THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” MONDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

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

CLASS 6A

SECTIONAL 1

CROWN POINT (10-0) AT PENN (10-0)

SECTIONAL 2

SECTIONAL 3

WESTFIELD (8-2) AT CARMEL (9-1)

SECTIONAL 4

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (6-4) AT FISHERS (7-3)

SECTIONAL 5

AVON (6-4) AT BROWNSBURG (10-0)

SECTIONAL 6

DECATUR CENTRAL (8-2) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (5-5)

SECTIONAL 7

SOUTHPORT (2-8) AT WARREN CENTRAL (6-4)

SECTIONAL 8

CENTER GROVE (9-1) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (5-5)

______________________________________________________

CLASS 5A

SECTIONAL 9

MUNSTER (4-6) AT MERRILLVILLE (8-2)

SECTIONAL 10

MICHIGAN CITY (7-3) AT LAPORTE (4-6)

SECTIONAL 11

CONCORD (9-1) AT FORT WAYNE NORTH (6-4)

SECTIONAL 12

LAFAYETTE JEFF (9-1) AT KOKOMO (4-6)

SECTIONAL 13

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (7-3) AT NEW PALESTINE (10-0)

SECTIONAL 14

EAST CENTRAL (8-2) AT WHITELAND (9-2)

SECTIONAL 15

BLOOMINGTON NORTH (7-3) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (9-1)

SECTIONAL 16

EVANSVILLE NORTH (8-2) AT FLOYD CENTRAL (9-1)

_____________________________________________________

CLASS 4A

SECTIONAL 17

LOWELL (9-2) AT HOBART (9-2)

SECTIONAL 18

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (10-1) AT MISHAWAKA (10-1)

SECTIONAL 19

EAST NOBLE (11-0) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (9-2)

SECTIONAL 20

LEBANON (9-2) AT LOGANSPORT (8-3)

SECTIONAL 21

YORKTOWN (8-2) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (10-1)

SECTIONAL 22

INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (8-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (9-2)

SECTIONAL 23

BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (8-3) AT MARTINSVILLE (5-6)

SECTIONAL 24

HERITAGE HILLS (10-1) AT JASPER (9-2)

________________________________________________________

CLASS 3A

SECTIONAL 25

MISHAWAKA MARIAN (4-7) AT KNOX (11-0)

SECTIONAL 26

GARRETT (6-5) AT ANGOLA (6-5)

SECTIONAL 27

TWIN LAKES (9-2) AT WESTERN (8-3)

SECTIONAL 28

FORT WAYNE LUERS (6-5) AT MISSISSINEWA (10-1)

SECTIONAL 29

GUERIN CATHOLIC (7-4) AT CASCADE (11-0)

SECTIONAL 30

LAWRENCEBURG (9-1) AT GREENSBURG (4-7)

SECTIONAL 31

SCOTTSBURG (9-2) AT INDIAN CREEK (7-3)

SECTIONAL 32

GIBSON SOUTHERN (10-1) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (6-5)

_____________________________________________________

CLASS 2A

SECTIONAL 33

ANDREAN (9-1) AT RENSSELAER CENTRAL (9-2)

SECTIONAL 34

SOUTHMONT (10-1) AT LEWIS CASS (8-3)

SECTIONAL 35

EASTSIDE (9-2) AT ADAMS CENTRAL (11-0)

SECTIONAL 36

EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (10-1) AT EASTBROOK (11-0)

SECTIONAL 37

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (10-1) AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (7-4)

SECTIONAL 38

TRITON CENTRAL (10-1) AT LAPEL (11-0)

SECTIONAL 39

SULLIVAN (8-3) AT LINTON (8-3)

SECTIONAL 40

SWITZERLAND COUNTY (8-2) AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (11-0)

________________________________________________________

CLASS 1A

SECTIONAL 41

WEST CENTRAL (10-1) AT LAVILLE (7-4)

SECTIONAL 42

PIONEER (10-1) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (7-3)

SECTIONAL 43

FREMONT (8-3) AT NORTH MIAMI (8-3)

SECTIONAL 44

HAGERSTOWN (5-6) AT SOUTH ADAMS (8-3)

SECTIONAL 45

SOUTH PUTNAM (9-2) AT RIVERTON PARKE (11-0)

SECTIONAL 46

CLOVERDALE (7-4) AT SHERIDAN (7-2)

SECTIONAL 47

NORTH DECATUR (8-2) AT MILAN (5-4)

SECTIONAL 48

PROVIDENCE (8-2) AT NORTH DAVIESS (10-1)

____________________________________________________________________

+++++++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL STATE++++++++++

11 AM ET | CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 
FAITH CHRISTIAN (31-4) VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN (22-11)

1:30 PM ET | CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 
BENTON CENTRAL (27-5) VS. BARR-REEVE (32-5)  

4:30 PM ET | CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 
FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER (20-8) VS. RONCALLI (32-5) 

7 PM ET | CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (36-0) VS. PLAINFIELD (29-5)  

_____________________________________________________________

+++++++++++INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBAL SCHEDULE+++++++++++

MONDAY

ALL TIMES EASTERN

CANNELTON  AT          PERRY CENTRAL                                      7:00 PM            

ALEXANDRIA AT          DALEVILLE                                    7:00 PM            

ANDERSON PREP      AT          ELWOOD                        7:30 PM

_____________________________________________________________________

TUESDAY

ALL TIMES EASTERN

GEO NEXT GENERATION      AT          INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE                              6:00 PM            

BLOOMFIELD               AT          MITCHELL                      6:00 PM            

NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG)            AT          DUGGER UNION                       6:00 PM            

EMAN  AT          INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE                6:00 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY      AT          CHRISTEL HOUSE                    6:00 PM            

HOMESTEAD AT          FORT WAYNE WAYNE                            6:00 PM            

CLAY CITY       AT          EMINENCE                     6:00 PM            

OREGON-DAVIS         AT          KOUTS                             6:30 PM            

WINAMAC       AT          FRONTIER                      6:30 PM            

CLOVERDALE               AT          RIVERTON PARKE                     6:30 PM            

VINCENNES RIVET   AT          SHAKAMAK                   7:00 PM            

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL              AT          WEST LAFAYETTE                      7:00 PM            

TELL CITY        AT          CANNELTON                 7:00 PM            

WESTVILLE     AT          MARQUETTE CATHOLIC                      7:00 PM            

NORTHEAST DUBOIS             AT          SHOALS                          7:30 PM            

MUNCIE BURRIS        AT          BLACKFORD                 7:30 PM            

SOUTH BEND RILEY AT          MISHAWAKA                7:30 PM            

TIPPECANOE VALLEY             AT          NORWELL                      7:30 PM            

BLOOMINGTON SOUTH       AT          NORTHVIEW                 7:30 PM            

NORTH VERMILLION              AT          NORTH PUTNAM                       7:30 PM            

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL         AT          LAPEL                7:30 PM            

SOUTHPORT AT          MOORESVILLE                           7:30 PM            

BEN DAVIS      AT          FISHERS                         7:30 PM            

ZIONSVILLE   AT          INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS                    7:30 PM            

GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN  AT          TRITON CENTRAL                     7:30 PM            

WARSAW         AT          FORT WAYNE SNIDER                           7:30 PM            

INDIAN CREEK            AT          BEECH GROVE                           7:30 PM            

CONCORD     AT          ANGOLA                          7:30 PM            

BROWNSBURG           AT          WARREN CENTRAL                  7:30 PM            

FREMONT        AT          SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH                  7:30 PM            

CARROLL (FLORA)    AT          MADISON-GRANT                    7:30 PM            

WEST VIGO    AT          WHITE RIVER VALLEY                            7:30 PM            

CORYDON CENTRAL              AT          LANESVILLE                  7:30 PM            

NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS)              AT          WESTFIELD                   7:30 PM              

HAMILTON HEIGHTS              AT          DANVILLE                       7:30 PM            

CRAWFORDSVILLE  AT          ATTICA                             7:30 PM            

WHITELAND  AT          MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE)                       7:30 PM            

YORKTOWN   AT          GUERIN CATHOLIC                 7:30 PM            

NORTH MIAMI              AT          WESTERN                       7:30 PM            

EASTERN HANCOCK              AT          WES-DEL                        7:30 PM            

SOUTH VERMILLION               AT          SOUTH PUTNAM                       7:30 PM            

NORTHFIELD AT          SOUTHERN WELLS                  7:30 PM            

MILAN AT          SOUTH DECATUR                     7:30 PM            

SOUTH BEND ADAMS            AT          KOKOMO                        7:30 PM            

JENNINGS COUNTY AT          SCOTTSBURG                             7:30 PM            

SOUTHMONT               AT          SHERIDAN                     7:30 PM            

JIMTOWN        AT          PRAIRIE HEIGHTS                    7:30 PM            

OWEN VALLEY             AT          EASTERN GREENE                    7:30 PM            

BREMEN           AT          ARGOS                             7:30 PM            

FORT WAYNE DWENGER     AT          CHURUBUSCO                          7:30 PM            

PURDUE ENGLEWOOD         AT          COLUMBUS EAST                     7:30 PM            

FAIRFIELD       AT          ELKHART                         7:30 PM            

EVANSVILLE HARRISON      AT          FLOYD CENTRAL                       7:30 PM            

SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON           AT          NEW PRAIRIE                              7:30 PM              

MORGAN TWP.            AT          KNOX                 8:00 PM            

LOWELL           AT          WHEELER                       8:00 PM            

HAMMOND CENTRAL            AT          KANKAKEE VALLEY                  8:00 PM            

WHITING         AT          HAMMOND MORTON                            8:00 PM

_______________________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY

RANDOLPH SOUTHERN       AT          MUNCIE BURRIS                       6:00 PM            

CENTERVILLE               AT          CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN                            6:30 PM              

PORTAGE         AT          BOWMAN ACADEMY                             7:00 PM            

MACONAQUAH          AT          MARION                          7:30 PM            

PLAINFIELD   AT          MCCUTCHEON                          7:30 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS RITTER          AT          EDINBURGH                 7:30 PM            

INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH      AT          INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS                    7:30 PM            

SOUTH DEARBORN  AT          EAST CENTRAL                           7:30 PM            

TAYLOR             AT          WABASH                         7:30 PM            

UNION (MODOC)       AT          UNION CITY                  7:30 PM            

TRITON             AT          JOHN GLENN                               7:30 PM            

PERU   AT          CULVER ACADEMY                  7:30 PM            

COVENANT CHRISTIAN        AT          PARK TUDOR               7:30 PM            

NORTH HARRISON   AT          SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)                       7:30 PM              

WAWASEE       AT          MANCHESTER                            7:30 PM            

EASTERN (GREENTOWN)     AT          ELWOOD                        7:30 PM            

WASHINGTON TWP. AT          HANOVER CENTRAL                              8:00 PM            

BOONE GROVE           AT          GRIFFITH                        8:00 PM                           

_________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++AP COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL++++++++++++

1. OHIO STATE 8-0
2. INDIANA 9-0
3. TEXAS A&M 8-0
4. ALABAMA 7-1
5. GEORGIA 7-1
6. OREGON 7-1
7. OLE MISS 8-1
8. BYU 8-0
9. TEXAS TECH 8-1
10. NOTRE DAME 6-2
11. OKLAHOMA 7-2
12. VIRGINIA 8-1
13. TEXAS 7-2
14. LOUISVILLE 7-1
15. VANDERBILT 7-2
16. GEORGIA TECH 8-1
17. UTAH 7-2
18. MIAMI FL 6-2
19. MISSOURI 6-2
20. USC 6-2
21. MICHIGAN 7-2
22. MEMPHIS 8-1
23. TENNESSEE 6-3
24. WASHINGTON 6-2
25. CINCINNATI 7-2

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

IOWA 71, JAMES MADISON 53, PITTSBURGH 35, SAN DIEGO ST. 30, NORTH TEXAS 27, SOUTH FLORIDA 23, SMU 7, HOUSTON 6, ILLINOIS 4, LSU 4, ARIZONA ST. 4.

__________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE+++++++++++

WEEK 11

TUESDAY, NOV. 4

7 P.M. | UMASS AT AKRON | CBSSN

7 P.M. | MIAMI (OHIO) AT OHIO | ESPN2

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5

7 P.M. | KENT STATE AT BALL STATE | ESPNU

7 P.M. | NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT TOLEDO | ESPN2

THURSDAY, NOV. 6

7:30 P.M. | GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT APPALACHIAN STATE | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | UTSA AT SOUTH FLORIDA | ESPN

FRIDAY, NOV. 7

8 P.M. | HOUSTON AT UCF | FS1

9 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN AT NO. 20 SOUTHERN CAL | FOX

9 P.M. | TULANE AT NO. 22 MEMPHIS | ESPN

SATURDAY, NOV. 8

12 P.M. | NO. 5 GEORGIA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | ESPN

12 P.M. | NO. 8 BYU AT NO. 9 TEXAS TECH | ABC

12 P.M. | NO. 2 INDIANA AT PENN STATE | FOX

12 P.M. | SMU AT BOSTON COLLEGE | ACC NETWORK

12 P.M. | COLORADO AT WEST VIRGINIA | TNT/TRUTV

12 P.M. | JAMES MADISON AT MARSHALL | ESPN2

12 P.M. | SOUTHERN MISS AT ARKANSAS STATE | ESPNU

12 P.M. | TEMPLE AT ARMY | CBSSN

1 P.M. | NO. 1 OHIO STATE AT PURDUE | BIG TEN NETWORK

1 P.M. | THE CITADEL AT NO. 7 OLE MISS | SECN+

1 P.M. | MISSOURI STATE AT LIBERTY | ESPN+

1 P.M. | BOWLING GREEN AT EASTERN MICHIGAN | ESPN+

2 P.M. | UAB AT RICE | ESPN+

2:30 P.M. | MARYLAND AT RUTGERS | FS1

3 P.M. | LOUISIANA TECH AT DELAWARE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | JACKSONVILLE STATE AT UTEP | ESPN+

3 P.M. | CHARLOTTE AT EAST CAROLINA | ESPN+

3 P.M. | TULSA AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NO. 6 OREGON AT IOWA | CBS

3:30 P.M. | NO. 3 TEXAS A&M AT NO. 19 MISSOURI | ABC

3:30 P.M. | SYRACUSE AT  NO. 18 MIAMI (FLA.) | ESPN

3:30 P.M. | DUKE AT UCONN | CBSSN

3:30 P.M. | KANSAS AT ARIZONA | ESPN2

3:30 P.M. | IOWA STATE AT TCU | FOX

4 P.M. | AUBURN AT NO. 15 VANDERBILT | SEC NETWORK

4 P.M. | KENNESAW STATE AT NEW MEXICO STATE | ESPN+

4 P.M. | GEORGIA STATE AT COASTAL CAROLINA | ESPN+

4:30 P.M. | NO. 24 WASHINGTON AT WISCONSIN | BIG TEN NETWORK

4:30 P.M. | STANFORD AT NORTH CAROLINA | THE CW NETWORK

5 P.M. | TEXAS STATE AT LOUISIANA | ESPN+

6 P.M. | AIR FORCE AT SAN JOSE STATE | FS1

7 P.M. | WAKE FOREST AT NO. 12 VIRGINIA | ESPN

7 P.M. | CAL AT NO. 14 LOUISVILLE | ESPN2

7 P.M. | FLORIDA STATE AT CLEMSON | ACCN

7:30 P.M. | LSU AT NO. 4 ALABAMA | ABC

7:30 P.M. | NAVY AT NO. 10 NOTRE DAME | NBC/PEACOCK

7:30 P.M. | FLORIDA AT KENTUCKY | SEC NETWORK

7:30 P.M. | NEVADA AT UTAH STATE | CBSSN

9 P.M. | NEBRASKA AT UCLA | FOX

9:30 P.M. | UNLV AT COLORADO STATE | FS1

10 P.M. | SAM HOUSTON AT OREGON STATE | THE CW NETWORK

11 P.M. | SAN DIEGO STATE AT HAWAII | MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK

______________________________________________________________

++++++++NFL SCORES++++++++

DENVER 18 HOUSTON 15

SAN FRANCISCO 34 NY GIANTS 24

PITTSBURGH 27 INDIANAPOLIS 20

CAROLINA 16 GREEN BAY 13

MINNESOTA 27 DETROIT 24

LA CHARGERS 27 TENNESSEE 20

NEW ENGLAND 24 ATLANTA 23

CHICAGO 47 CINCINNATI 42

BUFFALO 28 KANSAS CITY 21

SEATTLE 38 WASHINGTON 14

LA RAMS 34 NEW ORLEANS 10

JACKSONVILLE 30 LAS VEGAS 29 OT

____________________________________________________________

MONDAY, NOV. 3

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

BYES: CLEVELAND, NY JETS, PHILADELPHIA, TAMPA BAY

_______________________________________________________________

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

OKLAHOMA CITY 137 NEW ORLEANS 106

CHARLOTTE 126 UTAH 103

TORONTO 117 MEMPHIS 104

CLEVELAND 117 ATLANTA 109

PHILADELPHIA 129 BROOKLYN 105

NEW YORK 128 CHICAGO 160

PHOENIX 130 SAN ANTONIO 118

LA LAKERS 130 MIAMI 120

________________________________________________________

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

TAMPA BAY 4 UTAH 2

NY ISLANDERS 3 COLUMBUS 2

CALGARY 2 PHILADELPHIA 1

ANAHEIM 4 NEW JERSEY 1

DETROIT 3 SAN JOSE 2

________________________________________________________

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

COLUMBUS 4 CINCINNATI 0

LOS ANGELES 4 AUSTIN 1

___________________________________________________________

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+++++

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

SEVEN FROM SUNDAY – WEEK 9 NFL

A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, November 2, the ninth week of the 2025 season.

• With two games remaining in Week 9, nine games were within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter and nine games were decided by one score (eight points or fewer), including four teams – Carolina, Chicago, Denver and Jacksonville – that recorded the game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime.

There have been 35 games decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime this season, tied with 2021 for the most-such games through Week 9 in NFL history.

Jacksonville kicker Cam Little kicked a 68-yard field goal in Week 9, the longest field goal in NFL history, surpassing Justin Tucker (66 yards on Sept. 26, 2021).

PLAYER	TEAM	DATE	YARDS
Cam Little	Jacksonville	11/2/2025	68
Justin Tucker	Baltimore	9/26/2021	66
Chase McLaughlin	Tampa Bay	9/28/2025	65
Brandon Aubrey	Dallas	9/22/2024	65
Brandon Aubrey	Dallas	9/14/2025	64
Matt Prater	Denver	12/8/2013	64
Joey Slye	New England	9/29/2024	63
Brett Maher	Dallas	10/20/2019	63
Graham Gano	Carolina	10/7/2018	63
David Akers	San Francisco	9/9/2012	63
Sebastian Janikowski	Oakland	9/12/2011	63
Jason Elam	Denver	10/25/1998	63
Tom Dempsey	New Orleans	11/8/1970	63

• New England quarterback Drake Maye passed for 259 yards and two touchdowns with a 102.5 passer rating in New England’s 24-23 victory over Atlanta.

Maye is the first player under the age of 24 and fourth player in NFL history to record at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games, joining Aaron Rodgers (12 consecutive games in 2011 and eight in 2020), Tom Brady (eight in 2007) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (eight in 2004).

• Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen completed 23 of 26 pass attempts (88.5 percent) for 273 yards and totaled three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) in the Bills’ 28-21 victory over Kansas City.

Allen, who has seven rushing touchdowns this season, became the first quarterback and sixth player ever with at least six rushing touchdowns in eight consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (10 consecutive seasons from 1994-2004), LaDainian Tomlinson (10 from 2001-10), Jim Brown (nine from 1957-65) and Thurman Thomas (eight from 1989-96) as well as Derrick Henry (eight from 2018-25).

Allen is the first quarterback and sixth player in NFL history with at least six rushing touchdowns in eight consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (10 consecutive seasons from 1994-2004), LaDainian Tomlinson (10 from 2001-10), Jim Brown (nine from 1957-65) and Thurman Thomas (eight from 1989-96) as well as Derrick Henry (eight from 2018-25).

Allen has 15 career games with multiple rushing touchdowns, joining Jalen Hurts (16 games) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with 15 such games.

Allen has 79 career rushing touchdowns, including the postseason and surpasses Cam Newton (77 rushing touchdowns) for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, including the playoffs, in NFL history.

Allen became the third player ever with an 85+ completion percentage (minimum 15 attempts), two rushing touchdowns and a touchdown pass in a single game, joining Kyler Murray (Sept. 10, 2024) and Trevor Lawrence (Oct. 16, 2022).

• Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 281 yards with four touchdowns, including two to wide receiver Davante Adams, and a 140.8 passer rating during today’s 34-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Stafford, who has 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions this season, is the fifth different player with at least 20 touchdown passes and three-or-fewer interceptions in his first eight games of a season in NFL history, joining Tom Brady (2007 and 2015), Patrick Mahomes (2020), Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle (1963).

Adams has eight touchdown receptions this season and is the seventh wide receiver in NFL history with at least eight touchdown receptions in six consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (11 from 1986-96), Marvin Harrison (eight from 1999-2006), Lance Alworth (six from 1963-68), Cris Carter (six from 1995-2000) and Tommy McDonald (six from 1958-63) as well as Antonio Brown (six from 2013-18).

Adams has 111 career touchdown receptions, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (111) for the eighth-most touchdown receptions in NFL history.

Adams has 119 career touchdown receptions, including the postseason and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates (118) for the seventh-most in NFL history, including the playoffs.

• Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams passed for 280 yards and three touchdowns for a 114.8 passer rating, including the game-winning 58-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Colston Loveland with 17 seconds remaining in the Bears’ 47-42 win at Cincinnati.

Williams, who also had 53 rushing yards and two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown in Week 9, is the first player in NFL history with at least 275 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, and 20 receiving yards in a single game and the first player ever with at least 20 completions and multiple receptions in a game in NFL history.

Loveland’s 58-yard game-winning touchdown reception marked the third-longest game-winning touchdown reception by a rookie in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime since 1970, trailing only John Brown (75 yard touchdown reception on Oct. 26, 2014) and Santonio Holmes (67 yard touchdown reception on Dec. 31, 2006).

Loveland’s 58-yard game-winning touchdown reception marked the second-longest game-winning touchdown reception by a rookie tight end in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime since 1970, trailing only Richard Rodgers (61 yard touchdown reception on Dec. 3, 2015).

Loveland, who had 118 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Week 9, is the fifth rookie tight end in the Super Bowl era with at least 100 receiving yards and multiple touchdown receptions, joining and Raymond Chester (Oct. 25, 1970 with the Oakland Raiders), Junior Miller (Sept. 14, 1980 with Atlanta), Bob Tucker (Oct. 25, 1970 with the New York Giants) and Charle Young (Nov. 4, 1973 with Philadelphia).

Per Next Gen Stats, Loveland’s 58-yard go-ahead touchdown in Week 9 against the Bengals increased the Bears’ win probability by 58.7% (39.8% to 98.5%). It marks the second-largest win probability increase on a play this season (New York Giants’ Russell Wilson 48-yard touchdown pass to Malik Nabers with :25 remaining in Week 2, 61.2 percent increase).

For more information on Next Gen Stats, check out NFL Pro, available within NFL+ Premium. With NFL+ Premium, get access to NFL Pro and track advanced analytics powered by Next Gen Stats and watch All-22 film. Available on desktop and mobile web, visit pro.nfl.com for more information.

