court. Whenever those players fouled, Baltimore was given a technical foul shot in addition to the free throws.
1960 — Elgin Baylor of the Los Angeles Lakers scores 71 points, an NBA record at the time, in a 123-108 victory over the New York Knicks.
1964 — Kansas City quarterback Len Dawson fumbles seven times in a 28-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
1969 — The New York Knicks run their record to 17-1, the best start in NBA history, by beating the Boston Celtics 113-98.
1969 — Bill Cappleman of Florida State passes for 508 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-26 loss to Memphis State.
1975 — Tony Dorsett of Pittsburgh rushes for 303 yards and scores a touchdown in a 34-20 victory over Notre Dame.
1980 — Dale Earnhardt wins his first NASCAR Winston Cup championship. Earnhardt finishes fifth in the Los Angeles Times 500, the final race of the season, to win the title by 19 points over Cale Yarborough.
1983 — Mike Bossey scores his 75th hat trick for the New York Islanders.
2002 — Tampa Bay forward Dave Andreychuk sets an NHL record by scoring his 250th career power-play goal in the first period of the Lightning’s game against San Jose.
2003 — Brian Vickers becomes NASCAR’s youngest champion ever, claiming the Busch Series title with an 11th place finish behind first-time winner Kasey Kahne at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
2011 — Mike Krzyzewski becomes Division I’s all-time winningest men’s basketball coach when No. 6 Duke beats Michigan State 74-69 in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Blue Devils give Coach K his 903rd win, breaking the tie with Bob Knight, Krzyzewski’s college coach at Army and his mentor throughout his professional career.
2014 — Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon rushes for 408 yards to break the single-game major college football rushing record before sitting out the final quarter in a 59-24 rout over Nebraska.
2015 — Matthew Stafford throws for two touchdowns, and the Detroit Lions ends a 24-game road losing streak against the Green Bay Packers with an 18-16 victory. It’s Detroit’s first win at Green Bay since a 21-17 victory on Dec. 15, 1991.
2018 — LeBron James passes Wilt Chamberlain for 5th on the NBA’s career scoring list.
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Nov. 16
1929 — Southern California and Notre Dame play before 112,912 at Soldier Field in Chicago, with the Fighting Irish prevailing 13-12. It’s the third time in the 1920s that the two schools attract more than 112,000 fans.
1957 — Notre Dame ends Oklahoma’s NCAA record 47-game winning streak with a 7-0 triumph.
1957 — Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics sets an NBA Record with 49 rebounds in a 111-89 victory over the Philadelphia Warriors.
1962 — Wilt Chamberlain scores 73 points, including 45 in the first half, to lead the San Francisco Warriors to a 127-111 victory over the New York Knicks.
1968 — Ron Johnson rushes for 347 yards and scores five touchdowns to lead Michigan to a 34-9 rout of Wisconsin.
1976 — Rick Barry of the San Francisco Warriors ends then the longest NBA free throw streak of 60 in a 110-102 win over the Seattle SuperSonics. Barry scores 33 points, including 9 of 10 from the free-throw line.
1980 — Doug Williams of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-30 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
1982 — The NFL Management Council and the NFL Players’ Association announce settlement of a 57-day player strike.
1991 — Gerry Thomas of No. 1 Florida State misses a 34-yard field goal by the length of a football with 25 seconds left, giving No. 2 Miami a 17-16 victory.
1993 — Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets has his consecutive free throw streak end at 81 in an 86-74 loss to San Antonio. Abdul-Rauf’s streak is the second longest in NBA history, trailing only the record 97 established by Minnesota’s Micheal Williams one week earlier.
1996 — Byron Hanspard of Texas Tech becomes the sixth major-college player to run for 2,000 yards in a season, rushing for 257 yards and four touchdowns in the Red Raiders’ 56-21 victory over Southwestern Louisiana.
1996 — Corey Dillon set an NCAA rushing record for a quarter, gaining 222 yards on 16 carries in the first period as No. 15 Washington overwhelmed San Jose State 53-10.