With Loveland (118 receiving yards) and rookie running back Kyle Monangai (176 rushing yards), the Bears became the first team in NFL history with a rookie rushing for at least 175 yards and a rookie recording 100-or-more receiving yard in the same game.

• Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 250 yards and two touchdowns with a 101.2 passer rating and added 57 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown during the Chargers’ 27-20 victory at Tennessee.

Herbert has 50 career game with at least two touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (50) for the fourth-most games with at least two touchdown passes in a players first six seasons in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (58), Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (58) and Josh Allen (54) have more.

• San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey totaled 173 scrimmage yards (106 rushing, 67 receiving) and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the 49ers 34-24 win at the New York Giants.

McCaffrey has 33 career touchdown receptions and surpassed Darren Sproles (32 touchdown receptions) for the second-most touchdown receptions by a running back in the Super Bowl era, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (36).

McCaffrey has 16 career games with both a rushing touchdown and touchdown reception, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (15 games) for the most such games in NFL history.

McCaffrey became the third player in NFL history with at least 100 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards in 10 career games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (15 games) and Walter Payton (10).

• Additional notes from Sunday include:
  • Minnesota quarterback JJ McCarthy totaled three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the Vikings’ 27-24 win at Detroit.

McCarthy is the first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown in two of a player’s first three career games.

• New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart recorded two touchdowns (one passing one rushing) in Week 9, becoming the first rookie in NFL history with a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown in four consecutive games.

Dart joins Cam Newton (2011) as the only rookie quarterbacks in NFL history with a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games.

Dart is the third rookie in NFL history with a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown in five games, joining Cam Newton (eight games in 2011) and Justin Herbert (five in 2020).

• Cincinnati quarterback Joe Flacco passed for a career-high 470 yards with four touchdowns, two to wide receiver Tee Higgins, in Week 9.

Flacco, who is 40 years and 290 days old, is the third quarterback age 40 or older with at least 400 passing yards and three touchdown passes in a game, joining Tom Brady (four times) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon.

Flacco, at 40 years and 290 days old, became the oldest player in NFL with at least 450 passing yards and four touchdown passes in a game, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (38 years, 195 days old on Oct. 5, 2014 with Denver).

Higgins is the third player all-time with a touchdown reception in nine consecutive home games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Cris Carter (10 consecutive home games with Minnesota from 2000-01) and Jerry Rice (nine with San Francisco from 1989-90).

• Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce has 540 receiving yards this season and became the fourth tight end all-time with at least 500 receiving yards in 12 career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Tony Gonzalez (16 consecutive seasons) and Antonio Gates (13) as well as Jason Witten (15).

NFL IS WIDE OPEN THROUGH WEEK 9 WITH NO DOMINANT TEAMS

The Colts became mistake-prone. The Packers wasted opportunities. The Lions got pushed around. The Chiefs fell out of a playoff spot.

Both conference leaders looked ordinary Sunday and other top teams had rough games.

The NFL looks more wide open every week.

Even some winning teams struggled along the way to victory.

The Chargers let the lowly Titans hang around in a one-score game. The Jaguars needed to stop a 2-point conversion to secure an overtime victory over the Raiders. The Broncos had to rally to beat the Texans, who lost C.J. Stroud to a concussion in the first half. The Patriots held off the Falcons because of a missed extra point. The Bears blew a 14-point lead in the final two minutes against the Bengals but came back thanks to a woeful defense.

Week 9 demonstrated again why there are no dominant teams in the NFL this season. The better teams have shown flaws. The bad teams are awful. There’s plenty of parity overall.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills had the best week, beating Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City 28-21. Buffalo’s defense held Mahomes to a career-worst 44.1% completion rate. Allen continued his mastery of the Chiefs in the regular season with his fifth straight win against them. But the Bills have lost to Kansas City in the playoffs four times in five years. Both teams may have to go the wild-card route to meet again in January.

The Bills (6-2) trail surprising New England (7-2) in the AFC East, already lost to the Patriots and have difficult games in the second half.

The Chiefs (5-4) are third in the AFC West and also have a tough schedule coming up.

The key to success for Indianapolis (7-2) this season has been ball security. The Colts had four turnovers in the first eight games before six giveaways in a 27-20 loss at Pittsburgh. Daniel Jones threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles, exposing some flaws for the first time this season.

The Steelers (5-3) snapped a two-game losing streak and extended their lead over Baltimore in the AFC North to two games.

Green Bay (5-2-1) may have been looking ahead to a playoff rematch against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (6-2) next Monday night because the offense didn’t show up to face Carolina, a 13-point underdog.

After dicing up Pittsburgh’s secondary last week, Jordan Love only led the Packers into the end zone once in a 16-13 loss at Lambeau Field. Green Bay’s first three trips inside the red zone resulted in one field goal.

Outside of a convincing win against Detroit in Week 1 and last week in Pittsburgh, the Packers haven’t been impressive. They lost to the Browns in Week 3, tied Dallas and needed to rally to beat Arizona.

The Lions (5-3) were 8 1/2-point favorites at home against Minnesota but the Vikings dominated the line of scrimmage in a 27-24 victory. Detroit has already lost more games than all of last season.

In Tennessee, the Chargers (6-3) kept the Titans (1-8) in the game. They trailed 14-7 after one quarter, led 20-17 from halftime into the fourth and finished with a 27-20 win. It was a costly game for Los Angeles because left tackle Joe Alt was carted off the field with an ankle injury. The Chargers already lost two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater for the season due to a knee injury. They need to protect Justin Herbert to have a shot at making a deep playoff run.

AFC West-leading Denver (7-2) needed another fourth-quarter comeback to beat Houston 18-15. Facing the league’s stingiest defense, Bo Nix tossed a touchdown pass and connected for a 2-point conversion to tie it before leading the winning drive that ended with Wil Lutz hitting a 34-yard field goal as time expired.

The Broncos have won six straight games, coming back from a fourth-quarter deficit in four of those. It’s hard to sustain long-term success winning that way.

The Patriots also extended their winning streak to six games. They had a 10-point lead against Atlanta in the fourth quarter and came away with a 24-23 victory after John Parker Romo missed an extra point with 4:40 left in the game.

New England has a real chance to end Buffalo’s run of dominance in the division. Only two of the Patriots’ final eight games are against teams that currently have a winning record, including this week at Tampa Bay (6-2).

Six of the NFL’s eight divisions are jumbled with no lead more than 1 1/2 games. Seventeen teams have winning records.

There’s a lot of competition just like the NFL wants it.

GIANTS GET DOMINATED IN ALL PHASES AS THEY DROP TO 2-7 WITH A 34-24 LOSS TO 49ERS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Brian Daboll loves to talk about playing complementary football. What his New York Giants did on Sunday was the polar opposite.

Mistakes on offense, defense and special teams doomed the Giants in a 34-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that was not as close as the score indicated and was played in front of a crowd that sounded as if the game was being played in the Bay Area instead of the Meadowlands.

“I’ve never played in a home game that was lopsided in that department,” rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart said. “But they have a big fan base.”

Theo Johnson and Wan’Dale Robinson dropped passes thrown right at them by Dart. Christian McCaffrey was left wide open for one of the easiest touchdowns of his career, and he and Brian Robinson Jr. carved through would-be tacklers all afternoon.

If that wasn’t enough, Graham Gano was wide left on a field goal attempt in the final minute of the first half, and Zaire Barnes ran into returner Gunner Olszewski on a punt in the third quarter.

“We have to keep believing that we will win,” Dart said. “It’s not fun to lose. We missed out on certain phases of playing complementary football. You have to win at least two of those areas, and we didn’t.”

It added up to New York’s third consecutive loss to drop to 2-7 this season, with the NFL trade deadline looming Tuesday. And it came after a plane flew over the stadium that read, “Mr. Mara enough is enough — clean house,” with frustration boiling within the fan base. Another wished owner John Mara well in his fight against cancer.

“Look,” Daboll said, “we’re not where we need to be.”

Adding injury to insult, starting center John Michael Schmitz, inside linebacker Darius Muasau and rookie receiver Beaux Collins all left the game. The Giants were already without their top two cornerbacks, Paulson Adebo and Cor’Dale Flott, and starting free safety Jevon Holland, and that’s without mentioning the season-ending injuries to Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo.

Dart and the energy he has brought is the biggest reason for long-term optimism, and he showed flashes against San Francisco. He was 3 of 4 with a TD pass to Theo Johnson on the opening drive, and that was the high point.

The Niners scored on their first possession and rolled from there. The Giants have allowed at least 33 points in each of their past three games on this skid.

“Nothing was good enough,” said Daboll, who defended his decision to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line and causing home fans to boo. “We have to keep working on our tackling. whether it’s finishing tackles or finishing catches, we have to do better.”

Dart and Daboll have worked closely together since the Giants traded back into the first round to draft the Mississippi product as their future at football’s most important position. Asked about pressure for a coaching change, Dart deferred.

“I can only control what I can control,” he said. “As a team, we should be thinking the same way.”

LIONS QB JARED GOFF TAKES HIS SHARE OF BLAME FOR DETROIT’S LOSS TO THE VIKINGS

DETROIT (AP) — Jared Goff knew he didn’t have a great game on Sunday.

The Detroit Lions quarterback wasn’t about to let coach Dan Campbell shoulder all the blame for a 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

“I know Coach likes to take ownership of what happens out there, but I thought we were ready to go,” Goff said. “I’m sure he would like to do some things separately, but we did what we were supposed to do coming off a bye.

“We just didn’t play well as players.”

On paper, Goff’s numbers weren’t bad. He completed 25 of 37 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He started the game with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta on fourth down, and he gave the Lions one last chance by hitting Jameson Williams for a 38-yard score with 1:55 to play.

Goff, though, didn’t see it that way.

He took a season-high five sacks, and the Lions had a 29% conversion rate (5 of 17) on third down.

“It starts with first and second downs, certainly,” he said. “Third and short always helps, but we need to convert on third-and-long. That keeps us on the field, allows us to get into the red zone and to score more points.

“But it is tough sledding in third-and-seven-plus.”

Campbell, though, thinks it is too easy to pile blame on the quarterback when an offense plays poorly.

“Look, on offense, it takes all 11 guys to get it right — it really does,” he said. “One guy can kill you, and that’s what is going on right now. It puts us in a bad way and we can’t get out of it.”

That situation has been a specialty of the Lions’ offense over the last few years. A bad play is followed up by a big one. Against the Vikings, that didn’t happen.

“We get out of those by making a play at the right time,” Campbell said. “We’re just not doing that. The fact we had 17 third downs is crazy — that’s a high, high number of third downs.”

The Lions also struggled in the running game. The Vikings give quarterbacks fits with their varied blitz packages, but teams have been able to run against them. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, though, managed 65 yards on 20 carries with a long of 11 yards.

“When you can’t run the ball, it is hard to be an explosive offense,” Campbell said. “Now the quarterback is a sitting duck back there.”

Goff, though, took some of the blame for that as well.

“If we’re more efficient on first and second down, some of those runs probably end up hitting for more yards,” he said. “It all works together — the running game and the passing game aren’t exclusive from each other.”

Of course, the Vikings played a huge role. Not only did they sack Goff five times, they hit him 11 times and had 10 tackles for loss.

“The line of scrimmage was big,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “I thought we moved Jared off the spot. He’s as good as anybody in the National Football League if he can stay clean.”

Defensively, the Lions allowed Minnesota to rush for 142 yards while J.J. McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Even Detroit’s vaunted special teams struggled. Minnesota averaged 32.8 yards per kick return and returned a blocked field goal 41 yards in the final seven minutes.

“It has been a long time since we’ve had this feeling of playing poorly in all three phases,” Goff said. “We have a ton of things to fix, but that’s what we do best.”

BEARS OUTLAST BENGALS FOR WILD 47-42 WIN ON WILLIAMS’ TD PASS TO LOVELAND IN FINAL MINUTE

CINCINNATI (AP) — Caleb Williams connected with Colston Loveland for a 58-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left, and the Chicago Bears beat the Cincinnati Bengals 47-42 on Sunday in a wild game that featured three touchdowns in the last two minutes and two lead changes in the final minute.

After Joe Flacco put the Bengals ahead 42-41 with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Andrei Iosivas, Chicago (5-3) took over on its own 28 with 54 seconds left. Four plays later, on first down from the 42, Williams found Loveland down the middle. The rookie tight end caught it at the Bengals 36, bounced off Cincinnati defensive backs Jordan Battle and Geno Stone and ran to the end zone to give Chicago its fifth win in six games.

Williams passed for 280 yards and three touchdowns, and he also caught a TD pass from D.J. Moore on a trick play for the Bears’ first score. He later hauled in a 20-yard pass from Tyson Bagent, becoming the first starting QB in nearly 82 years with multiple receptions in a game.

The 40-year-old Flacco, who did not practice on Wednesday and Friday after injuring the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder in last week’s loss to the New York Jets, was 30 of 44 for a career-high 470 yards and four TDs. But the Bengals scored at least 30 points and lost for the second straight week and sixth time dating to last season.

Cincinnati (3-6) had not scored 40 points or more in defeat since falling 51-45 to Cleveland on Sept. 16, 2007.

Loveland had six catches for 118 yards. Moore, a wide receiver, had a 17-yard touchdown rush along with the scoring pass to Williams. He added four catches for 72 yards.

The Bears appeared to be in good shape after Moore’s TD run made it 41-27 with 4:53 left. Flacco was intercepted on the Bengals’ next possession, but the Bears went three-and-out, and the veteran led a scoring drive that took just 32 seconds.

Flacco found Noah Fant for a 22-yard TD with 1:43 left, and Tee Higgins caught a 2-point conversion pass to get the Bengals within 41-35. Joseph Ossai recovered the ensuing onside kick to keep Cincinnati’s hopes alive, and the Bengals took just 49 seconds to take the lead on Flacco’s toss to Iosivas.

Cincinnati has dropped two straight and six of seven. It allowed at least 31 points for the third straight game.

Rookie Kyle Monangai rushed for 176 yards on 26 carries as the Bears piled up 576 yards of offense against a Bengals squad that came in ranked last in total defense.

Monangai, a seventh-round draft pick, got the start with D’Andre Swift sidelined due to a groin injury. Monangai finished with a 6.8-yard average and already had 100 yards on 16 carries at halftime.

Chicago rushed for a season-high 283 yards and averaged 7.6 yards on the ground. Brittain Brown, called up from the practice squad for the game, had a 22-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to put the Bears up 31-27.

Charlie Jones put Cincinnati ahead 11 seconds into the game by taking the opening kickoff 98 yards, but the Bengals consistently failed to get stops as the Bears scored on seven of their nine drives, including their first four possessions of the second half.

Higgins had seven catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 44-yarder along the left sideline late in the second quarter that gave the Bengals a 20-17 halftime lead. Ja’Marr Chase added 111 yards on six catches.

Williams’ milestone

According to Sportradar, the last starting QB with more than one reception in a game was George Taliaferro of the Baltimore Colts on Dec. 5, 1953, at the Los Angeles Rams. He also became third Chicago QB and first since Matt Barkley in 2017 to have a receiving score.

Wild start

Jones found a seam on the left side and took the opening kickoff to the house to put the Bengals up 7-0.

The wide receiver also ran a kickoff back for a score last year. He is the first player to return two kickoffs for TDs since the league changed the kickoff format in 2024.

The Bears evened it on the ensuing drive when Moore threw to Williams on a double reverse on fourth-and-goal.

Injuries

Bears: TE Cole Kmet and DB Josh Blackwell suffered concussions and did not return. … DL Dayo Odeyingbo had an ankle injury in the second half.

Bengals: RB Samaje Perine suffered a right ankle injury during a kick return in the first quarter and did not return.

Up next

Bears: Host the New York Giants next Sunday.

Bengals: After a bye, play at Pittsburgh on Nov. 16.

DARNOLD LEADS SEAHAWKS TO DEMOLITION OF COMMANDERS ON SNF

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Sam Darnold threw four touchdown passes before his first incompletion, and the Seattle Seahawks played a near-perfect first half offensively on their way to a 38-14 rout of the Washington Commanders, who again lost Jayden Daniels to an injury Sunday night.

Daniels, Washington’s second-year quarterback, left in the fourth quarter after his non-throwing arm bent gruesomely while he was being tackled near the Seattle goal line.

Darnold completed his first 17 passes. At halftime, he was 16 for 16 for 282 yards and four TDs against Washington’s beleaguered defense. Rookie Tory Horton had the first two touchdown catches for the Seahawks, and even practice squad elevation Cody White got in on the action before the half was over. It was 31-7 at halftime.

Seattle (6-2) remained tied with the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC West. The Seahawks were without injured receiver Cooper Kupp, but Darnold had plenty of open teammates to throw to. Washington (3-6) lost its fourth straight.

Darnold went 21 of 24 for 330 yards before being removed late.

The Seahawks took over at their own 10-yard line early on and drove all the way down the field to take the lead on Darnold’s 4-yard scoring pass to Horton. Seattle actually accumulated more than 100 yards of offense on that drive because of penalties.

A 25-yard scoring pass to Horton in the second quarter made it 14-0, and after a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Darnold threw his second TD pass in 11 seconds — 26 yards to Elijah Arroyo.

White’s 60-yard catch-and-run made it 28-0, and after Daniels scored on a 1-yard run with 53 seconds left, Darnold easily drove Seattle into range for a field goal to end the half.

He threw his first incompletion early in the third, and even an interception later that quarter couldn’t do much to dampen Darnold’s night. Daniels, meanwhile, was scrambling around from the start. He rushed for 51 yards but threw for only 153 with an interception.

AJ Barner scored on Seattle’s version of a tush push in the third quarter to make it 38-7. Chris Rodriguez scored from 4 yards out for Washington, immediately following Daniels’ injury.

Injuries

Seahawks: CB Josh Jobe (concussion) and LB Ernest Jones IV (knee) left the game.

Commanders: Washington was without standout WR Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), and then the Commanders lost WR Luke McCaffrey (shoulder) almost immediately. CB Trey Amos (hip) and CB Marshon Lattimore (knee) were also hurt in the game, as was S Quan Martin (hamstring). Of course, Daniels’ injury was the most significant.

Up next

Seahawks: Host Arizona next Sunday. Seattle beat the Cardinals 23-20 in September.

Commanders: Host Detroit next Sunday in a rematch of Washington’s victory in last season’s playoffs.

TREVOR LAWRENCE SCORES IN OT AND JAGS’ DAVON HAMILTON DENIES RAIDERS’ 2-POINT TRY FOR 30-29 WIN

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trevor Lawrence went into Sunday’s game at Las Vegas battling an illness, and then had trouble getting the Jaguars’ offense going. He even threw an interception into double coverage in the end zone.

A third consecutive defeat was growing more likely.

But Lawrence shined when the Jaguars needed him most, and it was his pinpoint passing and two rushing touchdowns — including the winning sneak in overtime — that gave Jacksonville a much-needed 30-29 victory over the Raiders.

“He was pale as a ghost throughout the whole game,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “Obviously the frustrating interception down on the goal line, but man I’m very proud of the way he responded, the way that he played, especially later on when the game really was on the line.”

Nose tackle DaVon Hamilton secured the victory when he batted down Geno Smith’s pass to deny the Raiders a winning 2-point conversion.

Jacksonville’s Cam Little broke an NFL record with a 68-yard field goal at the end of the first half, and his 48-yarder with 16 seconds left sent the game to OT.

With 3:24 left in the extra period, Lawrence jumped over the pile and stretched the ball just over the goal line for a 30-23 lead with 3:24 left. Smith responded by hitting Brock Bowers for a 2-yard TD, but his throw on the 2-point try never even reached the end zone because the 335-pound Hamilton got his hands up and swatted it away.

Smith said the Raiders got the look they wanted — and new acquisition Tyler Lockett was wide open in the end zone.

“Hats off to (Hamilton),” Smith said. “He made the play.”

The Jaguars (5-3) ended a two-game skid and improved their playoff chances. Las Vegas (2-6) has lost six of seven.

Lawrence completed 23 of 34 passes for 220 yards, and his 7-yard run early in the fourth quarter put the Jags ahead 13-9. He was 11 of 15 for 120 yards in the second half and OT.

“I feel a little bit better after getting the win,” Lawrence said. “That was a fun one, so I’ll definitely feel better on this plane ride back, but it will be nice to rest up and get off my feet a little bit.”

Travis Etienne rushed for 84 yards on 22 carries for Jacksonville.

For the Raiders, Smith passed for 284 yards and four TDs.

Bowers, who missed the previous three games because of a knee injury, caught 12 passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first player in NFL history to have five games with at least 10 catches in his first two seasons. Bowers also is the third Raiders tight end and first since Todd Christensen in 1983 with three touchdown catches in a game.

He made up for lost time.

“Mentally, it hurt not playing,” Bowers said. “I wanted to be out there so bad. It sucked not being able to help the team.”

The game began slowly before Bowers came down with a one-handed, falling-backward 7-yard touchdown catch with 35 seconds left in the first half. The play, which completed a 13-play, 95-yard drive, was initially ruled incomplete, but a video review showed Bowers’ hip landed inbounds.

Daniel Carlson missed the extra point to the right, keeping the Raiders’ lead at 6-0 — a mistake that proved costly.

The Jaguars moved the ball to the 50, and Little made his 68-yard field goal to cut the Raiders’ lead to 6-3. It was 2 yards longer than the previous NFL record, set by Baltimore’s Justin Tucker to beat Detroit on the final play on Sept. 26, 2021.

The game became a shootout in the second half and overtime, with six lead changes.

The Jaguars were without two-way rookie standout Travis Hunter, the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, after he injured his right knee in Thursday’s practice. Jacksonville placed Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, on injured reserve. Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. didn’t play in OT because of an ankle injury.

Josh Hines-Allen had 1 1/2 sacks to give him the Jaguars franchise record of 55 1/2, surpassing Tony Brackens’ mark.

Bowers extended his streak with at least two receptions to 22 games, making it the longest for a tight end to open a career. Detroit’s Sam LaPorta set the previous record in 2023-24.

Jaguars pass rusher ejected for punch

Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker was ejected with 6:29 left in the third quarter for throwing a punch at Raiders left tackle Stone Forsthye, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness. That cost Jacksonville one of the league’s top pass rushers; Walker has 20 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons. He has just two this season, however.

Raiders rookie receiver inactive

Raiders wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., who was drafted in the fourth round out of Tennessee, was inactive. Thornton had a promising training camp, but that didn’t translate into results. He has five catches for 94 yards, and the acquisition of Lockett on Monday made it an easier decision to sit Thornton.

Injuries

Jaguars: LB Devin Lloyd (calf), as expected, did not play. CB Jourdan Lewis (shoulder) was injured in the first quarter. TE Hunter Long (hip and knee) was hurt in the second quarter but later returned. WR Dyami Brown (concussion protocol) was injured in the fourth quarter.

Up next

Jaguars: Visit Houston next Sunday in an AFC South matchup, Jacksonville’s fourth true road game in five weeks.

Raiders: Las Vegas has a short turnaround with a game at AFC West rival Denver on Thursday night.

ALLEN HAS 3 TDS AND BILLS USE STURDY DEFENSE TO TOP MAHOMES AND CHIEFS 28-21

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — After Josh Allen spent much of the past week downplaying Buffalo’s showdown against Kansas City, the Bills quarterback revealed there was more to the rivalry than he let on.

Turns out beating the Chiefs — a team that has blocked Allen and the Bills’ path to the Super Bowl for much of the past five years — meant something more to Allen. And the NFL’s reigning MVP had a near-perfect performance in a 28-21 victory Sunday.

“They’re the pinnacle of what you want your franchise to be. They’ve been that for the last eight years,” Allen said. “Any time you get a chance to play the best and you can come away with a victory, you’re going to be feeling pretty good.”

Allen put aside questions and criticisms of how Buffalo’s passing attack has sputtered over the past month by throwing one touchdown pass and running for two other scores rushing. The eighth-year player set the franchise record for completion percentage by going 23 of 26 (88.5%) for 273 yards.

He also outdueled Buffalo’s arch nemesis, Patrick Mahomes. Though the Bills have won five straight regular-season meetings against Kansas City, they’re 0-4 in playoff meetings dating to the 2020 postseason, including last season’s AFC championship game.

Mahomes, by comparison, finished with his worst completion percentage — 44.1% — while going 15 of 34 for 250 yards and an interception. The two-time NFL MVP had previously never finished a regular-season game completing fewer than 50% of his passes over his nine-year career.

The Bills’ defense played a major role in harassing Mahomes, who was sacked three times and hit 15 more.

“We’ve had great moments, we’ve had bad moments. We have to be more consistent as a team,” Mahomes said. “I have to be more consistent as a quarterback. And we have to be able to battle.”

The Bills (6-2) suddenly have the upper hand in the playoff seeding race by opening a 2 1/2-game edge over the Chiefs (5-4). Buffalo, however, is still chasing New England (7-2) in the AFC East standings after losing to the Patriots last month.

The Chiefs, meantime, opened a season with four or more losses through nine games for just the third time since Andy Reid took over as coach in 2013.

“Against a team like this, you have to be able to score touchdowns, not field goals,” Reid said.

Kareem Hunt and Rashee Rice scored on touchdown runs, and Harrison Butker hit both field goal attempts for the Chiefs.

The game was decided in the final 17 seconds, when Mahomes threw three straight incompletions from Buffalo’s 40. The last throw fell short of the end zone and was batted down by rookie Maxwell Hairston, who earlier intercepted Mahomes.

The Chiefs’ drive began at Kansas City’s 42 after Matt Prater’s 52-yard field goal attempt for the Bills struck the right upright.

Tight end Dalton Kincaid led Buffalo with 101 yards receiving and James Cook had 114 yards rushing.

Bills coach Sean McDermott credited his team for coming together to pull out what stands as a signature victory. Buffalo’s previous five wins came against opponents that entered Week 9 with a combined record of 11-30, while they lost to New England and Atlanta.

“We’re not where we need to be, but I saw the team come together and when it got tough,” McDermott said, “they stood tall.”

Allen opened the scoring with a 23-yard TD pass to Kincaid. The quarterback also scored on a pair of 1-yard runs in a game where the teams traded leads twice.

After the Chiefs built a 10-7 lead on Butker’s 46-yarder 5 1/2 minutes into the second quarter, the Bills responded by scoring touchdowns on their next two possessions.

Ty Johnson capped a five-play 70-yard drive with a 3-yard run for the go-ahead score.

The Chiefs followed by gaving up the ball on downs at Buffalo’s 40 when Cole Bishop broke up a pass attempt to Rice on fourth-and-3. Allen then marched Buffalo on a seven-play, 60-yard drive that he capped with the first of two touchdowns.

The Bills defense got impact plays from two youngsters.

Hairston, a rookie first-round pick was appearing in just his second career game after missing the first six with a knee injury. Bishop is a second-year player, who only took over the starting job this season and finished with a team-best seven tackles and was credited with four passes defended.

“Games like this is the games that I prayed for growing up,” Hairston said. “And the fact that I was part of this game tonight, man, was like truly a dream come true.”

Allen milestones

Allen’s first TD run was the 78th of his career, including the playoffs, breaking the NFL record for quarterbacks he shared with Cam Newton. With his three TDs, Allen has 282 (passing and rushing), moving ahead of Mahomes for second among players before the age of 30. Allen, who turns 30 in May, now trails only Peyton Manning (288).

Injuries

Chiefs: Starting RT Jawaan Taylor hurt his right ankle.

Bills: McDermott announced DE Michael Hoecht tore his right Achilles tendon. He was hurt in non-contact situation in the fourth quarter.

Up next

Chiefs: Bye week before they travel to play the Denver Broncos on Nov. 16.

Bills: Travel to play the Miami Dolphins next Sunday.

JUSTIN HERBERT SHAKES OFF A PICK-6 AS THE CHARGERS BEAT SKIDDING TITANS 27-20

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A pick-6 on the Los Angeles Chargers’ second offensive play of the game. Then Justin Herbert lost his right tackle to injury later in the first quarter followed by left tackle Joe Alt carted off the field in the second.

With the Tennessee Titans sacking Herbert a season-high six times, Sunday’s game featured enough excuses to let a victory slip away.

Herbert shook all that off by throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran for another score and the Chargers beat the woeful Titans 27-20 Sunday for their third win in four games.

“There’s no other ways I think that he can impress, you know?” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said of Herbert. “But then every time I think that, then he finds a way to, you know, it’s like another rung on the ladder of esteem. Yeah, he’s that guy. He’s that competitor.”

Herbert came in leading the NFL with 2,140 yards passing. He was 19 of 29 passing for a 101.2 passer rating, and he also led the Chargers with 57 yards rushing. Herbert said the early pick-6 was tough.

“But it happened early,” Herbert said. “And I thought we did a good job weathering the storm, and it was a weird, kind of a different game for us. A lot of uncharacteristic things, but I think there’s going to be a lot of good learning from it and as long as guys hang in there, there’s time and downs, I think we got a shot.”

Odafe Oweh had two of Los Angeles’ four sacks.

The Chargers (6-3) took control midway through the third quarter, stopping the Titans and running back Tony Pollard on back-to-back plays at the 1 to protect a 20-17 lead.

Herbert then drove the Chargers 99 yards over 15 plays chewing up 9 minutes, 3 seconds off the clock. Herbert scored himself, running into the end zone for a 1-yard TD celebrating a 27-17 lead with a baseball slide.

“It’s a huge testament to the offensive line getting that push and being able to move the ball, especially backed up like that,” Herbert said. “I thought that was a pivotal moment for us.”

After Joey Slye’s second field goal pulled the Titans within 27-20 with 4:19 left, Herbert helped the Chargers play keep-away to finish off the win. Herbert finished with a team-high 57 yards rushing.

The Titans (1-8) lost their fourth straight and third under interim coach Mike McCoy in his first game against the franchise he coached in San Diego between 2013 and 2016. McCoy said the Titans beat themselves with seven penalties for 60 yards all in the first half.

“The big turning point obviously is getting stopped on the 1-yard line, then a big drive go down there and score so that’s the difference,” McCoy said. “It’s frustrating to look at it because of the missed opportunities that we had early.”

Tennessee sacked Herbert six times led by Jihad Ward who had 2 1/2. The Titans played without four defensive starters with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed on injured reserve and tackle Jeffery Simmons, outside linebacker Arden Key and safety Xavier Woods all sidelined by injuries.

Linebacker Cody Barton had a pick-6 off Herbert, stepping in front of Keenan Allen on the Chargers’ second offensive play for a 24-yard interception return for the Titans’ first defensive score this season.

Rookie Chimere Dike, who came in leading the NFL in all-purpose yards, returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown giving Tennessee a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter. That gave the Titans two TDs on defense and special teams for the first time since Dec. 30, 2012, when they had four against the Jaguars.

The Chargers outgained the Titans 343-206 on offense. Titans rookie Cam Ward threw for 145 yards and snapped a six-game streak with an interception.

Injuries

Chargers right tackle Bobby Hurt hurt a groin in the first quarter, and Alt reinjured his right ankle. Neither returned. Harbaugh didn’t have an update on Alt’s condition but said, “Feel bad for him.”

Chargers DL Jamaree Caldwell was hurt on the goal-line stand.

Up next

The Chargers host Pittsburgh on Nov. 9.

The Titans have the NFL trade deadline, their bye and then host Houston on Nov. 16.

PATRIOTS HANG ON TO BEAT FALCONS 24-23 AFTER LATE EXTRA POINT MISS BY ATLANTA

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — With his team watching as its lead whittled away late in the fourth quarter, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel knew he had to say something.

“I told our offense that we were going to need one drive to win the football game,” Vrabel said. “And that’s all that’s going to matter.”

He just wasn’t sure if it would be a five-minute drive or a two-minute drive.

“It wound up being a five-minute drive,” Vrabel said. “They executed.”

Drake Maye threw two touchdown passes and had a pair of turnovers in an uneven performance, and New England held on for its sixth straight victory, 24-23 over Atlanta on Sunday after Parker Romo missed a potential tying extra point for the Falcons.

Terrell Jennings had his first career rushing touchdown for the Patriots (7-2). DeMario Douglas had four catches for 100 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.

New England led 24-17 in the fourth quarter when Michael Penix Jr. connected with Drake London for a 40-yard gain along the sideline with Christian Gonzalez in coverage. Gonzalez left with a head injury on the play after being landed on the play, leaving the Patriots without their best cornerback with the Falcons in the red zone.

The Patriots forced a fourth-and-goal on the 8, but London outstretched Carlton Davis III on a jump ball for a toe-tapping touchdown to get the Falcons within a point.

But Romo’s extra point attempt missed wide right.

New England went three-and-out on its next possession, giving the ball back to Atlanta with 3:30 remaining.

The Falcons (3-5) drove to the Patriots 48 before an intentional grounding penalty on Penix pushed them back and forced them to punt.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris said the Patriots clapped their hands to simulate Penix’s snap call on the play he was called for grounding. It forced center Ryan Neuzil to snap the ball early.

“Nice job by those guys. Great situational football,” Morris said. “He wasn’t ready for the snap.”

New England faced another third down, but this time Maye completed a pass to Hunter Henry for a 17-yard gain that allowed the Patriots to run out the clock.

Maye finished 19 of 29 for 259 yards, but was sacked six times. He also had an interception and was strip-sacked just before halftime to set up a touchdown by Atlanta.

Still, he walked off the field confident his teammates that his team was happy, but not satisfied.

“Doesn’t matter if it’s 24-23 or 3-2,” Maye said. “You can feel in that locker room that guys know we can play better.”

The Falcons have lost their last eight meetings with the Patriots. Atlanta hasn’t won in Foxborough since 1998.

Penix passed for three touchdowns and finished 22 of 37 for 222 yards. Bijan Robinson rushed 12 times for 46 yards as the Falcons dropped to 0-5 when he rushes for fewer than 75.

New England remains the only team in the NFL this season not to allow 50 yards rushing to a running back through nine games.

“We’re going to learn from winning so that we don’t have to learn from losing,” Vrabel said.

Injuries

Falcons: LG Matthew Bergeron left in the first quarter (ankle). … Edge rusher Leonard Floyd exited in the second with a hamstring injury.

Patriots: WR Kayshon Boutte was ruled out after leaving in the second quarter with a hamstring issue. … LB Christian Elliss left in the second with a hip injury. … Gonzalez didn’t return after his head injury. He said afterward that he was put through the concussion protocol, but was cleared.

Early action

Despite missing running back Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots tried to establish the run at the outset by employing multiple tight end sets to the ball on early downs. It helped open the field for Maye and the passing attack.

First, Maye connected on a fade to Douglas for a 16-yard touchdown pass on the Patriots’ opening drive.

With the game tied at 7 in the second quarter, Maye linked up with Douglas again, this time finding him near the sideline on a post route. Douglas stumbled initially after pulling in the ball, then evaded a few tacklers before falling to the turf after a 58-yard gain to set the Patriots up in the red zone.

Maye found Stefon Diggs two plays later for an 11-yard TD pass to stretch New England’s lead to 14 points.

But a Patriots miscue helped the Falcons get it back to single digits just before halftime.

The Patriots had the ball near midfield with 32 seconds remaining when Maye was strip-sacked by Jalon Walker. The ball was recovered by James Pearce Jr. who returned it to the Patriots 6 before being dragged down by Will Campbell.

Atlanta scored two plays later via a 2-yard touchdown pass from Penix to London.

Up next

Falcons: Plays Indianapolis in Berlin next Sunday.

Patriots: At Tampa Bay next Sunday.

RICO DOWDLE’S BIG DAY AND RYAN FITZGERALD’S BIG KICK GIVE PANTHERS 16-13 WIN OVER PACKERS

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Rico Dowdle made one big mistake on an otherwise splendid afternoon.

Dowdle and Carolina Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald made sure it didn’t prove costly.

Dowdle rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns, and his big run in the final minute set up Fitzgerald’s last-second 49-yard field goal as Carolina beat Green Bay 16-13 on Sunday to climb above .500 and snap the Packers’ three-game win streak.

It was the second time this season that Fitzgerald, a rookie from Florida State, has made a winning field goal as time expired. He hit a 33-yarder in the Panthers’ 30-27 triumph over Dallas on Oct. 12.

“I think there is a sort of comfort level from the fact that I’ve done it before,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m still learning new experiences. Tough environment on the road this week, tough conditions.”

The loss could prove costly for Green Bay (5-2-1). Packers star tight end Tucker Kraft was carted off the field with a knee injury in the third quarter.

“It doesn’t look good,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “It’s going to be tough, but it’s football. Other guys are going to have to step up.”

Carolina (5-4), a two-touchdown underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook, bounced back from a 40-9 home loss to Buffalo. Fitzgerald and Dowdle both had to redeem themselves from setbacks earlier in the game.

Dowdle’s second touchdown of the day gave the Panthers a 13-6 lead late in the third quarter. He celebrated that score by thrusting his hips twice, an homage to a “Key & Peele” sketch, and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“From my understanding and everything I’ve learned, we go over stuff like this every week in the meeting room. I definitely think you’re supposed to get two pumps,” Dowdle said. “Hopefully, I don’t get a fine.”

Fitzgerald’s ensuing 48-yard extra-point attempt into a swirling wind was well short, keeping Carolina’s lead at 13-6. So when Green Bay’s Josh Jacobs scored from 1 yards out on third-and-goal with 2:32 left, the Packers didn’t need to go for 2 and tied the game on Brandon McManus’ extra point.

After Carolina got the ball back, Dowdle’s 19-yard carry on second-and-10 from midfield set up Fitzgerald’s kick.

“I just wanted to make up for it,” Dowdle said. “So I knew I had to come out there and keep putting my best foot forward, because I didn’t want that to end up biting us.”

Panthers coach Dave Canales said this past week that Dowdle would get the bulk of the carries after splitting time with Chuba Hubbard. Running behind an injury-riddled offensive line, Dowdle delivered against a Green Bay team ranked third in the NFL in rushing defense.

“From carry one, it was attitude, it was aggression and violence at the end of it,” Canales said. “It really does affect the group. It affects the whole sideline when they see that kind of energy. That kind of violence, it gives them confidence. It’s who we want to be.”

That wasn’t Canales’ only pregame move that paid off.

The Panthers usually defer when they win the coin toss, but they took the ball first. As a result, Fitzgerald’s game-winning kick was much easier than the jumbo-sized extra-point attempt he missed in the third period.

“I’ve got to give a lot of props to (special teams coordinator) Tracy Smith,” Canales said. “He and I were talking before the game and he was like, ‘If we take the ball, we can set ourselves up to have the ball with the wind to our backs to finish the game to give us the opportunity.’ And it played out just like that.”

Packers’ missed opportunities

Green Bay had itself to blame for this loss.

Before Jacobs’ touchdown, the Packers had marched inside the Carolina 35 on five of their first six possessions but had only two field goals to show for it.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Jordan Love, who went 26 of 37 for 273 yards with an interception on his 27th birthday. “I think everybody was feeling that as an offense. First half, we were limited in possessions. Those games, you have to maximize every time you’re on the field. We didn’t do that.”

Green Bay entered the day with just three turnovers all season, matching Philadelphia for the lowest total in the league. Savion Williams had a red-zone fumble that thwarted a scoring opportunity, and Carolina’s Tre’von Moehrig picked off a pass by Love, leading to a Panthers touchdown.

McManus converted from 49 and 27 yards out but also missed a 43-yarder that would have put Green Bay ahead in the third quarter. Dowdle’s second touchdown came after Green Bay’s Keisean Nixon was called for pass interference on a third-and-goal incompletion.

Green Bay also passed up a short field-goal attempt while trailing 13-6 in the fourth quarter and went for it on fourth-and-8 from the Carolina 13. Love’s desperation, across-the-field pass was dropped by Carolina’s Mike Jackson in the end zone.

“Hindsight’s 20-20,” LaFleur said. “I wish we would have taken the points. Didn’t do that there. Bad decision.”

Injuries

Panthers: OG Chandler Zavala (elbow) departed in the first half. LB Trevin Wallace left late in the fourth quarter.

Packers: Along with the injury to Kraft, WR Matthew Golden (shoulder), OG Aaron Banks (stringer) and DL Colby Wooden (shoulder) all left the game.

Up next

Panthers: Host New Orleans next Sunday.

Packers: Host Philadelphia on Monday, Nov. 10.

BRONCOS RALLY TO BEAT TEXANS 18-15 WITH LAST-SECOND FIELD GOAL

HOUSTON (AP) — Bo Nix knows Sunday’s win over the Houston Texans wasn’t pretty.

That seems to be a theme with several of Denver’s wins lately and their quarterback is perfectly fine with that.

“It proves that we can win tough games and it proves that our mentality can adjust to where we expect to find ways to win,” Nix said. “It’s a really good issue to have is when you’re finding these ugly wins.”

Nix threw two touchdown passes and Wil Lutz made a 34-yard field goal as time expired and the Broncos rallied for an 18-15 victory Sunday to extend their winning streak to six games.

“We did just enough things to come out of here with a win,” coach Sean Payton said.

That’s been the case with many of Denver’s games in this streak, with four of them coming by four or fewer points. They improved to 4-0 this season in games where they trailed entering the fourth quarter.

The Broncos (7-2) had punted three times in a row before a 25-yard scramble by Nix got them to their 39 with less than a minute to go.

“We wanted to move the pocket and get a new launch point, change up the pace for those edge guys,” Nix said. “And we got out on the end and felt like everybody was running over there for the pass and there just ended up being a good lane. And I finally got to use my legs there at the end.”

J.K. Dobbins followed with a 9-yard scamper and a 9-yard run by Nix two plays after that set up the game-winning field goal.

Nix couldn’t do much in the first three quarters against Houston’s top-ranked defense, but RJ Harvey’s 27-yard TD reception and Troy Franklin’s 2-point conversion grab tied it at 15-all early in the fourth quarter.

C.J. Stroud sustained a concussion when he was hit at the end of a slide early in the first quarter. Ka’imi Fairbairn tied a career-high with five field goals, but the Texans struggled to move the ball with Davis Mills at quarterback after Stroud’s injury.

They punted six consecutive times after a field goal made it 15-7 on their first possession of the second half.

“Disappointed as a team that we didn’t finish the game,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The defense, they did a good job of getting stops multiple times. We just sputtered there offensively, we lacked just being able to move the ball. We lacked just being able sustain drives there in the second half. It just wasn’t good enough.”

Mills was 17 of 30 for 137 yards as the Texans fell to 3-5. Houston was 0 of 3 in the red zone and converted just 3 of 17 third downs.

Nix 18 of 37 for 173 yards with an interception.

The Broncos were down by six when Courtland Sutton’s 30-yard touchdown grab gave them a 7-6 lead about five minutes before halftime.

Houston regained the lead with a 38-yard field goal with less than two minutes left in the first half.

Michael Bandy fumbled a punt with about 40 seconds left in the second quarter and it was recovered by Jaylin Smith. Houston cashed in on the error with a 40-yard field goal to push the lead to 12-7 at halftime.

Harvey had five catches for 51 yards and his score made him the first rookie to have a touchdown catch in three straight games in franchise history.

Nico Collins had seven catches for 75 yards for Houston after sitting out last week recovering from a concussion

The Texans had a first down on the 1 on their second drive. But Nick Chubb was stopped on first down and British Brooks was stuffed on the next two plays before a false start penalty on fourth down forced Houston to settle for a field goal to make it 3-0.

Stroud was injured on the next possession. He scrambled for 6 yards and was hit on the shoulder near the end of his slide by Kris Abrams-Draine and the back of his head violently bounced off the turf.

Calen Bullock intercepted Nix on Denver’s ensuing possession to give the Texans the ball near midfield. Collins had a 26-yard reception to get that drive going and a 10-yard catch a few plays later gave them a first down at the 2.

But the Texans couldn’t do anything after that and a sack of Mills on third down left them to settle for another field goal to push the lead to 6-0.

Fairbairn missed from 51 on Houston’s first drive.

Injuries

Denver: Star cornerback Pat Surtain II missed the first of what is expected to be several games with a pectoral strain. … DB J.T. Gray left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. … WR Trent Sherfield injured his knee in the third.

Texans: LB Christian Harris missed the second half with a shin injury. … OL Tytus Howard left in the first half to be evaluated for a concussion. … DE Darrell Taylor injured his ankle in the third quarter.

Making history

Marcedes Lewis made history Sunday, when at age 41 he became the oldest tight end to ever play in an NFL game. When he entered the game on the fourth snap of Denver’s first drive he also became the oldest player to appear in a game in franchise history. Lewis, who was signed Wednesday, is the second-oldest active player in the NFL behind Aaron Rodgers, who will turn 42 in December.

Blocked

Denico Autry blocked a 51-yard field-goal attempt by Lutz on Denver’s first drive. It’s the 13th blocked kick of his career, tying Julius Peppers for the second most in the NFL since 1991.

Up next

Broncos: Denver hosts Las Vegas on Thursday night.

Texans: Houston hosts Jacksonville next Sunday.

BOB TRUMPY, LONGTIME BENGALS PLAYER AND NBC BROADCASTER, DIES AT 80

CINCINNATI (AP) — Bob Trumpy, who was an original member of the Cincinnati Bengals for 10 years before enjoying a career as a network radio and television analyst, has died. He was 80.

The Bengals announced on Sunday that Trumpy died peacefully and was surrounded by family at home. The team had a moment of silence before its game against the Chicago Bears.

“I’ve known Bob since we started here and he had an extraordinary career as both a player and a broadcaster,” said Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement. “He was an exceptional and rare tight end who could get downfield and split zone coverages. Speed was his hallmark. He was as fast as any wide receiver and was a deep threat. That was rare for a tight end then and it’s rare now.

“As a broadcaster, he made his mark both locally and nationally, and excelled at sports other than football in a career that was as successful as what he accomplished on the field.”

Trumpy played collegiately at the University of Utah before being drafted by the AFL expansion Bengals in the 12th round of the 1968 common draft. He scored the franchise’s first receiving touchdown on a 58-yard reception against Denver on Sept. 15, 1968.

Trumpy’s 4,600 receiving yards, 35 receiving touchdowns and 15.4 yards per catch remain the most by a tight end in team history.

After retiring, Trumpy went on to have a distinguished career in radio and television. He joined NBC Sports as an NFL analyst in 1978 and called games through 1997, when it lost the AFC package to CBS.

Trumpy was NBC’s lead analyst with Dick Enberg from 1992-94 and he called two Super Bowls. He also called “Monday Night Football” and two Super Bowls with Don Criqui on radio. He would also be a part of three Summer Olympics and three Ryder Cups for NBC.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame gave Trumpy the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2014 for lifetime achievement in NFL broadcasting.