2002 — Larry Johnson rushes for 327 yards, a career-high four TDs and shatters the 31-year-old school career rushing record, leading Penn State to a 58-25 victory over Indiana.
2003 — 16-year old Lionel Messi makes his official debut for FC Barcelona when he comes on as a substitute in a friendly against Porto.
2008 — Pittsburgh rallies to beat San Diego 11-10, the first such final in NFL history, spanning 12,837 games.
2012 — Stanford snaps defending national champion Baylor’s 42-game winning streak, winning 71-69 when player of the year Brittney Griner misses a short turnaround at the buzzer.
2013 — Cartel Brooks of Heidelberg runs for 465 yards to set an all-division NCAA record in a 42-14 win over Baldwin Wallace. Brooks, with 38 carries, scores on runs of 81, 41 and 13 yards.
2013 — Ricardo Louis scores on a deflected 73-yard pass on fourth and 18 with 25 seconds left to lift No. 7 Auburn to a stunning 43-38 victory over No. 25 Georgia.
2014 — Erica Enders-Stevens wins the Auto Club NHRA Finals to become the first woman to earn the Pro Stock world championship title.
2017 — James Harden scores 23 of his 48 points in the second quarter while Houston puts up 90 points in the first half en route to a 146-116 win over Phoenix. The Rockets make 61 percent of their first-half shots to get the second-most points in a first half in NBA history.
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Nov. 17
1956 — Syracuse beats Colgate 61-7 behind halfback Jim Brown. Brown sets an NCAA-record for points by an individual player in a single game by scoring six touchdowns and kicking seven extra points for 43 points.
1959 — Syracuse’s Connie Dierking becomes the first player to foul out of a game in the first quarter, as the Nationals beat Cincinnati 121-116 at New York.
1968 — The “Heidi” television special starts on time and cuts off the NBC broadcast of the Oakland-New York Jets game in the final minutes, leaving viewers in the dark and unaware that the Raiders score two touchdowns in the last minute for a 43-32 comeback victory.
1975 — Ken Anderson of the Cincinnati Bengals passes for 447 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
1981 — Bill Cartwright of the New York Knicks ties a 20-year-old NBA record by hitting 19 of 19 free throws in a 124-110 loss to the Kansas City Kings.
1984 — Purvis Short of the Golden State Warriors scores 59 points in a 131-114 loss to the New Jersey Nets.
1990 — David Klingler of Houston throws an NCAA-record 11 touchdown passes as the Cougars trounce Eastern Washington 84-21. Klingler completes 41 of 58 passes for 572 yards and ties the NCAA record for touchdown passes in a season with 47.
1991 — Detroit offensive lineman Mike Utley suffers a spinal injury on the first play of the fourth quarter of a 21-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and is left paralyzed from the chest down.
2000 — Jason Kidd has a dubious quadruple-double — 18 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 14 turnovers in the Phoenix Suns’ 90-85 loss to the New York Knicks. The turnovers tie the NBA record set by Atlanta’s John Drew on March 1, 1978.
2001 — Lennox Lewis knocks out Hasim Rahman in the fourth round to get back his WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. Rahman’s championship reign of 209 days is the shortest in heavyweight history.
2004 — New Orleans ties an NBA low by taking just two foul shots in a 95-84 loss to Phoenix.
2007 — Martin Brodeur becomes the second goalie in NHL history to win 500 career games by stopping 26 shots in New Jersey’s 6-2 win at Philadelphia. Patrick Roy won 551 games in his career.
2013 — Jimmie Johnson wins his sixth Sprint Cup championship in eight years. Johnson, who needed only to finish 23rd or better to wrap up the title, finishes ninth.
2013 — Sebastian Vettel wins the U.S. Grand Prix in easy fashion, setting an F1 season record with his eighth straight victory behind another blistering drive that gave the field no chance to catch him.