Trumpy also was a sports talk show host in Cincinnati from 1980 to ’89. In 1983, while hosting “Sportstalk” on WLW, he received a call from a despondent woman who said she was going to commit suicide.

Trumpy spent the next 2 1/2 hours on the phone with the woman — who identified herself as “Sugar” — until police located her.

“I don’t know why she called a sports talk show,” Trumpy told the Los Angeles Times in 1993. “It probably was just the first phone number she heard on the radio and decided to call it.

“I sure didn’t feel like a hero after that. I hated that woman. She wasn’t the only one who had to go to a crisis center for therapy. So did I, since I couldn’t figure out why I hated her. They convinced me I hated her because of what she put me through.”

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

The Big 12 had two teams in the top 10 of The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll for the first time in two years Sunday, Notre Dame was back in the top 10 after a two-month absence and Oklahoma and Texas made the biggest upward moves.

The top seven teams were unchanged in the final poll before the College Football Playoff committee releases its first rankings Tuesday night to kick off the run-up to the CFP bracket release Dec. 7.

No. 1 Ohio State, which pulled way in the second half to beat Penn State, is at the top of the AP poll for a 10th straight week. Indiana, which scored 50-plus points against a Big Ten opponent for the third time while hammering Maryland, is No. 2 for a third straight week.

The Buckeyes and Hoosiers again were followed by Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and Mississippi. Losses by Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Miami shuffled the Nos. 8, 9 and 10 spots, now held by BYU, Texas Tech and Notre Dame.

The distribution of first-place votes was the same as last week. Ohio State received 54, Indiana got 11 and Texas A&M one.

No. 8 BYU and No. 9 Texas Tech gave the Big 12 two teams in the top 10 for the first time since Oct. 29, 2023. The Cougars, who were idle, have their highest ranking of the season. The Red Raiders won at Kansas State and re-entered the top 10 for the first time in three weeks. The two teams face each other this weekend.

Notre Dame, winner of six straight, was pushed by a one-win Boston College on the road before it won by 15 points and moved up two spots to No. 10. The Fighting Irish were last in the top 10 in Week 3, at No. 8, before a home loss to Texas A&M dropped them to 0-2 and dropped them to No. 24.

No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 13 Texas received seven-spot promotions for their wins Saturday. The Sooners beat Tennessee on the road and the Longhorns knocked off Vanderbilt at home. Tennessee took the biggest fall, dropping nine spots to No. 23.

In and out

— No. 24 Washington, which was idle, is in the poll for the first time since it finished the 2023 season at No. 2 following its loss to Michigan in the national championship game. The Huskies’ only losses are to No. 1 Ohio State at home and to a then-unranked Michigan on the road.

— Houston, whose No. 22 ranking last week was its first Top 25 appearance since 2022, dropped out after losing at home to West Virginia.

Poll points

— BYU has risen in the poll six straight weeks since making its debut on Sept. 21. The Cougars have gone from No. 25 to No. 8 over that span.

— Miami’s losses to two then-unranked opponents in three weeks have caused a 16-spot plummet, from No. 2 to No. 18.

— Ohio State is in the Top 25 for a 90th straight poll, third-most on the active list. Notre Dame is in a 50th straight time, fifth on the active list.

— Texas made its 800th appearance in the poll, seventh all-time.

Conference call

SEC (9 teams) — Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, 23.

Big Ten (6) — Nos. 1, 2, 6, 20, 21, 24.

Big 12 (4) — Nos. 8, 9, 17, 25.

ACC (4) — Nos. 12, 14, 16, 18.

American (1) — No. 22.

Independent (1) — No. 10.

Ranked vs. ranked

— No. 8 BYU (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) at No. 9 Texas Tech (8-1, 5-1): The game of the year in the Big 12. The Red Raiders have lost 16 straight against top-10 teams.

— No. 3 Texas A&M (8-0, 5-0 SEC) at No. 19 Missouri (6-2, 2-2): The Aggies embarrassed Missouri in College Station last year, getting out to a 34-0 lead and winning 41-7.

NOTRE DAME, VIRGINIA, TEXAS TECH ON AP-BASED CFP BRACKET; TEXAS, OKLAHOMA ON OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Notre Dame, Virginia and Texas Tech are on the College Football Playoff mock bracket based on The Associated Press Top 25 released Sunday while Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama remain the top four seeds.

The CFP committee will release its first rankings of the season on Tuesday night.

With Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Miami all losing Saturday and dropping off the AP bracket, three of the four first-round matchups changed and one would be an all-Big 12 game.

The Southeastern Conference has four of the 12 teams on the mock bracket. The Big Ten has three teams, the Big 12 two, and the Atlantic Coast Conference and American Conference one each. Notre Dame would be in as an independent.

— No. 9 seed Texas Tech at No. 8 seed BYU. Winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State.

— No. 12 seed Memphis at No. 5 Georgia. Winner vs. No. 4 Alabama.

— No. 10 seed Notre Dame at No. 7 Mississippi. Winner vs. No. 2 Indiana.

— No. 11 seed Virginia at No. 6 Oregon. Winner vs. No. 3 Texas A&M.

The first three teams outside the bracket: Oklahoma, Texas and Louisville.

Oklahoma is ranked No. 11 by the AP but would get bumped by automatically qualifying conference champion Virginia of the ACC. Texas is No. 13 in the AP poll but would be on the outside looking to make room for Group of Five representative Memphis.

The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the CFP, but no longer do the four highest-ranked champions receive a first-round bye. The 12-team bracket is now seeded directly based on the CFP’s final rankings on Dec. 7.

The top four seeds will be assigned to quarterfinals in ranking order and in consideration of current bowl relationships. This year, quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl. The No. 1 seed would receive preferential placement based on geography.

Teams ranked Nos. 5-12 by the CFP will play in the first round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded school. First-round games are Dec. 19 and 20, quarterfinals Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, semifinals Jan. 8 and 9 and the championship game is Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

AUBURN FIRES COACH HUGH FREEZE FOLLOWING 12TH LOSS IN HIS LAST 15 SEC GAMES

Auburn fired coach Hugh Freeze on Sunday, moving on after the Tigers lost for the 12th time in their last 15 Southeastern Conference games.

The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.

Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin will serve as interim coach for the team’s remaining four games.

“Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster,” athletic director John Cohen said in a statement. “Our expectations for Auburn football are to annually compete for championships, and the search for the next leader of Auburn football begins immediately.”

Freeze became the eighth Power Four coach fired this season, following moves at Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, Penn State, UCLA and Virginia Tech. Stanford also has a vacancy after firing Troy Taylor in March.

Freeze’s finale was a 10-3 home loss to unranked Kentucky on Saturday night in which Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels were sacked a combined seven times. It was the third consecutive loss for Auburn (4-5, 1-5 SEC) at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Freeze, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February, received much of the blame for the skid. He missed on hand-picked portal quarterbacks Payton Thorne (Michigan State), Arnold (Oklahoma) and maybe even Daniels (Stanford). Freeze also went 1-12 against ranked teams.

The Tigers owe Freeze $15.8 million, with no mitigation, from a six-year, $39 million deal he signed to replace Bryan Harsin in 2022. Harsin was fired eight games into his second season. He was 9-12 overall and 4-9 in league play.

Freeze got the boot at 15-19 overall and 6-16 in the conference. The last five losses included more offensive woes. The Tigers scored 17, 10, 10, 17 and 3 in losses to Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Georgia and Missouri and Kentucky.

Now, the “Auburn Family” is looking for its fourth football coach in seven seasons. The Tigers fired Gus Malzahn in 2020, Harsin in 2022 and now Freeze in 2025. Together, the school will end up paying $52.5 million in buyout fees.

Freeze and the Tigers showed promise by winning at Baylor to open the season. They were 3-0 and tied with Oklahoma when the season started to unravel.

The SEC acknowledged that officials missed what should have been a flag before John Mateer connected with wide-open receiver Isaiah Sategna for a 24-yard touchdown in second quarter.

Sategna appeared to run off the field before he stopped outside the numbers and ran a pattern for the score. The league said simulated replacements or substitutions cannot be used to confuse opponents. The Tigers ended up losing 24-17.

The following week at Texas A&M, Auburn managed just nine first downs, 177 yards of total offense and went 0 for 13 on third down in another one-possession loss.

It was more of the same against Georgia, which controlled the game after forcing a questionable fumble at the goal line late in the first half. A touchdown would have given Auburn a 17-0 lead. Instead, the turnover sparked the Bulldogs, who allowed just 40 yards in the second half and won 20-10.

Nonetheless, Auburn trailed 13-10 until Georgia scored in the waning minutes. So it was another close loss for Freeze, who ended his tenure 2-10 in one-possession games.

BREAKING DOWN THE RACE FOR CONFERENCE TITLE GAME SPOTS IN EACH FBS LEAGUE

The race for college football’s conference titles takes on a new importance in the era of an expanded playoff, with champions of the top leagues having a shot at automatic bids. And given the size some leagues have ballooned to, the chase to reach a conference title game can seem unusually chaotic.

Of the FBS conferences, only the Sun Belt still uses divisions, with the other leagues simply pitting their first- and second-place finishers in the title game. Here’s a look at where each conference stands. (All records are in-conference records.)

ACC

Standings: Virginia (5-0) is now the only unbeaten team in ACC play, followed by Georgia Tech (5-1), Pittsburgh (5-1), Louisville (4-1), SMU (4-1) and Duke (4-1).

Possible tiebreakers: Virginia has a head-to-head win over Louisville, Georgia Tech beat Duke and Louisville beat Pitt.

Down the stretch: Duke hosts Virginia on Nov. 15. Then a week later, Georgia Tech hosts Pitt and SMU hosts Louisville. Miami (2-2) can hand Pitt a head-to-head loss on Nov. 29, but the Hurricanes need help to get back into the title picture.

Betting favorites: Georgia Tech and Duke (+300 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)

American Athletic

Standings: After Navy’s loss to North Texas on Saturday, a whopping six teams have one loss in conference play: Navy (5-1), Memphis (4-1), North Texas (4-1), South Florida (3-1), Tulane (3-1) and East Carolina (3-1). The AAC champ has a shot to earn the Group of Five bid to the 12-team playoff.

Possible tiebreakers: Memphis beat South Florida, South Florida beat North Texas and North Texas beat Navy. Tulane beat East Carolina.

Down the stretch: The situation could become less muddled in a hurry. Memphis hosts Tulane on Friday night and then plays at East Carolina on Nov. 15. Navy hosts South Florida on Nov. 15. Memphis hosts Navy on Nov. 27, which is Thanksgiving night.

Big 12

Standings: BYU (5-0) is alone in first place, followed by Texas Tech (5-1), Cincinnati (5-1), Houston (4-2), Utah (4-2), Arizona State (4-2) and TCU (3-2).

Possible tiebreakers: BYU beat Utah and Texas Tech beat Houston and Utah but lost to Arizona State. Utah beat Cincinnati. Houston and Utah both beat Arizona State, and Arizona State beat TCU.

Down the stretch: BYU plays at Texas Tech on Saturday and at Cincinnati on Nov. 22. TCU visits BYU on Nov. 15 and Houston on Nov. 22 before hosting Cincinnati on Nov. 29.

Betting favorite: Texas Tech (-200 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)

Big Ten

Standings: Indiana (6-0) and Ohio State (5-0) top the standings, and they don’t play each other in the regular season. Michigan (5-1), Iowa (4-1), Oregon (4-1) and Southern California (4-1) are next in line.

Possible tiebreakers: Indiana has beaten Iowa and Oregon, and USC beat Michigan.

Down the stretch: Iowa hosts Oregon on Nov. 8 and plays at USC on Nov. 15. Oregon hosts USC on Nov. 22. Michigan hosts Ohio State on Nov. 29.

Betting favorite: Ohio State (-155 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)

Conference USA

Standings: Conference USA isn’t in the playoff mix, with every team having at least two losses overall, but there’s still a conference title race to watch. Kennesaw State (4-0) and Jacksonville State (4-0) lead the way, followed by Western Kentucky (5-1) and Liberty (3-1). Missouri State (3-1) is not yet eligible to play in the Conference USA title game after joining the league this season.

Possible tiebreakers: Jacksonville State has a win over Liberty.

Down the stretch: Kennesaw State still has to play at Jacksonville State on Nov. 15 and at Liberty on Nov. 29. Jacksonville State hosts Western Kentucky on Nov. 29.

Mid-American

Standings: Every MAC team has at least three losses overall. The conference leaders are Miami, Ohio (4-0), Buffalo (4-1), Western Michigan (4-1) and Ohio (3-1).

Possible tiebreakers: Miami beat Western Michigan.

Down the stretch: Miami plays at Ohio on Tuesday night and at Buffalo on Nov. 19. Ohio is at WMU on Nov. 11 and at Buffalo on Nov. 28.

Mountain West

Standings: The Mountain West received a bid to the playoff last season via Boise State, but right now only San Diego State and UNLV have fewer than three losses overall. San Diego State (4-0) leads in conference play, with Boise State (4-1) in second. Then it’s another step back to Hawaii (3-2), Fresno State (3-2), New Mexico (3-2), UNLV (2-2), Utah State (2-2) and San Jose State (2-2).

Possible tiebreakers: San Diego State beat Fresno State. Boise State beat New Mexico and UNLV but lost to Fresno State. Hawaii beat Utah State but lost to Fresno State and San Jose State. New Mexico beat Utah State and UNLV but lost to San Jose State. Utah State beat San Jose State.

Down the stretch: San Diego State is at Hawaii on Nov. 8 and then hosts Boise State a week later. UNLV hosts Utah State on Nov. 15 and hosts Hawaii on Nov. 21. On Nov. 22, Fresno State hosts Utah State and San Diego State hosts San Jose State. New Mexico hosts San Diego State on Nov. 28, the same day Utah State hosts Boise State. San Jose State hosts Fresno State the following day.

SEC

Standings: Texas A&M (5-0) and Alabama (5-0) are tied for first, followed by Mississippi (5-1), Georgia (5-1) and Texas (4-1).

Possible tiebreakers: Alabama beat Georgia, and Georgia beat Mississippi.

Down the stretch: Texas plays at Georgia on Nov. 15 and hosts Texas A&M on Nov. 28.

Betting favorite: Alabama (+115 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)

Sun Belt

Standings: Could the Sun Belt put a team in the playoff? Maybe if James Madison wins out and enough AAC teams cannibalize each other? JMU (5-0) leads the East Division in the Sun Belt, with Coastal Carolina (4-1) close behind. Southern Mississippi (4-0) leads the West, followed by Troy (4-1) and Arkansas State (4-1).

Possible tiebreakers: Arkansas State has a head-to-head win over Troy.

Down the stretch: There’s still a lot to be decided here, with James Madison playing at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 29. Southern Miss is at Arkansas State next weekend and hosts Troy on Nov. 29.

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

LAKERS BEAT HEAT 130-120 BEHIND DONCIC’S TRIPLE-DOUBLE

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, Austin Reaves scored 26 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 130-120 on Sunday night to extend their winning streak to three games.

Jamie Jaquez Jr. scored 31 points for the Heat and Bam Adebayo and Pelle Larsson added 17 points each.

The Heat never led. The Lakers jumped to a 8-0 lead and led by 18 points in the first half.

Jake LaRavia had 25 points off the bench for LA and Jaxson Hayes scored a season-high 15 points. He made all seven of his shots and his first 3-pointer as a Laker.

LaRavia had a big left-handed dunk early in the fourth quarter and Reaves set him up in the fourth quarter with an alley-oop pass that led to another dunk and a 118-110 lead with just under five minutes left.

The Lakers again played short-handed. LeBron James has yet to play this season because of sciatica on his right side and DeAndre Ayton was out with back spasms. James is targeted to return this month.

He got up off the bench when his son Bronny James converted a dunk off an alley-oop pass from Reaves in the first quarter. Reaves was setting up his teammates nicely and finished with 11 assists.

WEMBANYAMA STRUGGLES, SPURS GET ‘WAKE-UP CALL’ IN FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON

PHOENIX (AP) — Victor Wembanyama looked like an MVP candidate and his San Antonio Spurs appeared unstoppable through the first five games of the season.

A bit of a reality check arrived on Sunday.

The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama had a rare off night in San Antonio’s 130-118 loss to the Phoenix Suns, finishing with nine points on 4-of-14 shooting. He also had nine rebounds and six turnovers.

It was the first time he was held to fewer than 10 points since Oct. 30, 2024, when he had six against Oklahoma City.

“They were expecting everything that we did,” Wembanyama said. “That makes everything hard for us.”

The 21-year-old Wembanyama never looked comfortable against a physical Suns defense, struggling to get clean catches in the paint. The third-year center came into Sunday’s game averaging 30.2 points and 14.6 rebounds per game.

First-year Suns coach Jordan Ott said the goal against Wembanyama was to try to force him to catch the ball in places on the court where it’s hard to do damage. For the most part, it worked.

“I know our next opponents watched this game tonight, and they’ll take some things away from it,” Wembanyama said. “The preparation starts now.”

BRUNSON SCORES 31 AS KNICKS SNAP LOSING STREAK, HAND BULLS FIRST LOSS

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 31 points as the New York Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak and handed the Chicago Bulls their first loss of the season, 128-116 on Sunday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, while Josh Hart had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who scored the most points they’ve had in a game this season and avoided their first four-game losing streak since Feb. 8-14, 2024.

Josh Giddey led Chicago with 23 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds for his first triple-double of the season, while Nikola Vucevic had 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Bulls (5-1) were the last Eastern Conference team to fall from the unbeaten ranks and were denied their first 6-0 start since 1996-97 during the Michael Jordan era.

The Bulls entered the game leading the NBA in defensive 3-point percentage (30.1%). But Chicago had no answer for the Knicks’ hot long-range shooting Sunday.

New York knocked down 20 of 42 from 3-point range (47.6%) — including 13 for 21 (61.9%) in the first half. Seven Knicks made at least two 3-pointers, led by Brunson, who was 4 for 11.

KYLE LOWRY MAKES SEASON PLAYING DEBUT FOR 76ERS, JOINS NBA’S EXCLUSIVE 20-YEAR CLUB

Kyle Lowry is now, officially, in the 20-season club.

Lowry, Philadelphia’s 39-year-old guard, checked in with 3:12 remaining in the 76ers’ 129-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night. It was Lowry’s first game action of the season, and he’s now the 12th player to reach the 20-season mark.

“I guess he gets his 20th season officially in the books now by hitting the court,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “Who would have thought it for Kyle Lowry 20 years ago, right?”

Vince Carter and LeBron James share the NBA record for player longevity with 22 seasons; James has yet to play for the Los Angeles Lakers this season because of injury.

The Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul is in his 21st season, tying him with Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki for third-most all-time. Lowry joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Jamal Crawford and Udonis Haslem as those playing 20 seasons.

“He’s really done a great job, I think, just being part of our leadership group,” Nurse said. “Obviously, when the players are pulling for him out there, you can see that he’s well-liked, well-respected, all that kind of stuff.”

DONOVAN MITCHELL SCORES 37 POINTS AS CAVALIERS DOWN YOUNG-LESS HAWKS 117-109

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell made eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 37 points in his return to Cleveland’s lineup, leading the Cavaliers to a 117-109 win on Sunday night over the Atlanta Hawks, who are navigating the early season without injured star guard Trae Young.

Mitchell was back after missing Friday’s home loss to Toronto with hamstring tightness.

The six-time All-Star finished 8 of 15 from long range. He scored 24 points in the second half. It was Mitchell’s 200th game with the Cavs, who are 139-61 when he’s on the floor.

Jalen Tyson dropped a career-best five 3s and scored 18 points for Cleveland. De’Andre Hunter also had 18, and Evan Mobley finished with 14.

Jalen Johnson had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks. Kristaps Porzingis added 15 points and 12 boards.

Atlanta will be without Young for at least one month after he sprained his right medial collateral ligament on Wednesday at Brooklyn.

Coach Quin Snyder expressed relief that Young’s injury was not more serious. The team said the 27-year-old will be reevaluated in about four weeks.

Cleveland also was short-handed, playing without starting center Jarrett Allen (broken finger) and guard Sam Merrill (bruised hip). Guards Darius Garland (toe surgery) and Max Strus (foot surgery) haven’t played this season.

KON KNUEPPEL’S CAREER-HIGH 24 POINTS HELPS HORNETS TO A 126-103 ROUT OF JAZZ

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miles Bridges scored 29 points, Kon Knueppel added a career-high 24 and the Charlotte Hornets routed the Utah Jazz 126-103 on Sunday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

High-energy backup center Moussa Diabate provided a huge spark for the Hornets with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Sion James, Knueppel’s college teammate at Duke, also had a career-high 15 points.

Collin Sexton added 10 points and 12 assists for the Hornets, who played without Brandon Miller (shoulder subluxation) and LaMelo Ball (ankle impingement).

Lauri Markkanen had 29 points and Keyonte George added 25 for the Jazz, who lost their third straight.

After opening the season shooting a blistering 53% (16 of 30) from beyond the 3-point arc, Knueppel cooled off significantly the previous two games making just 2 of 12 from deep.

But the No. 4 overall pick was again on his game, making 4 of 9 3s as the Hornets made 18 3-pointers. Knueppel received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Spectrum Center when he left the game with 1:38 remaining and the Hornets up by 25.

This one was never close.

The Hornets, who started three rookies for the second time this season in Knueppel, James and Ryan Kalkbrenner, raced to a 39-25 lead after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 28 before halftime behind 17 first-half points from Knueppel and the aggressive play of Diabate on the glass, who kept alive several possessions.

RJ BARRETT SCORES 27 AS RAPTORS BEAT GRIZZLIES 117-104 FOR FIRST BACK-TO-BACK WINS

TORONTO (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 27 points, Brandon Ingram added 26 and the Toronto Raptors won consecutive games for the first time this season by beating the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 117-104 on Sunday night.

Memphis was without two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant, who was suspended one game Saturday for what the Grizzlies described as conduct detrimental to the team.

Scottie Barnes had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles scored 15 as the Raptors won their second straight after losing the previous four. Toronto beat Cleveland 112-101 on Friday.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 20 points, and Santi Aldama scored 15 but the Grizzlies lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. each scored 14 points for the Grizzlies, while Cedric Coward and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both had 12.

Memphis lost 117-112 at home to the Lakers on Friday, with Morant scoring eight points in 31 minutes. He missed all seven of his shot attempts in the second half.

Toronto led 53-47 at the half Sunday, then opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run and closed the period with a 7-0 run to take a 84-71 edge to the fourth.

GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER SCORES 30 POINTS TO HELP KEEP THUNDER UNBEATEN, PELICANS WINLESS

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 137-106 on Sunday to extend their season-opening winning streak to seven games.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 8 of 14 field goals and all 13 of his free throws in 30 minutes to keep the Pelicans winless.

Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who shot 56% from the field and had eight players score in double figures. Oklahoma City’s largest lead was 36 points in the fourth quarter.

The Thunder entered the game ranked last in the NBA in 3-point percentage at just under 30%, but made 20 of 48 (41.7%) against the Pelicans.

Oklahoma City dominated despite three starters from last season’s championship team missing the game. Thunder guard Lu Dort was out with an illness, forward Chet Holmgren missed his third straight game with a lower back sprain and guard/forward Jalen Williams hasn’t played this season as recovers from offseason surgery on his right wrist.

None of that stopped the Thunder from winning their 11th straight matchup with the Pelicans. The Thunder equaled their 7-0 start from last season, when they won the NBA title. Oklahoma City is the third team in league history to start 7-0 in back-to-back seasons, joining the Boston Celtics (1963-65) and Houston Rockets (1993-95).

PHILADELPHIA’S JOEL EMBIID IS FINED $50,000 FOR A LEWD GESTURE DURING A GAME AGAINST BOSTON

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Philadelphia center Joel Embiid $50,000 for making what the league determined to be a lewd gesture during a game against Boston on Friday night.

The fine was announced Sunday by James Jones, the league’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations.

Embiid scored while getting fouled with 7:08 remaining in the first quarter against the Celtics, then made a chopping gesture toward his groin. Embiid has now been fined at least four times in the past for making the gesture — $75,000 in December 2024 (a game in which he made multiple gestures), $35,000 in October 2023 and $25,000 in January 2023.

Philadelphia lost Friday’s game, 109-108.

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

JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK’S SHOOTOUT GOAL LIFTS RED WINGS OVER SHARKS 3-2

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — James van Riemsdyk scored in the fourth round of a shootout, lifting the Detroit Red Wings past the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Sunday night.

Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond both had goals as the Red Wings won their fourth in five games. Goalie Cam Talbot made 16 saves and stopped all four shots by San Jose during the shootout.

Detroit was the more aggressive team most of the night and led 2-1 in the third period before Sam Dickinson’s first career goal with 3:05 remaining forced overtime. Jeff Skinner also scored for the Sharks.

Van Riemsdyk’s goal came after San Jose goalie Alex Nedeljkovic blocked shots by Raymond and Alex DeBrincat, and Dylan Larkin’s shot missed.

Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, had his streak of seven consecutive games with at least one point snapped.

Both goalies were exceptional for most of the night and each made several point-blank saves. Nedeljkovic started in place of Yaroslav Askarov because the Sharks were on the second half of a back-to-back.

CUTTER GAUTHIER, BECKETT SENNECKE TALLY GOAL AND ASSIST TO LEAD DUCKS 4-1 OVER DEVILS

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke each had a goal and an assist, goalie Lukas Dostal made 32 saves, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Sunday night.

Frank Vatrano and Chris Kreider also scored for the Ducks.

Jack Hughes scored New Jersey’s lone goal in the third period, and Devils goalie Jake Allen had 26 saves.

Anaheim has won three straight and five of the last six to move into a first-place tie with Las Vegas and Edmonton in the Pacific Division, an encouraging start for a team trying to snap a seven-season playoff drought. Their 15 points is the most through 11 games since 2014-2015.

The Ducks took advantage of their second straight game against a road-weary Eastern Conference club, outscoring the Detroit Red Wings and Devils by a combined 9-3.

Anaheim scored three goals within the game’s first 22 minutes and dominated the first two periods before New Jersey came to life in the third.

Moments after Allen stuffed Sennecke at the doorstep, Hughes took a pass from Dawson Mercer on a two-on-one break and one-timed a shot past a sprawling Dostal.

ISLANDERS’ MATTHEW SCHAEFER BECOMES YOUNGEST NHL DEFENSEMAN WITH MULTIGOAL GAME

NEW YORK (AP) — Matthew Schaefer added another milestone to his fast start with the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Schaefer had two goals in a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Schaefer, who turned 18 on Sept. 5, became the youngest defenseman in NHL history with a multigoal game, moving in front of Hall of Famer Bobby Orr (18 years, 248 days on Nov. 23, 1966).

Schaefer, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NHL draft, has five goals and five assists in his first 12 games with New York.

“It has been fun to watch. He’s great skater. He’s super poised,’’ Islanders teammate Simon Holmstrom said. “He was able to score two big goals for us tonight.”

Schaefer scored a power-play goal when he converted a booming shot 5:53 into the first period. He tied it at 2 with 1:07 left in the third, and Holmstrom tapped a loose puck past goaltender Elvis Merzlikins for the winning score with 38 seconds remaining.

“Oh wow, it’s fun hockey to play and fun hockey to watch,’’ Schaefer said after the victory. “A couple of big goals in the last minute.”

JONATHAN HUBERDEAU SCORES TWICE TO LIFT FLAMES OVER FLYERS 2-1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jonathan Huberdeau scored a pair of goals and the Calgary Flames defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Sunday night.

In a game that lacked a lot of activity with both teams playing their fourth game in six nights, Huberdeau broke through 2:15 into the second period when he snapped a wrister from the left circle through a screen set by Yegor Sharangovich to put the Flames ahead.

He scored his fourth goal of the season at 7:06 of the third period when he tipped Mackenzie Weegar’s shot past Flyers goalie Aleksei Kolosov.

Dustin Wolf made 17 saves to pick up his third win of the season. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Flames.

Kolosov, who replaced the injured Sam Ersson on Philadelphia’s roster, made 19 saves in his first start in goal this season.

Travis Konecny scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who dropped their second game in as many nights.

Trevor Zegras saw his eight-game home point streak snapped for Philadelphia. It was tied for the longest in franchise history for a player at the start of his tenure with the Flyers with Peter Forsberg and Peter Zezel.

SCHAEFER STARS AS THE ISLANDERS SCORE 2 LATE GOALS TO EDGE BLUE JACKETS 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Matthew Schaefer and Simon Holmstrom scored 29 seconds apart late in the third period, helping the New York Islanders rally for a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.

David Rittich made 20 saves in New York’s second straight win.

Miles Wood and defenseman Denton Mateychuk scored for Columbus, which beat St. Louis 3-2 on Saturday for its fourth consecutive win. Elvis Merzlikins made 36 saves.

Schaefer tied it at 2 with his second goal of the game with 1:07 to go. Holmstrom tapped a loose puck past Merzlikins with 38 seconds left for his fourth of the season.

Merzlikins slammed his stick over the crossbar in frustration after Holmstrom’s goal.

Mateychuk backhanded the puck past Rittich at 12:10 of the third for his third goal, lifting the Blue Jackets to a 2-1 lead. Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan assisted.

Schaefer opened the scoring 5:53 into the first, rifling a shot past Merzlikins on the power play. The 18-year-old Schaefer has 10 points in 12 games since the Islanders made him the first overall pick in this year’s NHL draft.

Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri assisted. Horvat leads the Islanders with 13 points, including seven goals.

GUENTZEL SCORES IN THE 3RD PERIOD AS THE LIGHTNING BEAT THE MAMMOTH 4-2 FOR THEIR 5TH STRAIGHT WIN

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jake Guentzel snapped a tie in the third period, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Utah Mammoth 4-2 on Sunday for their fifth consecutive win.

Yanni Gourde, Anthony Cirelli, and Brandon Hagel also scored for Tampa Bay, and Jonas Johansson stopped 25 shots. It was Cirelli’s team-high seventh goal this season.

Lawson Crouse and Kailer Yamamoto scored for Utah, which dropped a home game for the first time this season after opening with four straight wins in Salt Lake City. Ian Cole had two assists, and Karel Vejmelka made 22 saves.

Utah had scored at least three goals in eight straight games.

The Mammoth jumped in front 5:55 into the first when Crouse snapped the puck home on a breakaway.

Tampa Bay responded with 4:43 left in the period. Gourde finished off a series of precision passes with an easy tap-in after drawing Vejmelka out of position.

Cirelli made it 2-1 at 2:47 of the second, beating Vejmelka from just outside the face-off circle.

After Yamamoto scored his first goal of the season 2:21 into the third, Tampa Bay countered with Guentzel’s unassisted goal with 7:54 remaining. Guentzel attacked from the backside and snapped the puck in from close range.

Hagel’s empty-netter with 16 seconds left capped the scoring.

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

AFTER THE $500 MILLION DODGERS’ TITLE REPEAT, WHAT’S NEXT FOR MLB?

NEW YORK (AP) — The $500 million Los Angeles Dodgers’ thrilling World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays attracted record international attention for Major League Baseball, affirmed LA’s status as the sport’s best team and drew more attention to baseball’s payroll disparity heading into what is likely to be contentious labor negotiations.

Los Angeles’ 5-4, 11-inning win over Toronto in Game 7 on Saturday night capped a postseason with seven winner-take-all games, two more than any previous year.

Shohei Ohtani is building a case as the sport’s best player ever with his unprecedented two-way performances, captivating audiences outside the U.S. unlike any previous player.

“It just absolutely been the greatest benefit to the game that you can imagine throughout the year,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Toronto’s success this year sparked interest throughout Canada, which gave the Blue Jays nationwide support.

Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh already have committed to play for the United States in next year’s World Baseball Classic, which is gaining increased interest with each addition.

And MLB is negotiating to send big league players to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics during an extended All-Star break.

“Players are interested in playing, whether it’s for the Team USA or any number of other teams around the world,” union head Tony Clark said.

The Dodgers are already talking about a three-peat

Minutes after the Dodgers became the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman said matching that pinstriped power was the next goal.

“The Yankees are three-time back-to-back,” he said, “so we get to use that same narrative next year.”

Those Yankees are among just four instances of teams winning three or more consecutive championships alongside five by the 1949-53 Yankees, four by the 1936-39 Yankees and three by the 1972-74 Oakland Athletics.

Big market spending sparks talk of salary-cap proposal

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attracted attention after the National League Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee when he yelled to Los Angeles fans: “They said the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”

Los Angeles entered the World Series having spent $509.5 million in major league payroll and projected luxury tax, plus another $6.5 million for pitcher Roki Sasaki’s minor league signing bonus.

Including Sasaki’s bonus, the Dodgers spending for its two World Series title teams totaled at least $890 million. The New York Mets, who failed to reach the playoffs this year after getting knocked out in last year’s NLCS, have spent about $860 million in 2024 and ’25.

In a sign of how much payroll disparity has increased, the Athletics spent less than $150 million over the same period.

Manfred repeatedly has said owners haven’t settled on their labor proposals, but the players’ association is bracing to resist a push for a salary cap. Demand for a cap from owners is what led to a 7 1/2-month strike in 1994-95 and the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years.

The labor contract expires on Dec. 2, 2026, and bargaining is likely to start this winter or spring.

More Japanese players likely headed to MLB

Following the success of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, more Japanese players may sign with MLB teams.

Munetaka Murakami, a third baseman and first baseman who turns 26 in February, is expected to be posted by the Yakult Swallows. He hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs this year, limited to 56 games by an oblique injury. A two-time Central League MVP, in 2022 he hit 56 homers to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown.

Kazuma Okamoto, a 29-year-old third baseman and first baseman. will be posted by the Yomiuri Giants. He has 248 homers in 11 Central League seasons, hitting 30 or more from 2018-23.

Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander, could be posted by the Seibu Lions. He struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s prior team record of 16 from 2004.

Here come the robots

Game 7 of the World Series was MLB’s last with human umpires making all ball/strike calls.

Starting next season, the Automated Ball/Strike System will be installed in all big league ballparks and batters, catchers and pitchers will be able to appeal decisions to a high-tech system of cameras tracking each pitch and judging whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone.

Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game and a team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for video review, which has been in place for many calls since 2014. Teams that exhaust their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning

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+++++++++++NASCAR NEWS++++++++++

KYLE LARSON WINS SECOND NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIP, DENYING DENNY HAMLIN IN OVERTIME

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Larson knew he wasn’t going to catch Denny Hamlin in the final laps on Sunday, not without the sort of help that only a caution flag can bring.

Larson got his lucky break.

Hamlin only got heartbreak.

Larson is now a two-time NASCAR champion after denying Hamlin what would have been his first career title when a late caution at Phoenix Raceway sent the championship-deciding finale into overtime.

Without that caution, which came with three laps to run, Hamlin had it locked up and was ready to finally shed the label of greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship. But fellow title contender William Byron got a flat tire and hit the wall to bring out the caution, and a few minutes later, it was over.

“Just unbelievable,” Larson said. “I cannot believe it.”

Neither could Hamlin.

“I really don’t have much for emotion right now. Just numb about it ’cause just in shock,” Hamlin said after consoling his crying daughters on pit road. “We were 40 seconds away from a championship. This sport can drive you absolutely crazy because sometimes speed, talent, none of that matters.”

When the caution for Byron came out, Hamlin led the field down pit road and got four new tires on his Toyota; Larson only took two tires on his Chevrolet. It meant Larson was fifth for the two-lap sprint to the finish, with Hamlin back in 10th.

With so little time to run down Larson, Hamlin came up short with a sixth-place finish as Larson finished third. Ryan Blaney, who was eliminated from title contention last week, won the race.

“You do have to feel for that group and Denny. Doing a good job all day, it not playing out for him. But that is racing. It sucks sometimes,” Blaney said. “They can hang their head about it, but they should be very proud about the effort. They had the fastest race car here. Just one of those things where it doesn’t work out. Looked like it was going into his favor, unfortunately for him, it didn’t.”

It is the second championship for Larson, who won his first title in 2021 when he joined Hendrick Motorsports. It is the 15th Cup title for the organization and came on the 30th anniversary of Jeff Gordon giving Hendrick its first championship in 1995.

As Larson celebrated, Hamlin sat in his car motionless for several seconds, then wiped his face with a white towel, never showing any emotion.

Larson, who has been in a slump since his disastrous Memorial Day attempt to race both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, was also in shock.

“We didn’t lead a lap and won the championship,” Larson said. “We had an average car at best and had the right front (tire) go down, lost a lap and got the wave around, saved by the caution with the wave around. It’s just unbelievable. What a year by this motorsports team.”

Team owner Rick Hendrick, Gordon and Larson crew chief Cliff Daniels all said they did not believe Larson still had a chance at the championship after so many problems during the race.

“I have to acknowledge that it was a pretty ugly day for us,” Daniels said. “I think we were beat on raw pace, and after we had the flat tire, there wasn’t a lot of good things coming our way. The way the team stuck together and continued to believe in each other, Kyle continued to believe if we just had a shot we could close it out.”

When Hamlin finally got out of his car he embraced his crew members but it was a scene of disbelief among the Joe Gibbs Racing crowd. Team members were crying, some sitting in shock on the pavement, Gibbs himself stood silent, one hand on his hip and a look of disbelief on his face.

It is the sixth shot at a title to slip away from Hamlin in his 20 years driving for Gibbs. He led 208 of the 319 laps and started from the pole.

“Nothing I could do different. I mean, prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend and my team gave me a fantastic car,” Hamlin said. “Just didn’t work out. I was just praying ‘no caution’ and we had one there. What can you do? It’s just not meant to be.”

He said crew chief Chris Gayle made the correct call with four tires, but too many others only took two, which created too big of a gap for Hamlin to close on Larson in so little time.

The 44-year-old Virginia native had been extremely jinxed in five previous championship finales, with bad luck, bad strategy and bad cars breaking his heart in 2010, 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Sunday marked his first time eligible in the winner-take-all race in four seasons.

Hamlin was remarkably loose and calm all week, rented three houses in Scottsdale for 30 friends and family, won the pole and then dominated Sunday’s race.

He was the sympathetic favorite, the betting favorite, and who most of the industry was pulling for — largely based on how much heartbreak he has faced. Hamlin burst onto the NASCAR scene in 2006, winning rookie of the year and finishing third in the championship.

On many levels, that promise has been fulfilled with 60 victories, three of them Daytona 500 wins. On the championship level, it still has not.

He had a 15-point lead over Jimmie Johnson going into the 2010 finale but was in a terrible mental space, struggled the entire weekend and spun in that race. Johnson wound up winning his fifth straight title, and Hamlin settled for second.

He had a bad pit stop in 2014, overheated because the team put too much tape on the front grille in 2019, and a caution late in the 2021 finale doomed his chances that year. Ross Chastain’s infamous wall ride in 2022 bumped Hamlin from the Championship 4 by mere inches at the finish, and now, this.

“Man, if you can’t win that one, I don’t know which one you can win,” Hamlin said of his latest defeat.

Larson was OK during the race, but hasn’t won since early May, a slump that has now extended to 24 consecutive races.

Hamlin teammate Chase Briscoe finished 18th in his debut in the championship finale, while Larson teammate Byron was 33rd after his late issue. He felt awful for ruining Hamlin’s chance even though his Hendrick Motorsports teammate won the championship.

“I’m just super bummed that it was a caution obviously. I hate that. Hate it for Denny. I hate it for the 11 team,” Byron said. “I mean, Denny was on his way to it. I hate that. There’s a lot of respect there. I obviously do not want to cause a caution. If I had known what tire it was, known that a tire was going down before I got to the corner, I would have done something different.”

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

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

6 TURNOVERS DOOM COLTS IN WEEK 9 LOSS TO STEELERS

PITTSBURGH – The Colts kicked off Week 9 having turned the ball over four times in their first eight games of the 2025 season. They more than doubled that total on Sunday, with six turnovers dooming the Colts to a 27-20 Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.

The Colts are now 0-2 in 2025 when committing multiple turnovers; they had three turnovers in a 27-20 Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Jones, too, was sacked a season-high five times on Sunday. Pittsburgh scored 24 points off the Colts’ six turnovers.

Those six turnovers were the most by a Colts team since Week 10 of the 2007 season (a 23-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers; all six turnovers were interceptions by Peyton Manning).

The Colts took an early lead when Jones punched in a one-yard touchdown on fourth and goal, capping a 79-yard march on their first offensive possession of the game. But the mistakes began to pile up after, with wide receiver Josh Downs having a punt bounce off his body that wound up being recovered by the Steelers.

While the Colts’ defense held strong and kept the Steelers out of the end zone on a fourth down incomplete pass, it wasn’t the only miscue of the first half.

A few plays after the Colts got a spark when safety Rodney Thomas II rushed for a first down on a fake punt, future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt strip-sacked Jones for a takeaway. Pittsburgh turned that into a 56-yard scoring drive when running back Jaylen Warren plunged in a one-yard touchdown; Jones was intercepted by linebacker Payton Wilson on the ensuing possession, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers found tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 12-yard touchdown two plays later.

The Steelers added another score at the end of the half with a 12-play, 75-yard drive ending with a short Chris Boswell field goal.

The Colts did not score in the second quarter for the first time in 2025, and their 10-point halftime deficit was easily their largest of the season. The Colts had only been losing at halftime twice in 2025 (Week 2 vs. the Broncos by one point, Week 4 at the Rams by three points).

Running back Jonathan Taylor had just 23 yards on eight carries in the first half; he finished the game with 45 yards on 14 rushing attempts. Jones completed 11 of 20 passes for 114 yards over the first two quarters.

Jones’ second interception of the game came later in the third quarter, when Wilson got into a passing lane and tipped a pass to outside linebacker Jack Sawyer. It came just as the Colts’ offense appeared to be gaining some momentum – they had just entered Steelers territory for the first time since their second possession of the game.

Rodgers and the Steelers turned that interception into a Warren touchdown, giving them a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Kicker Michael Badgley connected on a 52-yard field goal on the ensuing possession that brought the score to 24-10 and kept the Colts’ chances alive.

The Colts’ defense then forced the three-and-out they needed, with a Laiatu Latu tackle for a loss on a first down screen keying the stop. But then the Colts’ fifth turnover of the game struck, with outside linebacker Alex Highsmith strip-sacking Jones on a second-and-one dropback and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon falling on the loose ball in Colts territory.

Kicker Chris Boswell connected on a 46-yard field goal to put Pittsburgh back up by three scores. Jones did find Downs for a late touchdown to pull the Colts back within 10; cornerback Kenny Moore II then forced a fumble recovered by safety Cam Bynum at the Colts’ 24-yard line with 3:36 left.

The Colts, though, committed their sixth and final turnover when Jones was picked off by cornerback Joey Porter Jr., effectively sealing the game. Badgley connected on a 53-yard field goal with nine seconds left; Pittsburgh recovered the last-ditch onside kick.

____________________________________________________________________

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

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS BUCKS

One of the fiercest rivalries in the NBA resumes Monday night when the Indiana Pacers host the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Few teams have seen each other more than the Pacers (1-5) and Bucks (4-2) over the last two seasons, as the teams have met 20 times –  including in 11 playoff games – during that span. Indiana has eliminated Milwaukee in the playoffs in back-to-back years, and holds a 5-4 edge in regular-season play.

The Pacers enter Monday night’s matchup riding their first win of the season.

Indiana’s injury-depleted roster snapped a five-game skid with a 114-109 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Six players were sidelined with various ailments, but Johnny Furphy returned after missing four games with a left foot bone bruise.

The Pacers trailed at the end of each of the first three quarters, but a late push gave the Blue & Gold the victory. Tied at 109 with 56.6 seconds left, Pascal Siakam hit a 3-pointer to break open the tie before a defensive stop and a bucket from Quenton Jackson sealed the win.

Aaron Nesmith scored a career-high 31 points on 10-of-19 shooting (5-of-11 from 3-point range), Siakam added 27 points, and Jackson recorded personal-bests of 25 points and 10 assists for the first double-double of his career.

Siakam, the reigning Eastern Conference Finals MVP, has been outstanding to start the season, averaging 25 points, nine rebounds and 4.8 assists.

A familiar face will make his return to Indianapolis on Monday, as center Myles Turner will face the Pacers for the first time since leaving in free agency this past summer. Turner, who spent 10 seasons in Indiana and is the franchise’s all-time leader in blocks, is averaging 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists through six games with Milwaukee.

Slowing down two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will remain a top priority for the Pacers. Antetokounmpo has continued to post huge numbers for the Bucks in his 13th season, leading the league in scoring at 34.2 points per game while averaging 13.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks.

Point guard Ryan Rollins has emerged as a key contributor early for Milwaukee, averaging 18.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds — up from 6.2 points per game last season — and will also be a focus on the defensive end for Indiana.

The Bucks travel to Indiana after a 135-133 loss at home to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

Six Bucks scored in double figures in the defeat: Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, Kyle Kuzma scored 22 off the bench, and Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green each added 17.

After hosting the Bucks, the Pacers close their four-game homestand Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets.

Probable Starters

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

Bucks: G – Ryan Rollins, G – AJ Green, F – Gary Trent Jr., F – Giannis Antetokounmpo, C – Myles Turner

Injury Report

Pacers: Johnny Furphy – probable (left foot bone bruise), RayJ Dennis – questionable (low back sprain), Tyrese Haliburton – out (right Achilles Tendon tear), Kam Jones – out (lower back stress reaction), Bennedict Mathurin – out – (great right toe sprain), T.J. McConnell – out (left hamstring strain), Andrew Nembhard – out (left shoulder strain), Obi Toppin – out (right foot stress reaction

Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo – probable (left knee patellar tendinopathy), Kevin Porter Jr. – out (right knee meniscus tear)

Last Meeting

April 29, 2025: Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winning layup with a second left in overtime to lift the Pacers to a 119-118 win over the Milwaukee Bucks and clinch a 4-1 firstround playoff series win.

The Pacers managed an 8-0 run to close the extra period, forcing multiple turnovers in the waning minutes and capitalizing with clutch bucket-getting from Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith.

Indiana and Milwaukee both shot 46 percent in the game, with the Bucks making nine 3-pointers to the Pacers’ 12, but the Blue & Gold made 21-of-28 free-throws while their visitors finished 17-for-26.

Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points and nine assists, Myles Turner scored 21, Nesmith had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and T.J. McConnell supplied 18 points off the bench.

All five Bucks starters scored in double figures, led by 33 points from Gary Trent. Jr. while Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Noteworthy

The Pacers announced Saturday that the team was granted an NBA hardship exception and subsequently signed forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to a 10-day contract.

Indiana has played five different lineups in six games this season.

Bucks reserve guard Gary Harrris is a Fishers, Indiana, native. He played at Hamilton Southeastern High School and was named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2012.