2014 — Amber Orrange makes a go-ahead jumper with 1:38 left in overtime and the tying 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation, sending No. 6 Stanford to an 88-86 victory against top-ranked Connecticut to snap the Huskies’ 47-game winning streak. UConn, which went 40-0 last season, loses for the first time since falling to Notre Dame in the 2013 conference tournament.
2014 — Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton agrees to terms with the team on a $325 million, 13-year contract. The contract tops the $292 million, 10-year deal Miguel Cabrera agreed to with the Detroit Tigers in March.
Nov. 18
1962 — Bill Wade of the Chicago Bears passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns to edge the Dallas Cowboys 34-33.
1970 — Joe Frazier knocks out Bob Foster in the second round to retain the world heavyweight title in Detroit.
1974 — Charley Johnson of the Denver Broncos passes for 445 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-34 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.
1978 — Vanderbilt’s Frank Mordica rushes for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-27 victory over Air Force. Mordica scores on runs of 48, 30, 6, 70 and 77 yards.
1990 — Monica Seles captures the first five-set women’s match since 1901, defeating Gabriela Sabatini 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the Virginia Slims Championships.
1995 — Iowa State’s Troy Davis becomes the fifth player in NCAA Division I-A to rush for 2,000 yards, reaching that plateau in a 45-31 loss to Missouri.
1995 — Alex Van Dyke sets an NCAA record for most receiving yards in a season, catching 13 passes for 314 yards as Nevada beats San Jose State 45-28. Van Dyke raises his total to 1,874 yards, surpassing the record of 1,779 set in 1965 by Howard Twilley of Tulsa.
2000 — Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El becomes the second player in NCAA Division I-A history to rush for 200 points and pass for 200 points in a career in a 41-13 loss to Purdue.
2003 — American soccer phenom Freddy Adu, 14, signs a six-year deal with MLS.
2006 — Top-ranked Ohio State beats No. 2 Michigan 42-39 in Columbus in the regular-season finale. The Big Ten rivals had the top two spots in The AP football poll since Oct. 15.
2007 — Jimmie Johnson becomes the first driver to win consecutive Nextel Cup championships since Jeff Gordon in 1997 and ’98, wrapping up the title by finishing a trouble-free seventh in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
2007 — Top-ranked Roger Federer wins his fourth Masters Cup title in five years, overwhelming No. 6 David Ferrer 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
2012 — Matt Schaub has a career-high five touchdown passes, completes a franchise-record 43 passes and finishes with 527 yards passing, second most in NFL history, to lead the Houston Texans to a 43-37 overtime win over Jacksonville. Norm Van Brocklin holds the record with 554 for the Rams in 1951.
2014 — The NFL suspends Adrian Peterson without pay for at least the rest of the season. The league informs the Minnesota Vikings running back he would not be considered for reinstatement before April 15 for violating the NFL personal conduct policy.
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Nov. 19
1961 — George Blanda of the Houston Oilers passes for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 49-13 rout of the New York Titans.
1961 — Cleveland’s Jim Brown rushes for 237 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Browns to a 45-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
1966 — No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Michigan State play to a 10-10 tie. The Irish rally from a 10-0 deficit against a Spartans team that features Bubba Smith and three teammates who were among the top eight picks of the next NFL draft.
1978 — Philadelphia’s Herman Edwards returns a fumble for a touchdown with 31 seconds left to give Philadelphia a 19-17 victory over the New York Giants. Instead of taking a knee to preserve a 17-12 victory, quarterback Joe Pisarcik botches the hand off to fullback Larry Csonka. Edwards picks up the dropped ball and runs 26 yards for the winning touchdown.
1983 — Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers scores five goals and Wayne Gretzky adds three goals and five assists in a 13-4 rout of the New Jersey Devils.
1983 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of Los Angeles becomes the second player in NBA history to score 30,000 points, joining Wilt Chamberlain, as the Lakers win 117-110 at Portland.