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

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

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

(sideline reporter/host)

Tickets

The Pacers continue their four-game homestand by hosting Myles Turner and the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday, Nov. 3 at 7:00 PM ET.

__________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++INDIANA VOLLEYBALL+++++++++++

TOTAL TEAM EFFORT MAKES PROGRAM HISTORY

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The 2025 edition of the Indiana volleyball team continues to make history.

On Sunday, it took it to a whole new level.

The No. 24 Hoosiers (18-4, 9-3 B1G) provided the grittiest effort of the season to sweep No. 19 Penn State (25-22, 25-15, 25-13) for the first time in program history. Across 51 years of volleyball in Bloomington, it’s the first time that IU has ever beaten Penn State in Happy Valley.

From the jump, IU’s energy was as good as the team has seen all season. Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager led the way with 14 kills apiece as the team hit .228 on the afternoon. Freshman setter Teodora Kričković dished out 33 assists in the victory.

IU’s defense separated itself down the stretch in each set. Jager recorded her fourth career double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. Freshman libero Avery Freeman had the best match of her career with 10 digs and one service ace. The Hoosiers racked up 45 digs and four blocks – the final one of those on match point.

The deciding factor came in the serve-receive battle. Penn State had 12 errors from the end line while IU responded with six service aces to just four errors. Jager was phenomenal in reception and played one of the best matches of her career. IU got contributions from 11 of its available 15 players on the roster.

Sunday’s win in Happy Valley was the eighth overall road win this season and the third top-25 road win of the season. Both of those marks are single-season program records. It was the first sweep of a ranked opponent since beating No. 13 Michigan on Oct. 22, 2010. It was the first sweep of a ranked opponent on the road since 1986.

The Hoosiers will return to Bloomington for five of the next six contests. IU meets Iowa on Friday (Nov. 7) evening at Wilkinson Hall (6 p.m.) on B1G+. A brief trip to Madison to face the top-20 Badgers is on deck a week from today (Nov. 9) before opening up a four-game homestand.

How it Happened

• Winning the battle from the service line helped the Hoosiers to an important sweep in Happy Valley. IU had more aces (six) than service errors (four). In the meantime, Penn State committed 12 errors from the end line and had just one ace.

• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum came up clutch down the stretch. Both players had 14 kills on the match while combining for 14 in set three alone. Jager had eight kills and three digs while passing eight balls in the final set of the match.

Top Hoosier Performers

#13 Tatum, Avry

14 kills, .357 hitting percentage, 3 aces, 2 blocks

#24 Jager, Jaidyn

14 kills, .393 hitting percentage, 12 digs, 2 assists

#2 Freeman, Avery

10 digs, 1 ace

Notes to Know

• The Hoosiers beat Penn State in State College for the first time in program history on Sunday. IU had lost the first 32 tries at Rec Hall but finally got over the hump in 2025. Two years ago, IU pushed Penn State to five sets for the first time ever. This year, the Hoosiers swept the Nittany Lions for the first time in program history.

• IU’s road victory was the eighth of the season. With three road matches left to play, that sets a single-season program record. IU had won seven road matches in 1989, 1995 and 2023. The Hoosiers have also beaten three ranked teams on the road this season, the most in a single year in IU volleyball history. IU’s six wins on the road in Big Ten play this year matches a program record.

• The Hoosiers now have 10 road victories over top-25 programs in IU history. Three of those have come this season and six of them have come under head coach Steve Aird. His six ranked road wins, five of which have come in Big Ten play, are the most by any coach in program history.

• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso Corcelles picked up her 70th career win during her time in Bloomington. She’s just five wins away from breaking the program’s all-time wins record. Her 37 Big Ten wins are tied for the second most in IU history. The Hoosiers need just two more conference victories to make her the winningest Big Ten player in program history.

• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded a pair of double-doubles on the weekend. She had 14 kills and 12 digs in the win over Penn State on Sunday. She’s the first IU player since Camryn Haworth (Nov. 24-27, 2024) to record a double-double in consecutive games.

• Freshman libero Avery Freeman played the best game of her young career on Sunday. She recorded a career-high 10 digs and kept a number of long rallies alive. She’s the sixth different player, and the fourth freshman, with a double-digit dig performance this season.

• The Hoosiers are one of just two Big Ten teams (Nebraska) to keep Penn State’s All-American opposite hitter – Kennedy Martin – to under 15 kills in a match. IU’s serving plan came through with six aces and opened up IU’s offense to the tune of 43 kills in three sets.

• In five matches against ranked Big Ten opponents this season, senior opposite Avry Tatum is playing at a fantastic level. She’s averaging 3.79 kills per set in those five contests and has led the Hoosiers to a 3-2 record in said matches. On Sunday, she teamed up with senior middle blocker Madi Sell for the match-winning block.

• Sunday’s win was the third-straight sweep in conference play. It’s the first time since 1990 (Sept. 21-28) that IU has swept three-consecutive opponents. Overall, it’s IU’s 11th sweep of the 2025 season and the fifth in conference play this year.

_______________________________________________________________

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

#22 WRESTLING ROUTS ROADRUNNERS, SWEEPS CALIFORNIA TRIP

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — No. 22 Purdue Wrestling pummeled Cal State Bakersfield 39-3 to complete a West Coast sweep on Sunday night.

The Boilermakers head back to West Lafayette 2-0 after taking the last nine matches from the Roadrunners, including five for bonus points.

“Impressed with our guys attitude-wise today,” head coach Tony Ersland said. “That’s a long weekend for us, to make weight back-to-back opening the season up… I thought we were a little sharper today, wrestled with a little bit more focus, a little bit more energy. Our attack rate was higher. A lot to build on from this group.”

RESULTS

125 | Richard Castro-Sandoval def. Isaiah Quintero – D 2-0 | CSUB 3-0

133 | #18 Blake Boarman def. Robert Jones – D 12-10 | TIE 3-3

141 | #18 Greyson Clark def. Santino Sanchez – D 9-3 | PUR 6-3

149 | Gavin Brown def. Dylan Moreno – TF 19-4 (5:54) | PUR 11-3

157 | Isaac Ruble def. Devyn Flores-Che – Pin (4:51) | PUR 17-3

165 | #3 Joey Blaze def. Evan Manzo – TF 18-2 (6:13) | PUR 22-3

174 | #23 Brody Baumann def. Guillermo Escobedo – D 4-2 | PUR 25-3

184 | #23 James Rowley def. Chris Neal – TF 20-4 (6:44) | PUR 30-3

197 | #26 Ben Vanadia def. Angel Cervantes – Pin (1:59) | PUR 36-3

285 | #32 Hayden Filipovich def. Mason Cover – D 6-1 | PUR 39-3

RECAP

No. 18 Blake Boarman got Purdue on the board with a come-from-behind 12-10 decision. He trailed 7-2 before finding his offense in the third period, scoring three takedowns to pull ahead for good. The highly-touted Chattanooga transfer is 2-0 as a Boilermaker.

No. 18 Greyson Clark rebounded from a heartbreaking top-five loss less than 24 hours ago by grinding out a 9-3 decision. Clark was nearing bonus point territory but just ran out of time. The Wrightstown, Wis., native notched two takedowns and a reversal, dictating the pace.

Gavin Brown is also 2-0 to start his Boilermaker career after registering a commanding 19-4 technical fall in just 5:54. He scored just seven seconds into the match and never relented, finishing with six takedowns.

Isaac Ruble kept the bonus point party going with a dramatic pin at the 4:51 mark over Devyn Flores-Che. It was his first time back in the lineup after wrestling at 149 last season.

No. 3 Joey Blaze is off to a red-hot start at his new weight of 165 lbs, securing two technical falls over the weekend. The latest victim was Evan Manzo via 18-2 technical fall in 6:13. The sky is the limit for Blaze after his NCAA runner-up finish last year. He couldn’t look any better to start.

No. 23 Brody Baumann toughed out a 4-2 decision over Guillermo Escobedo, improving to 2-0. The typical high-scoring Evansville native hasn’t quite found the explosive offense he’s become known for, but he can hang his hat on a flawless start to the year.

No. 23 James Rowley bounced back from a frustrating loss Saturday night in resounding fashion. He was Purdue’s highest scorer of the night, beating Chris Neal in a 20-4 tech. fall (6:44). Rowley is a name to watch as he continues to find his game after his season-ending injury last December.

No. 26 Ben Vanadia scored the second pin for the Boilers, and it came in just 1:59. It was the 10th fall of his career, and the 197-pounder is starting to look like a man with a chip on his shoulder after being left out of the NCAA Championships last season, despite a strong 19-12 record.

No. 32 Hayden Filipovich finished off the night with a 6-1 decision over Mason Cover. “Big Fil” picked up his first win on the year after qualifying for his first national tournament in March.

UP NEXT

The Boilers will compete in their first tournament next Sunday when they travel to Columbia, Mo., for the Tiger Style Invite. Purdue placed second in the same tournament last year, and the field is stacked once again. It will take place in Mizzou’s Hearns Center with the start time to be announced this week.

__________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++PURDUE VOLLEYBALL++++++++++

#10 BOILERS REVERSE SWEEP ONCE AGAIN

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – For the third time this season, the No. 10 Purdue Boilermakers pulled off a reverse sweep, downing the Michigan Wolverines, 22-25, 17-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-10. Meanwhile, the win marked the third consecutive match going the distance, with two of the three coming in reverse fashion.

The Boilermakers remain undefeated in both fifth sets at 7-0 and road matches at 14-0 (10-0 in true away matches, 4-0 in neutral site) as the team improves to 19-3 (10-2 Big Ten) on the season. Meanwhile, Michigan, a team coming off a ranked win against Penn State, falls to 15-8 (5-7 Big Ten).

The Boilermakers will begin a four-match homestand, the longest of the season, beginning next Friday versus No. 18 Penn State at 5:30 p.m. ET on B1G+ and Iowa on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on B1G+.

Boiler Notes

It is just the second time this century the program has started 19-3. There have been only four other teams in program history who have started the season with a better record in the 50+ year history of the program.

Purdue improves to 7-0 in fifth sets this season.

Purdue remains undefeated on the road at 13-0 (9-0 away, 4-0 neutral).

The Wolverines held the edge in hitting % (.213% vs. .298%) and blocks (7 vs. 14.5)

Taylor Anderson totaled 47 assists, nine digs, six kills (.556 clip) and two block assists while remaining perfect after seeing 19 receptions.

Grace Heaney led all players with 19 kills, five digs and a career-high four assists.

Kenna Wollard secured 16 kills, seven digs and a block assist. In the fifth set alone, Wollard led all players with four ills and had a key block assist for Purdue to take the 11-8 lead.

Purdue has won the last 10 consecutive matches against Michigan, including 5-0 in Ann Arbor.

Sienna Foster tied a career-high three aces (other: 3 at #22 Indiana, 10/16/25).

Akasha Anderson totaled 12.5 points over the final three sets of action. After posting three errors early in the first, she re-entered the match in Set 3, limiting her errors to no more than one per set over the final three frames.

__________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++PURDUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++++

PURDUE OPENS 51ST SEASON OF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MONDAY NIGHT VS. FDU

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s basketball team is set to tip off its 51st season on Monday night when it hosts FDU at 7 p.m. at Mackey Arena. The game will be streamed on B1G+.

Tim Newton and Jane Schott will be on the call for the Purdue Global Radio Network on 95.3 BOB FM. Monday night’s contest will be one of 10 games this season that will air on select stations of the expanded statewide network.

Head coach Katie Gearlds enters her fifth year at the helm of her alma mater with roster featuring 10 newcomers, including the return of fifth year Madison Layden-Zay. Layden-Zay enters the season 38 3-pointers away from Purdue’s career record of 244 held by Karissa McLaughlin.

Purdue rolled to a 118-42 win over Purdue Northwest in the lone exhibition contest last Monday. Seven Boilermakers finished in double figures, led by Lana McCarthy’s 16 points. The Boilermakers shot a blistering 63.9% from the field, hit 10 3-pointers and dished out 31 assists on 46 made field goals. The 118 points were the third most scored by a Purdue squad in an exhibition.

The Boilermakers are 3-1 in season openers under Gearlds and 41-9 all-time in openers in program history. Purdue is 48-2 all-time in home openers. In the 2024-25 season opener against Purdue Fort Wayne, Lana McCarthy became the second Boilermaker freshman to record a double-double in a season opener and the 15th to start the opening game of a campaign.

GAME NOTES

• Purdue and FDU have never met in women’s basketball.

• Head coach Katie Gearlds enters her fifth season at the helm of her alma mater after reaching the postseason in three of her first four campaigns, including an NCAA Tournament bid in 2023.

• Last year, the Boilermakers battled through injuries against one of the top-10 hardest schedules in the nation that featured 10 games against ranked opposition.

• Gearlds and the coaching staff attacked the transfer portal to welcome in six transfers to West Lafayette in First Team All-Big Sky Taylor Feldman (Northern Arizona), SoCon Freshman & Sixth Woman of the Year Nya Smith (UNC Greensboro), 2024 NJCAA National Player of the Year Kiki Smith (Arkansas), Taylor Henderson (UNC Wilmington), Tara Daye (St. John’s) and Saige Stahl (Indiana State).

• Purdue’s freshman class features Indiana All-Star and the tallest player in program history at 6-7 Avery Gordon, Israeli international guard with national team and professional experience Hila Karsh and hometown product Carley Barrett.

• Boilermaker fans will see a familiar face back on the roster with the return of Madison Layden-Zay. The elder of the Layden sisters returns after graduating in 2024 and getting married in September of that year. Layden-Zay is one of five players in Purdue history with 1,000 points and 200 3-pointers in a career, a list that includes Katie Gearlds.

• Layden-Zay is on the cusp of making Big Ten history as the sixth player in league history to amass 1,000 points, 200 3-pointers, 500 rebounds (needs 76), 300 assists (12), and 50 blocks. She would join Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Michigan State’s Tori Jankoska, Indiana’s Amanda Cahill, Ohio State’s Jaz Shelley and current Purdue head coach Katie Gearlds.

• Lana McCarthy, Kendall Puryear and McKenna Layden are the lone returners from the 2024-25 campaign. The trio were some of the most consistent performers last year.

• McCarthy started 26 games as a freshman and was the 13th Boilermaker in program history to average 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

• Kendall Puryear finished fourth on the team in scoring last year with 72 points per game, coming off the bench in all but one game as a rookie.

• McKenna Layden posted 5.7 points, 5.5 rebounds per game with 23 made 3-pointers and 23 assists over the final 14 games of the season.

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++++++++++++NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

GAME 01 – IRISH HOOPS BEGINS ANEW ON MONDAY NIGHT VS. LIU

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The 122nd season of Notre Dame men’s basketball tips off Monday night inside Purcell Pavilion. It’ll showcase the Fighting Irish against the Long Island University Sharks at 7 p.m. ET, streaming live on ACCNX.

Notre Dame begins the year with 1,978 all-time wins, 22 shy of becoming the eighth program to reach 2,000. Historically, in season openers, the Irish are 100-21.

Two years ago, Irish fans watched Markus Burton take the court for the first time and break Laphonso Ellis’ freshman debut scoring record. Burton poured in 29 points against Niagara in the win.

CORE NUCLEUS INTACT

For Notre Dame and Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry, retention and player development has been key. For the second consecutive year, the Fighting Irish return the highest scoring by percentage of any ACC school. Leading those returners is one of the best backcourt duos in the ACC – junior guards Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry. Approaching their third year together on the court, the duo combined for a league-best 35.3 ppg.

ABOUT LIU

LIU was selected to win the conference in the NEC Preseason Poll, a year after finishing second with a 17-15 overall record and 12-4 mark in league play. The Sharks season ended in the semifinals of the NEC Tournament.

The Sharks enter the 2025-26 season with three returning All-NEC selections: Malachi Davis (First-Team All-NEC), Jamal Fuller (Second-Team All-NEC), and sophomore Shadrak Lasu (NEC All-Rookie Team). Davis averaged 17.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game last winter, while Fuller averaged 12.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES FOR BURTON

The collegiate landscape is starting to pick up on what Notre Dame fans already knew – Markus Burton is a special player. The junior guard has picked up two major preseason accolades:

First Team Preseason All-ACC – last Irish player to garner Preseason First Team honors was senior forward John Mooney in 2019.

Bob Cousy Award Watch List – recognizing the top-20 point guards in the country.

Burton recorded a sensational sophomore season in which he averaged 21.3 ppg, which ranks third nationally amongst returners.

1. PJ Haggerty, Kansas State – 21.7

2. Jaron Pierre Jr., SMU – 21.6

3. Markus Burton, ND – 21.3

4. Terrence Brown, Utah – 20.6

5. Nick Martinelli, NW – 20.5

The last Irish player to average 20+ points in a season was Luke Harangody (21.8 ppg) in the 2009-10 season.

He averaged 23.5 ppg in conference play, which led all ACC players. His 423 points in ACC play broke the program record he set in his freshman season. He now boasts 722 career ACC points, which already ranks him fifth all-time at ND.

MASTER OF THE MIDRANGE

Burton is most dangerous when attacking the basket and utilizing his quickness. He shot 46.9 percent from two-point range overall. More specifically, he was 44.6 percent from the midrange and 46.4 percent from the paint. Burton’s true shooting percentage climbed to 54.8 percent.

And more likely than not, Burton will get fouled attacking the basket and last season he was the team’s best free-throw shooter. He converted 84.8 percent from the stripe, which ranked 6th in the ACC. He drew 5.3 fouls per 40 minutes.

If that wasn’t enough, Burton improved from beyond the arc from year one to year two. He went from a 30.0 percent shooter from three as a freshman to 37.5 percent as a sophomore. In ACC play, Burton converted 40.2 percent from deep.

BRAEDEN, YEAR ‘3’

Braeden’s sophomore campaign was shortened by seven games with a lower-abdomen injury, but he certainly showed the world that he added to his game. He averaged 14.0 ppg, which was up from his freshman year’s 10.2. He also shot 41.3 percent from the floor, which also marked an improvement.

The 6-4 guard connected on 2.8 threes per game on a .369 clip – both ranked third in the ACC. In ACC play, he knocked down 40.0 percent from deep which ranked fifth. Shrewsberry’s sweet spot? He converted 45.5 percent from corner threes (15-for-33).

Furthermore, Braeden shot 48.7 percent from two-point range. Specifically, he shot 43.2 percent from the midrange and 44.9 percent from the paint.

BIG PRESENCE INSIDE WITH THE ADDITION OF TOWT

The nation’s top rebounder from last year transferred to South Bend and will be paired with a top-5 scorer in the country in Markus Burton. Transferring in from Northern Arizona, Carson Towt led the nation with 12.4 rebounds per game last season. Notre Dame is the only school in the country to have players on the top-10 returning scorers and rebounders list.

Towt was a 2025 Second Team All-Big Sky selection and a unanimous Big Sky All-Defensive Team member.vTowt set a Big Sky conference single-season rebounding record, grabbing 423 rebounds across 34 games. The 423 rebounds also led the country.

The 6-8 forward averaged a nation’s best 8.9 defensive rebounds per game and 3.5 offensive boards per game – latter ranked 14th nationally. Towt broke a 63-year record reeling in a career 1,044 rebounds. He also amassed 1,199 career points.

Last season, Towt averaged 13.4 points per game and produced 20 double-doubles which ranked sixth in the nation. He shot .569 overall from the field which ranked second in the Big Sky and 26th nationally

A KEY FOR THE SEASON

One of the major keys for a turnaround season for the Irish, as stated by Coach – gotta be better in close games; being mentally tough down the final stretch.

Last season, the Irish were in 14 games that finished by six points or less (two possessions). They went 7-7 in those games. They were 5-5 in one-possession games and 0-3 in games decided by one point.

EXHIBITION ROUND-UP

Notre Dame called up its old Big East foes and got battle tested before the 2025-26 campaign tipped off. The Irish first travelled to Hinkle Fieldhouse and took down Butler 77-76. Then the Irish hosted DePaul and incurred a 62-69 loss. A major standout in these October preseason bouts was sophomore guard Sir Mohammed who totaled 25 points over the two contests.

The Irish never trailed against Butler and led by as much as 16. Thirteen total Irish saw time on the floor and four finished in double figures.

If the stats officially counted, sophomore guard Cole Certa would have tied his career high of 12 points and set a new personal best for three-pointers made with four. Junior guard Markus Burton tied him for the team high with 12 points as well.

Sir Mohammed would have netted his second career double-digit scoring game as he finished with 10 points. He converted 2-of-3 from deep.

Freshman Brady Koehler also shone with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Fellow freshman, Jalen Haralson, impressed with seven points and team highs in rebounds (6) and assists (4).

For DePaul, the Irish suffered from a cold 4-for-24 shooting start while the Blue Demons converted four triples in the first 10 minutes. The Irish fought back and claimed a second half lead but ultimately fell short down the final stretch.

It would have been a career-high night for sophomore guard Sir Mohammed. The Charlotte native dropped a team-best 15 points on 5-12 shooting. He also grabbed six rebounds, which would have tied his career best.

Another Irish standout tonight was guard Logan Imes. The junior recorded eight points on 3-3 shooting, which included two triples. Jalen Haralson supplied eight points on 4-9 shooting to go with his five boards. Burton joined Mohammed in double figures with 10 points, going 8-8 from the free-throw line.

HIGHLY TOUTED FRESHMEN CLASS TAKES FLOOR FOR FIRST TIME

On Monday, Notre Dame’s highly touted and highly ranked freshemen class takes to the hardwood for the first time officially. Last November, that class was ranked fourth in the nation by 247Sports, fifth by ESPN, fifth by Rivals and sixth by ON3. It was the top-rated class in the state of Indiana; second overall in the ACC.

The class is comprised of Tommy Ahneman, Ryder Frost, Brady Koehler and Jalen Haralson – the latter (at the time of his signing) was the highest rated recruit for Notre Dame in the modern era.

Haralson became the 20th McDonald’s All-American in program history and the first of the Shrews Era.

Frost was on Paul Biancardi’s 2025 top shot-makers list. In 2024, he led the UA summer circuit in three-point percentage, converting 45.2 percent.

Koehler was a 2025 AP Indiana Boys Basketball All-State First Team selection. He attended Coach Shrews’ high school and averaged 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals.

Ahneman was the top-ranked prospect in the state of Minnesota and led Cretin-Derham to a Class 4A Station runner-up finish as a senior. He averaged 16.3 points and 10.6 rebounds. Unfortunately, Ahneman is out indefinitely rehabbing his knee.

A PROGRAM OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

In the first note, we mentioned that Coach Shrews maintained his core nucleus, spearheaded by Markus and Braeden. In this section, we look at the other returners.

6-6 guard Sir Mohammed was slowed as a freshman as he worked through a lower-body injury. He ultimately played in 23 games, with eight starts, and shot 51.1 percent from two.

6-11 forward Garrett Sundra shot 53.3 percent from the field and 72.7 percent from two in 21 games. He was 8-of-20 (.400) from three-point range.

6-5 guard Cole Certa recorded a few clutch moments down the stretch of last season. In a 76-72 win over Pitt, Certa recorded all 12 of his points in the 2nd half but it all stemmed from a 125-second period in which he drained 3 triples. Then, down one with 18 seconds left vs. Stanford, Certa drained a corner three right in front his bench for the eventual 56-54 win.

Rounding out the returners are senior forward Kebba Njie and junior guard Logan Imes. Njie is the only player on the current roster to play four years under Coach Shrewsberry (freshman year at Penn State). Last season, Njie shot a career best 55.5 percent from the floor. Imes played in 26 games and shot 46.4 percent from two.  

2025-26 SCHEDULE NOTES

The Blue & Gold will hit the road for the first time of the season when they travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State on Nov. 16. This marks the start of a home-and-home series, with the Buckeyes traveling to South Bend for the 2026-27 season.

Year three of the ACC/SEC Challenge is approaching and for the first time, Notre Dame men’s basketball will get to host a challenge game inside Purcell Pavilion. The Fighting Irish will host the Missouri Tigers on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Notre Dame trails in the all-time series to Missouri, 2-7. The two programs have not clashed on the hardwood since Nov. 21, 2011. Mizzou has not visited South Bend since Jan. 12, 1994.

Thanksgiving week marks a return to the Players Era Men’s Championship in Las Vegas. The Irish will clash with both Kansas and Rutgers with a third opponent TBD. ND and KU have not squared off since 1988.

The last road non-con will be a trip to TCU on December 5, beginning another home-and-home with the Horned Frogs returning the trip to Purcell for 2026-27. It’ll be the program’s first trip to Fort Worth with a 5-0 mark in the all-time series.

In terms of the ACC schedule, Notre Dame will kick things off with their first West Coast trip, taking on Stanford then Cal. The Irish will also make their first ACC trip to SMU on Feb. 10.

The Irish can receive a big home crowd boost with four of their last six inside Purcell Pavilion. Those home games include Georgia Tech, Duke, NC State and Stanford.

THE BEND

The Fighting Irish basketball programs announced a new black and gold jersey, “The Bend.” A jersey that pays tribute to the characteristics and history of South Bend.

TYING IN TO OUR TOWN

The “Bend” script across the chest, which was inspired by the marquee “South Bend” wall on the side of Madison Oyster Bar in the heart of downtown.

The numbers – a custom font inspired by classic Studebaker cars, which got their start here in South Bend.

The side of the shorts – the lines running up the side of the uniform pull directly from the South Bend flag, which gives a nod to the St. Joseph River.

The Irish will first wear The Bend jerseys against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 7.

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+++++++++++BUTLER SWIMMING++++++++++

BUTLER SECURES TWO DUAL WINS OVER SOUTHERN INDIANA AND BELLARMINE

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler secured two dual wins over Southern Indiana and Bellarmine on Saturday. BU defeated Southern Indiana 108-96 while also defeating Bellarmine 104-101.

“We swam and raced well this weekend. I was impressed with our swimmers’ focus, cheering for each other, and determination to win events from start to finish,” said Head Coach Maurice Stewart.”Our performance today gave us momentum and motivation that should set us up to have a successful House of Champions Invite in three weeks.”

Swimmer of the Meet: The coaching staff chose junior Lydia Eberlein as our team’s swimmer of the meet, as her 400 Individual Medley and 200 Breastroke times were very strong performances and close to personal best times. The coaching staff also considered the following swimmers as runner-up to swimmer of the meet for their excellent contributions to the team’s final results:

Kayla Wright for her wins in both the 1000 Free and 500 Free.

Sarah Jones for her third place finish in the 200 Back at nearly a personal best time, and her season best time in the backstroke leg of the A 200 Medley Relay, and a sixth place finish in 50 Free.

Caitlin Herring for her win in the 200 Free and 200 Fly.

200 Medley Relay

Butler’s A relay placed third with a time of 1:48.95

Back: Sarah Jones (27.78)

Breast: Kate Schilling (30.46)

Fly: Ava Whittaker (25.88)

Free: Olivia Stotts (24.83)

1000 Free

Kayla Wright – first place at 10:41.48, team’s season best time

Sam Tomic – fifth place with a personal best time of 11:02.10

200 Free

Caitlin Herring – first place at 1:56.58

Kate Schilling – second place at 1:56.70

Sophia Amendola – seventh place at 2:03.87

50 Free

Ava Whittaker – fourth place at 25.21

Sarah Jones – sixth place at 25.92

Madeleine Russell – eighth place at 26.02

400 IM

Caroline Zimner – third place at 4:41.22

Sadie Brown – fourth place at 4:44.17

Ashlyn Canale – fifth place with personal best time of 4:45.29

100 Free

Ava Whittaker – fourth place at 55.47

Olivia Stotts – sixth place at 55.87

Elizabeth Naylor – seventh place at 55.95

Sam Tomic – eighth place at 56.46

200 Fly

Caitlin Herring – first place with personal best time of 2:09.64

Sadie Brown – third place at 2:13.68

Meghan Voelker – seventh place at 2:23.36

200 Back

Sarah Jones – third place at 2:08.99

Caroline Zimner – fourth place at 2:09.09

Olivia McKee – seventh place at 2:11.43

500 Free

Kayla Wright – first place at 5:11.67

Elizabeth Naylor – sixth place at 5:31.23

200 Breast

Kate Schilling – first place at 2:22.86

Lydia Eberlein – fourth place at 2:25.53

Ashlyn Canale – fifth place at 2:25.57

Ava McGonigle – sixth place at 2:31.63

Gabi Rapetti – seventh place at 2:35.47

200 Free Relay

Butler’s A relay placed third with a time of 1:42.28

Caitlin Herring (25.59), Zizi Mateja (26.32), Elizabeth Naylor (25.55), and Olivia Stotts (24.82)

UP NEXT

Butler will return to action next weekend at Valparaiso. BU will face both Valpo and Green Bay on Saturday, Nov. 8.

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+++++++++++BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++++

BULLDOGS OPEN REGULAR SEASON WITH KIDS DAY GAME VS. WRIGHT STATE

INDIANAPOLIS – Butler will host Wright State on Monday, Nov. 3 marking the start of the 2025-26 regular season for the Bulldogs. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. as BU will host its annual Kids Day game. Admission is free.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Date: Monday, Nov. 3, 2025

Time: 11AM

Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse

Live Stats: Butlersports.com

Watch: ESPN+

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS

Butler went 16-18 in 2024-25 posting an 11-6 record at Hinkle. BU finished 5-13 in conference play picking up wins over Georgetown, Marquette, Xavier and Providence.

The Bulldogs earned a berth in the 2025 WNIT Tournament and advanced to the second round after defeating UIC 61-54. Lily Zeinstra led the squad with 16 points on an efficient 6-for-10 shooting performance from the floor. Zeinstra chipped in three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The Bulldogs have earned back-to-back WNIT berths under head coach Austin Parkinson.

Butler returns three letterwinners from a year ago and added nine new players to the team with the addition of seven transfers and two freshmen.

Zeinstra returns for BU in 2025-26 after a stellar freshman campaign. The Byron Center, Michigan native averaged 26.2 minutes per game while chipping in 7.6 ppg and 2.9 rebounds per game.

BU’s transfer class includes 2023-24 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year Kennedy Langham (Samford), ESPN’s No. 60 recruit in the Class of 2024 McKenna Johnson (Minnesota), 2024-25 America East Conference Sixth Player of the Year Caroline Dotsey (Maine), twins Nevaeh Jackson and Saniya Jackson from Valparaiso, Mallory Miller (Arizona State), and Gabby Wilke (South Dakota).

Last season, Butler had seven players shoot 40% or higher from the field and had five players shoot 35% or better from 3-point range.

In 2024-25, BU was second in the conference in bench points per game averaging 19.5 ppg.

Austin Parkinson enters his fourth season at the helm of the Bulldogs. Parkinson has led the squad to 42 wins in his first three seasons. The Kokomo, Indiana native earned his 266th career win against UIC in the WNIT last season.

Assistant Coach Chelsey Perry served on Taylor’s staff last season in an assistant role before joining the Bulldog staff this past summer. BU faced Taylor in an exhibition on Oct. 28 at Hinkle Fieldhouse that saw the Bulldogs cruise to a 95-63 victory.

SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE

Wright State posted a 10-22 record a season ago and a 7-13 mark in Horizon League action. The Raiders were 8-7 at home and 2-13 on the road.

The Raiders return nine players from last season while adding four newcomers (two transfers and two freshmen).

Claire Henson who started and played all 32 games for Wright State a season ago is the top returning scorer for the Raiders. Henson averaged 9.8 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 34.1 percent from the floor.

Wright State was picked to finish eighth in the Horizon League in the Preseason Poll.

Kari Hoffman enters her sixth season at the helm of the Raiders in 2025-26. Hoffman is coming off a Horizon League Quarterfinals berth that saw Amaya Staton earn All-League Third Team honors and All-Defensive Team honors.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Butler and Wright State will meet for the 24th time on Monday. Butler holds a 14-9 record against the Raiders.

The first meeting between the two sides came in the 2002-03 season.

BU is 2-1 in the last three meetings against Wright State. The last meeting was in the 2015-16 season as the Raiders won 66-53 in Dayton, Ohio.

2025-26 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TICKETS: Season tickets remain on sale, providing the best seating locations still available for the upcoming season. Contact the Butler Ticket Office at tickets@butler.edu or 317-940-DOGS (3647) to place your order. Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Butler Women’s Basketball season went on sale beginning October 2, and are available through ButlerSports.com/BuyTickets.

Butler University Upgrades Iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse with Dynamic LED Video

Technology consultant Anthony James Partners (AJP) provided design, procurement, and construction administration services for the upgrades, supporting Butler in selecting SNA Displays to manufacture and install more than 2,700 square feet of LED video display technology, including a center hung display system, baseline LED ribbons, multiple courtside tables, and other digital signage.

The centerpiece of the project is a new LED center hung display consisting of four curved, 14-foot-tall video screens seamlessly connected to create a continuous 360-degree video surface. Each side features a 4 mm pixel pitch for increased pixel density and clarity. The center hung also includes custom static lettering along the top ring of the structure and a team-branded Bulldog logo facing downward toward the playing surface.

Other video signage includes 3-foot-high LED ribbons along the second-level fascia at both ends of the Fieldhouse, two 19-foot-long vomitory displays between the second and third levels, and eight new courtside mobile scorer’s tables equipped with LED screens. For recruitment and training purposes, the project also features two new ASPECT™ all-in-one 16:9 video screens from SNA Displays in an adjacent practice facility, directly integrated into the new control management system.

UP NEXT

Butler will return to action on Friday, November 7 as BU hosts Columbia in a Friday night affair. Tip-off at Hinkle Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the contest will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans can find more information about the contest on Butlersports.com.

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+++++++++++IU INDY MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

MEN’S BASKETBALL TO OPEN 2025-26 CAMPAIGN AT OHIO STATE

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team will officially kickoff the 2025-26 season on Monday night (Nov. 3) when the Jaguars take on Ohio State inside the Schottenstein Center on B10+. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Monday’s game officially kicks off the Ben Howlett-era of IU Indy basketball. Howlett, an Ohio-native, took over the program after a highly successful eight-year run as head coach at Division II West Liberty University. During that span, he amassed 217 victories and an .854 winning percentage. Howlett’s program famously runs ‘The System’, which emphasizes high pressure, a full-court press and takes opponents out of their comfort zone. Offensively, players are given freedom and make quick decisions to push the pace and maximize possessions.

Howlett is the first head coach to bring ‘The System’ to the Division I men’s game.

His West Liberty squad went 30-5 last season and averaged 100.2 points per game with a +8.9 turnover margin per contest.

His inaugural IU Indy squad is built around four members of last year’s West Lib team in senior Finley Woodward, junior Kyler D’Augustino and sophomores JP Dragas and Kameron Tinsley. The Jaguars will also lean heavily on a pair of Division I transfers in Micah Davis (Eastern Kentucky) and Jaxon Edwards (St. Bonaventure), both of who are returning to Indianapolis after beginning their collegiate careers elsewhere. True freshmen Reece Hagy and Maguire Mitchell should also be key figures from day one.

QUOTABLE

“Well I don’t think many people expect much from us and to me that’s all I need to hear. We were picked second to last in our league and I don’t think we have the respect of a lot of other teams. So maybe just proving some people wrong and doing it the right way with a different style of play,” Howlett told WISH-TV’s Angela Moryan in a recent interview.

LAST TIME OUT

IU Indy closed out the 2024-25 season with a 98-85 loss at Wright State in the opening round of last year’s Horizon League Tournament. All five starters reached double-digits in that game, paced by Jarvis Walker’s 20 points. Current Ohio State forward Brandon Noel starred for Wright State in that contest with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

INSIDE THE SERIES

IU Indy is 0-3 all-time against Ohio State with all three losses coming in Columbus. The most recent meeting was an 83-37 loss on Jan. 18, 2022. The prior two defeats were by 11 and 13 points, respectively.

UP NEXT

The Jaguars will return home to host LIU on Thursday night (Nov. 6) at 6:30 p.m. inside the Jungle. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Rick Johnston (pxp) and Hall of Famer Bob Lovell (analyst) are on the call.

__________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

MEN’S BASKETBALL HOSTING LOUISIANA FOR MAC-SBC CHALLENGE TO START SEASON

The Ball State men’s basketball team is hosting Louisiana for the season opener at 7 p.m., on Monday at Worthen Arena.

Links to the ESPN+ stream, radio broadcast, live stats and tickets can be found below and on the schedule page. The game will be part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.

Ball State added seven transfers and three true freshmen to the team in the offseason. The seven transfers hail from seven different conferences: Elmore James IV from Ohio (MAC), Davion Hill from Northwest Florida State College (NJCAA Panhandle Conference), Juwan Maxey from Youngstown State (Horizon League), Kayden Fish from Iowa State (Big 12), Armoni Zeigler from Saint Peter’s (MAAC), Cam Denson from Long Beach State (Big West), and Devon Barnes from UTEP (CUSA).

The 2025-26 Ball State men’s basketball roster features student-athletes from 10 different states: Indiana, Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, New York, California, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Louisiana went 12-21 (8-10 SBC) last season and is now led by first year head coach Quannas White. The Ragin’ Cajuns were picked to finish ninth in the 14-team Sun Belt preseason poll.

Redshirt junior forward Kyran Ratliff is the leading returning scorer for Louisiana after averaging 5.7 points in 19.6 minutes per game last season while starting in 15 of 33 games played.

Ball State will remain home to take on Mansfield at 7 p.m., Friday in the second game of the regular season.

SUCCESS VS SUN BELT: Ball State has won each of its home games in the first two seasons of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge and will have a chance for a third when the Cardinals open the season hosting Louisiana on Nov. 3 against Louisiana.

Ball State topped Old Dominion 73-68 on Nov. 11, 2023 and Southern Miss 77-76 on Feb. 8, 2025 in the two previous installments of the challenge at Worthen Arena.

I’VE SEEN YOU BEFORE: Senior guard Elmore James IV is no stranger to the Mid-American Conference having played three seasons at Ohio before coming to Ball State.

The Cleveland, Ohio native has made 24 starts in 50 career MAC games, scoring 339 points. James averaged 8.2 points and 2.6 rebounds overall last season for the Bobcats while shooting 37.3 percent from 3-point range.

FAMILIAR NAME: Junior guard Armoni Zeigler, a transfer from Saint Peter’s, is the brother of former Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler.

Armoni averaged 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Peacocks last season while leading the team in field goals made (114) and steals (43).

BIG GAME POTENTIAL: Guards Juwan Maxey and Davion Hill have shown the ability to put up big scoring games in their collegiate careers.

The senior Maxey scored 29 points against Milwaukee last season when he went to Youngstown State and 23 points vs Robert Morris in the Horizon League championship game. Hill, a redshirt sophomore, tallied double figures in points on 22 occasions including a season-high 38 points last season at Northwest Florida State College.

FLYING FISH: Redshirt sophomore forward Kayden Fish comes to Muncie with NCAA Tournament experience after scoring an and-one and registering a block and a steal last March in Iowa State’s first round win over Lipscomb.

The Kansas City, Mo., native was awarded a medical redshirt his freshman year with the Cyclones and played in nine games last season before transferring to Ball State.

TV GAME AT WORTHEN ARENA: The game against Ohio originally scheduled for Jan. 17 in Muncie has been moved to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 due to it being aired on CBS Sports Network.

Ball State’s most recent home MAC game on a Friday was back on March 3, 2023 against Toledo in a game that was also broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

WELCOME TO THE MAC: Ball State plays league newcomer UMass twice in the regular season in the first season in the league for the Minutemen.

The Cardinals play at UMass on Jan. 10 before hosting the Minutemen on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The two teams have faced off only once prior, in an 89-86 Ball State win on Nov. 21, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

_________________________________________________________________

+++++++++++BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++++

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON AT ARKANSAS STATE MONDAY IN MAC/SBC CHALLENGE GAME

Opening Tip:

– The Ball State women’s basketball team was picked fourth in the 2025-26 Mid-American Conference preseason poll. The Cardinals were also recognized as one of the favorites to win the tournament again this season.

– Ball State is coming off another historic season under 14th-year head coach Brady Sallee. The Cardinals return four players from the 2024-25 MAC regular season and tournament title squad. Last year’s team made the programs second-ever appearance at the NCAA Tournament and ended the year with a 27-8 overall record.

– The Cardinals welcome back junior Tessa Towers, along with sophomores Zuri Ransom and Grace Kingery. All three logged minutes to help last year’s championship team achieve their goals. Junior Ashlynn Brooke will re-enter the lineup as well after recovering from an injury that occurred in 2024.

– The additions to this year’s team include transfers Karsyn Norman and Bree Salenbien. The Cardinals also bring in true freshmen Zhen Verburgt, Violeta Rojas, Alba Caballero, Giorgia Gorini, Brooke Winchester, Aniss Tagayi and Laura Martinez.

 – Ball State was picked 11th in the College Insider Women’s Mid Major Top 25 poll. Only two teams from the Mid-American Conference made the top 25 the only other school was Kent State which was tabbed 10th.

Strong Scheduling:

Just like in years past, Brady Sallee and his staff have put together a challenging non-conference schedule which features four teams that competed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament; Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Louisville and South Dakota State.

It’s GAMEDAY:

– Tonight’s season opener is part of the Mid-American/Sun Belt Conference Challenge which is in its third season. This marks the second-ever meeting between Ball State and Arkansas State. The Red Wolves won that meeting over the Cardinals by a score of 74-72 on a neutral court on Nov. 23, 2001.

– Last season the Cardinals went 1-1 in the MAC/SBC Challenge. Ball State defeated Old Dominion at home by a 60-46 decision on iNov. 4, 2024. Ball State then lost at James Madison on Feb. 8, 2025 by a score of 78-74. The Cardinals own a 3-1 record in the MAC/SBC Challenge.

– Arkansas State is 2-2 in the MAC/SBC Challenge winning both contests against Northern Illinois (75-62) and Akron (81-67) in its inaugural year and then fell to Western Michigan (52-61) and Bowling Green (73-75) last season.

– Both Ball State and Arkansas State won their respective conference tournaments last season and participated in the first round the NCAA Tournament.

– Ball State is 5-8 under the direction of Brady Sallee in season openers. The Cardinals won their season opener last year at home against Old Dominion by a 60-46 decision on Nov. 4, 2024.

Sallee Strong:

Brady Sallee is known for developing his players into strong shooters,over the years. In the last two seasons the Cardinals have ranked in the top 75 nationally in offense. In 2023-24 the Cardinals were 53rd in offense averaging 72.7 points per game while in 2024-25 Ball State finished the year ranked 72nd averaging 72.5 points per game.

Road Warriors:

Under head coach Brady Sallee the Cardinals have played well on the road for the last 13 years under his watch. The Cardinals are 110-74 (.597) from 2012 until present on the road. Ball State’s best season playing away from home was in 2020-21 when the Cardinals posted an 11-2 mark. Ball State will open the season with two straight road games before returning home on Nov. 12 against Northern Kentucky.

Scouting Arkansas State:

– Arkansas State women’s basketball was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference in the 2025-26 Preseason Coaches Poll.

– Junior Crislyn Rose was selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after a 2024-25 campaign that concluded with Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors alongside a Third Team All-Conference label. Rose averaged 10.0 points, a team-best 4.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game.

– Senior Zyion Shannon earned Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team honors after leading the team with 10.7 points per game on a 39.9% field goal percentage last season. The senior scored 10-plus points in 17 games and topped 20 points five times en route to Second Team All-Conference recognition.

– Arkansas State women’s basketball (21-11, 15-3 SBC) concluded a historic season which featured the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance at UConn (32-3, 18-0 Big East), falling 103-34 on March 22, 2025 at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.

– The 2024-25 Arkansas State Red Wolves finish as the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Champions for the first time in program history, securing the first winning season since 2015-16.

_______________________________________________________________

++++++++++++INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++++

TREES OPEN 2025-26 SEASON AT IU INDY

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State makes the short trek east to the capital city Monday evening, as the Sycamores kickoff the 2025-26 women’s basketball season at IU Indy.

Monday’s season opener from The Jungle is slated for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff and will be carried on ESPN+.

Sycamores In Season Openers

Indiana State owns a 22-21 record in season openers in its Division I era, which dates back to the 1982-83 season and the foundation of the Gateway Conference.

The Trees have opened their season with a true road game 20 times during that span, and a 8-12 in those games. Indiana State’s last time opening a season on the road came during the 2023-24 campaign, when the Sycamores defeated Northern Kentucky 85-82 in overtime in Highland Heights.

Back to the Capital

Monday’s season opener is the first of two games in the capital city of Indianapolis for Indiana State this season, as the Sycamores will also pay a visit to Butler in December.

Head Coach Marc Mitchell is no stranger to the Circle City, as he previously spent two seasons as the head coach of UIndy. Mitchell went 31-27 in his tenure with the Greyhounds.

Indiana State also played at Butler last season, with the Sycamores’ last trip to Indianapolis prior to that game coming in the 2018-19 season (also at Butler). The Sycamores’ last game at IU Indy came during the 2017-18 season.

All Eyes On Them

Indiana State had three student-athletes named to the MVC’s Preseason Players to Watch list, with guards Kennedy Claybrooks and Tierney Kelsey, and forward Amerie Flowers named to the 36-athlete list.

Claybrooks is expected to be a key contributor for the Blue and White this season, as she averaged 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists across seven games last season at Southeast Missouri State. The senior guard played three games against Missouri Valley Conference opponents last year while at SEMO, averaging 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in those contests against MVC opposition. Claybrooks averaged 33 minutes per game last year and set career highs in points (19), rebounds (nine), assists (seven), steals (five) and field goals made (seven) during the 2024-25 season.

Kelsey will also factor into the Sycamore backcourt this season and is coming off a campaign which saw her average 3.6 points, 1.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game for a Jackson State team which reached the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament last season. The sophomore guard was the only underclassman to feature in Jackson State’s rotation last year, playing in all but one game as a freshman and averaging just under 15 minutes per contest.

Flowers is expected to have a significant role in the frontcourt for Indiana State after helping McLennan CC to a conference and region championship during the 2024-25 season. The sophomore forward averaged 6.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for a McLennan team that went 28-4 during the 2024-25 season and reached the second round of the NJCAA Tournament.

Tough Sledding

Indiana State’s 2025-26 schedule once again features a challenging slate for the Blue and White. The Sycamores will play 10 games this season against teams which won 20 or more games during the 2024-25 season, with a potential for an 11th game against a 20-win team from last season depending on if the Trees face Ole Miss at the Cherokee Invitational.

The Sycamores’ 20-game MVC slate features eight games against 20-win teams from last season, with Indiana State playing Belmont (26 wins last season), Drake (22), Illinois State (24) and Murray State (25) twice each. Michigan State (22) and Western Kentucky (23) are 20-win teams on the non-conference schedule, with Ole Miss (22) also a possibility depending on results in the Cherokee Invitational.