1992 — Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley is selected the American League’s MVP. Eckersley, who led the majors with 51 saves in 54 chances, becomes the ninth player to win both the Cy Young Award and MVP honors in the same season.
1993 — Oregon and Oregon State play to a 0-0 tie in Eugene. It’s the last scoreless tie in FBS history. Overtime for NCAA games starts in 1994.
1994 — Rashaan Salaam becomes the fourth 2,000-yard rusher in major-college history, running for 259 yards and two touchdowns in Colorado’s 41-20 victory over Iowa State.
1995 — The Baltimore Stallions defeat the Calgary Stampeders 37-20 to become the first U.S. team to win the Grey Cup in the CFL’s 83-year history.
2004 — Indiana’s Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson charge into the stands to fight with Auburn Hills fans in the final minute of their game against the Detroit Pistons. The brawl forces an early end to the Pacers’ 97-82 win.
2006 — Jaromir Jagr becomes the 16th NHL player with 600 goals when he scores in the first period of the New York Rangers’ 4-1 win over Tampa Bay.
2009 — South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential.
2011 — Robert Griffin III of Baylor passes for 479 yards and four TDs, including a 34-yarder to Terrance Williams with 8 seconds left, and the 25th-ranked Bears beat No. 5 Oklahoma for the first time, 45-38. The Bears were 0-20 against the Sooners.
2018— Jared Goff throws a 40-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Everett for the go-ahead score with 1:49 to play, and the Los Angeles Rams outlast the Kansas City Chiefs for a 54-51 victory. Patrick Mahomes has a career-high 478 yards with six touchdown passes for the Chiefs. This is third highest-scoring game ever played.
2018 — Rutgers holds Eastern Michigan to an NCAA-record low four first-half points in a 63-36 rout. The Scarlet Knights tied a men’s NCAA Division I basketball record for points allowed in a half. The halftime score is 31-4.
2019 — LeBron James scores 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107 to become the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double against all 30 franchises.
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Nov. 20
1934 — Busher Jackson scores four third-period goals to power the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Eagles.
1960 — Jerry Norton of St. Louis intercepts four passes to send past the Washington Redskins 26-14.
1969 — Brazilian soccer legend Pelé scores his 1,000th goal.
1977 — Walter Payton rushes for an NFL record 275 yards, and the Chicago Bears edge the Minnesota Vikings 10-7.
1979 — Red Holzman of the New York Knicks wins his 500th game, a 130-125 overtime victory over Houston at Madison Square Garden. Holzman is the second coach, after Red Auerbach, to reach that mark.
1983 — Seattle’s Dave Krieg passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns, lifting the Seahawks to a 27-19 victory over the Denver Broncos.
1983 — Steve Bartkowski throws a 42-yard desperation pass that is deflected to Billy Johnson at the 5-yard line, and he then fights his way into the end zone to give the Atlanta Falcons a 28-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
1994 — Tisha Venturini scores twice and Angela Kelly, Sarah Dacey and Robin Confer add goals for North Carolina, which beats Notre Dame 5-0 for its ninth consecutive NCAA women’s soccer championship.
1997 — A.C. Green breaks the NBA record for consecutive games — his 907th straight appearance in the Dallas Mavericks’ 101-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Green surpasses Randy Smith’s mark of 906 set from 1972-83.
1999 — TCU’s LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for an NCAA Division I record 406 yards on 43 carries with six touchdowns in a 52-24 victory over UTEP.
2001 — Ball State beats No. 3 UCLA 91-73 in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational, one day after knocking off No. 4 Kansas in the opening round.
2010 — Mikel Leshoure of Illinois rushes for a school-record 330 yards and scores two touchdowns in the Fighting Illini’s 48-27 win over Northwestern at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. All offensive plays are run toward the same end zone because a brick wall, although heavily padded, is too close behind the other one.
2011 — Brittney Griner has 32 points and 14 rebounds while Baylor establishes itself as the clear No. 1 team with a 94-81 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame in the preseason WNIT championship game.
2011 — Landon Donovan scores in the 72nd minute on passes from Robbie Keane and David Beckham, and the Los Angeles Galaxy’s three superstars win their first MLS Cup together with a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
2012 — Jack Taylor scores 138 points to shatter the NCAA scoring record in Division III Grinnell’s 179-104 victory over Faith Baptist Bible in Grinnell, Iowa.
2016 — Jimmie Johnson ties Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with a record seven NASCAR championships when he defeats Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and defending champion Kyle Busch at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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TV SPORTS TODAY
Friday, Nov. 14
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
7 p.m.
ACCN — Indiana St. at Duke
7:30 p.m.
PEACOCK — Illinois St. at Southern Cal
8 p.m.
FS1 — Xavier at Iowa
PEACOCK — Md.-Eastern Shore
8:30 p.m.
TRUTV — Northwestern at DePaul
9 p.m.
ACCN — NC Central at North Carolina
ESPN2 — Michigan at TCU
SECN — Georgia Tech at Georgia
10 p.m.
PEACOCK — Arizona at UCLA
11 p.m.
ESPN2 — Gonzaga at Arizona St.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
ESPNU — Duke at West Virginia
9 p.m.
CBSSN — Baylor at UNLV
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
7:30 p.m.
ESPN — Clemson at Louisville
9 p.m.
FOX — Minnesota at Oregon
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
SECN — Missouri at Mississippi St.
GOLF
10 a.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Second Round, Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Fla.
1 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Second Round, Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda
4 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Second Round, Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix
2 a.m. (Saturday)
GOLF — DP World Tour: The DP World Tour Championship, Third Round, Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth Course), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
NBA BASKETBALL
7 p.m.
PRIME VIDEO — Miami at New York
9:30 p.m.
PRIME VIDEO — Golden State at San Antonio
NHL HOCKEY
2 p.m.
NHLN — Pittsburgh vs. Nashville, Johanneshov, Sweden
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Saturday, Nov. 15
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
Noon
CW — Ohio at Louisville
PEACOCK — Clemson at Georgetown
1 p.m.
PEACOCK — Penn St. at La Salle
2 p.m.
CW — Butler at SMU
PEACOCK — Maryland at Marquette
6 p.m.
TRUTV — William & Mary at St. John’s
7 p.m.
FOX — UConn vs. BYU, Boston
TRUTV — Duquesne at Villanova
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
4 p.m.
NBC — Notre Dame vs. Michigan, Detroit
9 p.m.
FOX — South Carolina vs. Southern Cal, Los Angeles
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Noon
ABC — TBA
ACCN — Notre Dame at Pittsburgh (Command Center)
BTN — Wisconsin at Indiana
CBSSN — Air Force at UConn
ESPN — TBA
ESPN2 — South Florida at Navy
ESPNU — Kansas St. at Oklahoma St.
FOX — Michigan vs. Northwestern, Chicago
FS1 — Arizona at Cincinnati
12:45 p.m.
SECN — Arkansas at LSU
1 p.m.
TNT — West Virginia at Arizona St.
TRUTV — West Virginia at Arizona St.
3:30 p.m.
ABC — Oklahoma at Alabama
ACCN — Georgia Tech at Boston College
CBS — TBA
CBSSN — San Jose St. at Nevada
ESPN — TBA
ESPN2 — TBA
FOX — UCF at Texas Tech
FS1 — Maryland at Illinois
4 p.m.
ESPNU — Memphis at East Carolina
4:15 p.m.
SECN — New Mexico St. at Tennessee
4:30 p.m.
CW — North Carolina at Wake Forest
7 p.m.
CBSSN — Utah St. at UNLV
ESPN — Florida at Mississippi
ESPN2 — Utah at Baylor
FS1 — Purdue at Washington
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
ABC — Texas at Georgia
ACCN — Virginia Tech at Florida St.
NBC — UCLA at Ohio St.
7:45 p.m.
SECN — Mississippi St. at Missouri
8 p.m.
ESPNU — Kennesaw St. at Jacksonville St.
10 p.m.
CW — Louisiana Tech at Washington St.
10:15 p.m.
ESPN — TCU at BYU
10:30 p.m.
FS1 — Wyoming at Florida St.
ESPN2 — UC Davis at Montana St.
CBSSN — Boise St. at San Diego St.
11 p.m.
ESPNU — SIAC Championship: TBD
GOLF
8:30 a.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Third Round, Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Fla.
11:30 a.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Third Round, Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda
2:30 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Third Round, Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Fla.
4:30 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Third Round, Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix
1:30 a.m. (Sunday)
GOLF — DP World Tour: The DP World Tour Championship, Final Round, Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth Course), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
NBA BASKETBALL
5 p.m.
NBATV — Memphis at Cleveland
8 p.m.
NBATV — L.A. Lakers at Milwaukee
NHL HOCKEY
7 p.m.
NHLN — Boston at Montreal
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
Noon
CBS — NWSL Playoffs: TBD, Semifinal
_____
Sunday, Nov. 16
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
12:30 p.m.
FS1 — Notre Dame at Ohio St.
1 p.m.
ESPN2 — TBA
3 p.m.
ESPN — Houston at Auburn
5 p.m.
ESPN — UNLV at Memphis
5:30 p.m.
BTN — Incarnate Word at Indiana
7:30 p.m.
BTN — Akron at Purdue
8:30 p.m.
ESPN — Miami vs. Florida, Jacksonville, Fla.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
Noon
PEACOCK — Ohio St. at UConn
1 p.m.
BTN — N. Dakota St. vs. Nebraska, Sioux Falls, S.D.
ESPN — TCU at NC State
3 p.m.
ACCN — Jacksonville at Georgia Tech
ESPN2 — Louisville at Clemson
5 p.m.
ACCN — Indiana at Florida St.
COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN’S)
11 a.m.
ESPNU — Ivy League Tournament: TBD, Championship
1 p.m.
ACCN — Atlantic Coast Tournament: TBD, Championship, Cary, N.C.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
1 p.m.
ACCN — Miami at Louisville
SECN — Oklahoma at Tennessee
3 p.m.
SECN — Vanderbilt at Mississippi St.
5 p.m.
ESPN2 — SMU at Stanford
COLLEGE WRESTLING
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — National Duals Invitational: From Tulsa, Okla.
FIGURE SKATING
3 p.m.
NBC — 2025 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: The 2025 Skate America, Lake Placid, N.Y.
GOLF
9:30 a.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Final Round, Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Fla.
11 a.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Final Round, Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda
2 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Final Round, Pelican Golf Club, Belleair, Fla.
4 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Final Round, Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix
NFL FOOTBALL
9:30 a.m.
NFLN — Washington vs. Miami, Madrid
1 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: Tampa Bay at Buffalo, Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, L.A. Chargers at Jacksonville
FOX — Regional Coverage: Carolina at Atlanta, Houston at Tennessee, Chicago at Minnesota, Green Bay at N.Y. Giants
4:05 p.m.
FOX — Regional Coverage: Seattle at L.A. Rams OR San Francisco at Arizona
4:25 p.m.
CBS — Regional Coverage: Baltimore at Cleveland OR Kansas City at Denver
8:20 p.m.
NBC — Detroit at Philadelphia
PEACOCK — Detroit at Philadelphia
NHL HOCKEY
9 a.m.
NHLN — Nashville vs. Pittsburgh, Johanneshov, Sweden
7 p.m.
NHLN — Detroit at N.Y. Rangers
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
3 p.m.
ABC — NWSL Playoffs: TBD, Semifinal
SPEED SKATING
2 p.m.NBC — ISU: World Cup Speedskating #1 – Olympic Games Qualifying Event, Salt Lake City