More than half of Indiana State’s 2025-26 schedule consists of games against 2024-25 postseason teams. Of the 31 games on the Sycamores’ schedule, 16 come against teams which reached the postseason last year (two each against Belmont, Drake, Illinois State, Murray State, Northern Iowa and UIC, non-conference games against Butler, Michigan State, Western Kentucky and either Old Dominion or Ole Miss).

Veteran Presence

Despite Indiana State having no returners on its 2025-26 roster, the Sycamores are not shy in terms of a veteran look on its team. The Trees feature five athletes who are listed as seniors or graduate students, and also have two redshirt juniors who are in their fourth year of college basketball.

The Sycamores also have no freshmen on their 2025-26 roster and are one of five programs without a true or redshirt freshman on their current roster (the others are Arkansas State, Southern Illinois, Texas Tech and UL-Monroe). The Sycamores and Red Wolves are the only programs without a freshman in two consecutive seasons, as neither program had a freshman on its 2024-25 roster. Wichita State also has no true freshman, though the Shockers do have a redshirt freshman on their roster.

New Year, New Look

Indiana State begins the 2025-26 season, its second under Head Coach Marc Mitchell, with a new feeling around the program. The Sycamores returned no players from its 2024-25 roster, with 14 newcomers joining the program this season.

Indiana State’s 14 newcomers are tied with Northern Arizona and UL-Monroe for the most among any Division I institution. The Sycamores and Warhawks also have the distinction of being the only two Division I institution with no returners from their 2024-25 rosters.

Among Indiana State’s 14 new faces, eight come from the NCAA ranks, with six Division I transfers and two Division II transfers. Three Sycamores joined the program from the junior college ranks, while three more came by way of NAIA programs.

McLennan Connection

Indiana State has some continuity within its 2025-26 roster, despite the Sycamores not returning a single player from their 2024-25 team and featuring 14 new faces. Guard Kennedi Ard and forward Amerie Flowers are reunited in Terre Haute after the duo were teammates at McLennan CC in 2024-25. Ard and Flowers helped the Highlassies win a conference and regional championship, with McLennan going 28-4 and reaching the second round of the NJCAA Tournament. McLennan’s conference championship was its first since 2006, while the regional championship was the program’s first since 1984.

Ard averaged 7.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game across 31 games at McLennan last season, drawing the starting nod on nine occasions. She ranked second on McLennan’s roster with 47 3-pointers, connecting on three or more treys in nine games. Ard scored in double-figures 10 times last season, and pulled down five or more rebounds in seven games.

Flowers appeared in all 32 games for McLennan last season, including 15 starts, and averaged 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. She scored in double-figures nine times last season, while also pulling down five or more rebounds in 14 games.

Picking Up The Pace

Indiana State has shown a desire to play a more up-tempo style of play, with the Sycamores’ 75.4 possessions per 40 minutes last season ranking among the best in program history.

Indiana State’s uptick in pace last season saw the Sycamores hit single-game marks which had not been reached in over a decade. The Trees scored 90 points in a win over Evansville, marking the first time the Sycamores reached the 90-point mark since the 2013-14 season against Drake. Indiana State tied its program record of 15 3-pointers at Southern Illinois, with the Sycamores’ last time hitting 15 3-pointers in a game coming during the 2006-07 season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

IU Indy At A Glance

IU Indy finished the 2024-25 season at 9-21 overall and 8-12 in Horizon League play. The Jaguars were seventh in the Horizon League last season, falling to Oakland in the first round of the conference tournament.

Nevaeh Foster is the leading returner for the Jaguars at 9.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, with IU Indy losing eight of its top nine scorers from last season. The Jags face the tough task of replacing first team all-conference selection Katie Davidson, who averaged 19.4 points per game and shot better than 50 percent from the field. IU Indy also lost its leaders in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

Kate Bruce enters her fourth season as head coach at IU Indy and owns a record of 33-57 at the helm of the Jaguars. Bruce enters her 10th season as a head coach and is 167-100 in her head coaching career between Walsh and IU Indy.

Series History Against IU Indy

Indiana State is 10-6 all-time against IU Indy, including a 4-3 mark in Indianapolis. The Sycamores are 6-6 against the Jaguars in the Division I era, with identical 3-3 records in home and away contests.

IU Indy has won the last four meetings, though the two schools have not met since the 2018-19 campaign.

Last Meeting Against IU Indy (Dec. 3, 2018)

Indiana State allowed a fourth quarter charge by IUPUI as the Sycamores dropped their home opener in an in-state battle, 64-59, inside the Hulman Center.

Ashli O’Neal, who reached double digits for the 16th times in 17 games, scored a team-high 15 points for Indiana State. She also was responsible for two assists, two steals and drew one charge and almost a second one. Regan Wentland added 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

After starting off slow, Indiana State rallied back to take a 35-31 lead into the break. The Sycamores outscored the visitors by a 24-11 margin in the second quarter, largely in part to 28 first-half points between O’Neal, Wentland and Tierra Webb. Things unraveled late for the Sycamores, though, as IUPUI outscored Indiana State 19-10 over the last 10 minutes of the game to escape Terre Haute with the win and spoil the Sycamores’ home opener.

Up Next

Indiana State has more than a week between Monday’s season opener and its next game, with the Sycamores’ next contest being their November 11 home opener against Eastern Illinois. Tipoff between the Sycamores and Panthers is slated for 7 p.m. inside Hulman Center.

____________________________________________________________

++++++++++++INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++++

INDIANA STATE TIPS OFF 2025-26 SEASON AT CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Indiana State men’s basketball opens the season on the first official day of college basketball across the nation, playing at Charlotte on Monday, November 3.

 Last Time Out

Indiana State played in an exhibition at Butler on Wednesday, October 29.

Indiana State was led offensively by Sterling Young with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the floor and 2-for-5 from three. Young added six rebounds and six assists. Ian Scott followed with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, finishing 6-for-10 from the floor. Indiana State as a team shot 41.1% from the field (30-for-73) and 33.3% from deep (11-for-33)

The Series

This will be the first time the two programs have met.

Players to Watch

Graduate student Markus Harding and junior Camp Wagner were named as Players to Watch by the Missouri Valley.

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.

Following Charlotte

Indiana State opens their home schedule on Thursday, November 6 at 7 p.m. against Illinois Tech.

______________________________________________________________

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

MEN’S SOCCER FINISHES 2025 CAMPAIGN SUNDAY AFTERNOON

HOUSTON, Texas-  University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer season ended with a 5-1 loss to Houston Christian University on Sunday afternoon in Houston, Texas.

The Screaming Eagles finished the 2025 campaign at 2-10-5 (1-4-5 OVC), finishing seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference with eight points, four behind sixth-place Eastern Illinois.

The 2025 season was highlighted by a 4-1 victory over HCU on October 2 and a 1-0 win against Rose Hulman Institute of Technology on August 26. The team was honored with two OVC Offensive Player of the Week awards throughout the season, with freshman Edin Cvorovic and sophomore David Davila each earning recognition.

In today’s match, the Huskies struck first at 18:59, taking a 1-0 lead through the first half. Despite the goal, USI’s defense held strong, limiting HCU to five shots with two on goal. USI tallied three shots with two on goal from junior Will Kirchhofer through the first 45.

HCU opened the floodgates in the second half, scoring four goals in the first 31 minutes, taking a commanding 5-0 lead. The Eagles fought back in the 84th minute with sophomore Pablo Juan scoring his third goal of the season off an assist from freshman Tony Murphy. The pass marked Murphy’s team-high fifth assist of the season.

For the game, USI was outshot 19-6 and 10-3 on goal. The Eagles forced four corner kicks while the Huskies had two, and also drew nine fouls while committing just six. Between the posts, USI grabbed five saves while HCU nabbed two.

During the 2025 season, the Eagles scored 18 goals, a program high since transitioning back to NCAA Division I in 2022. As a team, USI averaged 1.06 goals per game, while giving up 2.71. They tallied 121 total shots with 61 coming on goal.

Next, USI Men’s Soccer will turn its attention to preparing for the 2026 season. USI fans can stay up to date with the latest at usiscreamingeagles.com or follow USI Athletics on social media.

______________________________________________________________

++++++++++++SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

USI WOMEN’S SOCCER SCORES TRIO AGAINST EASTERN ILLINOIS, ADVANCES TO OVC TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS

CHARLESTON, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer posted a 3-0 shutout in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals against Eastern Illinois University on Sunday afternoon, earning the Screaming Eagles’ first trip to the conference tournament semifinals.

On the heels of the program’s first OVC Tournament win last Thursday in the first round, USI Women’s Soccer (9-7-4, 4-2-3 OVC) doubled up with a second one on Sunday. The quarterfinal match pitted the fifth-seeded Eagles against fourth-seeded Eastern Illinois (8-8-3, 5-3-1 OVC). The game was a rematch from USI’s previous road trip to Charleston, Illinois, on October 9, which ended in a 1-1 tie.

The USI seniors led the goal scoring on Sunday. Senior defender Charli Grafton provided the game’s first tally and her second of the tournament. Senior forward Peyton Murphy scored a two-goal brace, with the first coming seconds after Grafton’s goal and another shortly after halftime.

Statistically, USI controlled the shot totals 14-12 overall and 4-3 in shots on goal. Four Screaming Eagles had multiple shot attempts. Sophomore defender Emma Schut led USI with four shots. Redshirt sophomore forward Eva Boer had three shots and an assist.

The Screaming Eagles came out of the gates with high energy and surrounded the Panthers’ defense, recording three shots in the first 10 minutes. While Eastern Illinois settled and flipped field position in the middle of the first half, USI stayed poised and flipped the possession and field position back in its favor.

In the 28th minute, USI earned a short-corner free kick. Redshirt junior midfielder Emma Thurston, who had a service assist in Thursday’s first-round win, delivered a cross into Grafton for a header goal to put USI ahead, 1-0. Then, not even 30 seconds later, the Eagles forced the Panthers’ defense into a turnover in the defensive third. Then a few connections led Murphy into a sliding goal to double USI’s lead to 2-0.

While Eastern Illinois tried to respond with a few shot attempts down the stretch of the first half, redshirt junior goalkeeper Anna Markland made two of her three saves in the game to maintain USI’s 2-0 lead into halftime.

Nearly seven minutes into the second half, USI earned a free kick from about 25 yards out. Thurston sent the kick in and off the gloves of the EIU goalkeeper. Off the deflected save, Murphy stepped up and put the ball into the net for her second goal of the match and extended the Eagles’ advantage to 3-0.

Following the two goals on Sunday, Murphy moved inside the top 15 in USI’s all-time history in goals (14) and points (40). Murphy is USI’s all-time leading scorer in the Division I era.

After taking a 3-0 lead, USI remained locked in. As the Panthers ramped up the intensity, trying to answer and come back, the Screaming Eagles stood tall and turned away Eastern Illinois in the remaining minutes of the game.

With Sunday’s victory, USI Women’s Soccer advanced to Thursday’s semifinals. The Screaming Eagles will travel to the championship-site host and top-seeded Tennessee Tech University (6-6-7, 6-0-3 OVC). Kickoff Thursday is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Cookeville, Tennessee. Tennessee Tech is coming off a double-bye after winning the OVC regular-season championship. The winner will advance to next Sunday’s championship match.

All games of the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+. Additional coverage for USI can be found on usiscreamingeagles.com with full tournament coverage on the OVC website at ovcsports.com.

_________________________________________________________________

++++++++++++VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SET TO START COURTNEY BOYD ERA TUESDAY AT DEPAUL

Valparaiso (0-0, 0-0 MVC)

Game #1 – November 4, 2025 – 6 p.m.

at DePaul (0-0, 0-0 Big East)

Wintrust Arena (10,387) – Chicago, Ill.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valpo women’s basketball team opens the Courtney Boyd era and the 2025-26 regular season with its season opener Tuesday evening in Chicago, as the Beacons face off with DePaul.

Previously: The Beacons played a closed scrimmage against Northern Illinois and earned an 89-70 win over Grace in its lone open exhibition game.

Following Valpo Basketball: Video: ESPN+

Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com

Head Coach Courtney Boyd: Courtney Boyd was named the ninth head coach of the Valparaiso University women’s basketball program on Friday, April 4, 2025. A national championship-winning head coach and player, an NAIA National Coach of the Year, and a two-time conference Coach of the Year, Boyd enters the 2025-26 season with a 190-68 (.736) record in eight years as a collegiate head coach and has won 20 or more games in seven of her eight seasons. She spent the last two seasons at the helm of the Quincy University program after six seasons as head coach at Clarke University, leading the latter program to the NAIA national title in 2022-23.

Series Notes: DePaul has won all 17 meetings in the all-time series between the two programs, which includes a brief stint from 1987-91 when Valpo and DePaul shared conference affiliation in the North Star Conference. The two teams have met just once since 2004, however – an 84-53 win for the Blue Demons in November 2010 as part of the Preseason WNIT.

@ValpoWBB…

…and @ValleyHoops

– Valpo is in its ninth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

– Valpo was picked outside the top-four of the MVC preseason poll, as the Valley released only the top four selections.

– The Valley finished last season ranked seventh in the NET, matching the conference’s highest NET/RPI ranking in Valpo’s time as an MVC member (2020-21).

…looking back at last year

– Valpo finished last season with a 13-19 overall record and went 9-11 in MVC play to finish in eighth place.

– Among the Beacons’ 13 victories were a thrilling rally from a 20-point deficit for a home win over Drake which entered the game ranked 69th in NET, the program’s highest-ranked win since a win over #54 UNI in 2021-22.

– Leah Earnest was tabbed a First Team All-MVC honoree as she concluded a decorated career that saw her finish first in program history in career rebounds and third in career scoring.

– The 2024-25 Beacons hit 245 3-pointers, third-most in a single season in program history, and tallied 314 steals, seventh on the program’s single-season chart and the most since 2001-02.

…looking ahead

– Valpo stays on the road as the season gets going, traveling to take on Detroit Mercy Nov. 8 and Iowa State Nov. 12.

– The Beacons’ first home game is Sunday, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. against Milwaukee.

…on the road

– Tuesday’s game is the first of six nonconference true road games for the Beacons, who will play 10 road games in MVC play as well.

– Valpo will play 18 games in all away from home, as it has a pair of neutral-site games in Cleveland.

– Last season’s squad posted a 3-11 mark in true road games.

…in season openers

– Valpo dropped its season opener in Xenia, Ohio against Liberty last season, 77-58.

– This year’s team is attempting to buck a recent trend, as the Beacons have won just one of their last seven season openers.

@DePaulWBBHoops

– DePaul finished last season with a 13-19 overall record and were 8-10 in Big East play, good for sixth in the conference standings.

– The Blue Demons were picked to finish in eighth place in this season’s Big East preseason poll.

– Kate Clarke, who has averaged better than 10 points/game in her two years with the Blue Demons, was a Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention choice, but will miss the early part of the season due to injury, as will Meg Newman.

A New Era

– Valpo will step on the court Tuesday for its first regular season action under the tutelage of first-year head coach Courtney Boyd.

– The ninth head coach in program history, Boyd will hope to get off to a better start than many of her predecessors, as only two of Valpo’s previous eight head coaches won their first game in charge.

Who’s Back

– The Beacons return seven players from their 2024-25 squad for the 2025-26 campaign.

– While seven players are back for another season in the Brown and Gold, Valpo has to replace its four leading scorers as it lost 73.8% of its scoring and 66.9% of its rebounding from last season’s team.

– A pair of seniors who played big roles as incoming transfers last season highlight the group of returnees: Maci Rhoades and Fiona Connolly.

– Raeven Raye-Redmond, Mor Shabtai, Kayla Preston, Kylie Waytashek and Bella Swedlund round out the returning group.

Who’s New

– Boyd is blending a diverse group of nine newcomers with the seven returnees to fill out the 16-player roster.

– The group of newcomers includes four true freshmen and five transfers – one Division I, two Division II and two junior college.

– Senior Mikayla Huffine spent the last two years playing under Boyd’s tutelage at Quincy.

– A pair of redshirt junior posts enter their first season as Beacons: Milana Nenadic (Idaho State/Maine) and Kamryn Winch (Maryville).

– Valpo also brings in junior college transfers Kayla Sullivan (State Fair C.C.) and Kennedy Sproule (Bay College).

– Four freshmen will be getting their first taste of college basketball this year: Isabella Anderson, Nuala Connolly, Autumn Dibb and Allia von Schlegell.

International Flavor

– Valpo has a trio of international players on its 2025-26 roster: sophomore Mor Shabtai (Israel) and transfers Milana Nenadic (Ontario, Canada) and Kennedy Sproule (Manitoba, Canada).

– Prior to Shabtai’s arrival last year, the Valpo program hadn’t had an international player since Sharon Karungi (Uganda) roamed the paint from 2013-15.

Sister Act

– For the third straight season, the Beacons have a pair of sisters on their roster, as freshman Nuala Connolly joins senior sister Fiona on this year’s squad.

– The last two years featured identical twins Nevaeh and Saniya Jackson.

– Before that, the last set of sisters to suit up together in the Brown and Gold were the trio of Hamlet sisters: Annemarie (2013-16) overlapped with both older sister Elizabeth (2013-14) and younger sister Meredith (2015-19).

#1 Allia von Schlegell

– von Schlegell played her final two seasons at Nazareth Academy after playing first two seasons at Saint Viator

– von Schlegell earned Special Mention All-State honors while averaging 15 points/game as a senior, helping to lead Nazareth to conference and regional titles.

– von Schlegell helped Nazareth all the way to the state championship game as a junior.

– von Schlegell averaged 11 points and four assists as a sophomore at Saint Viator, earning honorable mention All-Conference.

#2 Maci Rhoades

– Rhoades started all 31 games she appeared in during her first year at Valpo, missing only the MVC Tournament game versus Bradley due to injury, and averaged 6.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

– Rhoades ranked third on the team in rebounding and steals (37) in 2024-25.

– Rhoades scored in double figures 11 times in 2024-25, including seven times in MVC play and in five of the final six regular season games – Valpo owned an 8-3 record when she scored in double digits.

– Rhoades hit three or more 3-pointers on five occasions and led the Beacons in assists six times and in steals four times.

– Rhoades scored a career-best 13 points in Valpo’s Feb. 21 win over Evansville.

– Rhoades played the first two seasons of her collegiate career at Radford.

#3 Isabella Anderson

– Anderson was a  five-time All-Conference selection for Milbank [S.D.] H.S.

– Anderson earned Honorable Mention All-State honors as a senior, was team MVP each of her final two seasons and was a three-time team defensive player of the year.

– Anderson closed her career as Milbank’s all-time leading scorer (1,387 points).

– Anderson was selected for the South Dakota 3-Class Shootout following her senior season.

– Anderson helped Milbank capture a region championship and advance to the state Sweet 16 in 2023.

#4 Fiona Connolly

– Connolly appeared in 31 games in her first season at Valpo in 2024-25, starting four times and averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

– Connolly ranked second on the team with 60 assists while leading the Beacons in steals seven times and in assists five times

– Connolly scored in double figures for the first time in her collegiate career Jan. 17 against Illinois State, tallying 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting, also setting a career high for field goals made and matching a career high with three steals.

– Connolly played the first two seasons of her collegiate career at La Salle.

#5 Raeven Raye-Redmond

– Raye-Redmond appeared in 11 games in 2024-25, making seven starts, before suffering a season-ending injury.

– Raye-Redmond averaged 4.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.5 assists per game, while leading the Beacons in steals four times and in assists three times.

– Raye-Redmond exploded for a career-high 15 points Nov. 14 at Milwaukee, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor while also matching her career best with five assists.

– Raye-Redmond appeared in 28 games off the bench as a rookie in 2023-24, ranking second on the team with 39 steals.

– Raye-Redmond debuted with an eight-steal night Nov. 28, 2023 against Western Illinois, the highest steal total by a Valpo player since 2002 and by an MVC player since 2017.

#9 Mor Shabtai

– Shabtai saw action in 30 games as a freshman in 2024-25, making 21 starts and averaging 17.4 minutes/game.

– Shabtai ranked third on the team in assists and led the Beacons in assists on six occasions.

– Shabtai played in the Israeli Women’s Basketball Premier League before her arrival on campus, seeing action with Hapoel Petah Tikva, ASA Jerusalem and Elitzur Holon

#10 Autumn Dibb

– Dibb was an Honorable Mention All-State choice and was selected to the 2025 WBCA All-Star Game as a senior as she helped lead Muskego [Wis.] H.S. to the state championship game.

– Dibb was a two-time Second Team All-Conference honoree who set a school single-season record as a senior with 111 assists.

– Dibb was part of basketball teams which won three regional titles, as well as conference and sectional titles in 2025.

– Dibb was also a member of four state champion soccer teams.

#11 Kennedy Sproule

– Sproule played two seasons for the Bay College Norse, earning Second Team All-Conference honors both years.

– Sproule also earned All-Defensive Team accolades as a sophomore.

– Sproule helped her team capture two conference championships and appear in two district tournaments.

– Sproule averaged 13.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game over her two seasons while connecting on 174 3-pointers.

– Sproule set program single-game records with 13 3-pointers and 45 points.

#20 Mikayla Huffine

– Huffine helped Quincy to a 25-8 record as a junior in 2024-25 as the Hawks captured their first GLVC tournament title since 2005, had their best GLVC regular season finish since 2011 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.

– Huffine started all 28 games as a sophomore in 2023-24 for the Hawks.

– Huffine played the 2022-23 season with the Iowa Western C.C. Reivers, helping to lead the team to a 26-5 record and an appearance in the regional championship game as she tallied a team-high 113 assists.

#21 Milana Nenadic

– Nenadic spent the 2024-25 season at Idaho State, appearing in five games.

– Nenadic previously appeared in six games over two years at Maine, part of the 2023-24 team which won America East regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

– Nenadic was ranked as the #15 high school prospect in North America and the top-rated Canadian by Blue Star Basketball in the 2023 graduating class before reclassifying.

– Nenadic was named to the Canada U16 national team in 2021.

#22 Nuala Connolly

– Connolly most recently played at Western Reserve (Ohio) Academy.

– Connolly previously played prep at La Lumiere (Ind.), Proctor (N.H.) Academy and South Burlington (Vt.) H.S.

#23 Bella Swedlund

– Swedlund appeared in eight games off the bench in 2024-25 in her first season at Valpo.

– Swedlund made her collegiate debut last season Nov. 12 against Trinity Christian and scored her first collegiate point Nov. 25 from the free throw line against Goshen.

– Swedlund previously spent one season apiece at Toledo and Kansas without playing.

#24 Kayla Preston

– Preston saw action in 23 games off the bench as a sophomore in 2024-25, averaging 3.0 points/game and grabbing 20 rebounds.

– Preston smashed her career high with 20 points in the Nov. 12 win over Trinity Christian, hitting 7-of-10 from the field and 6-of-8 from the foul line to lead all players.

– Preston also scored in double figures again in the Nov. 25 win over Goshen with a 10-point effort.

– Preston appeared in 20 games off the bench as a freshman in 2023-24.

#25 Kayla Sullivan

– Sullivan was a Third Team NJCAA Division I All-American as a sophomore in 2024-25.

– Sullivan also earned First Team All-Region 16 honors last season, was a First Team All-Conference selection and was named team MVP.

– Sullivan averaged 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while helping State Fair C.C. win the Region 16 Tournament title and earn a trip to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.

#33 Kylie Waytashek

– Waytashek appeared in 25 games off the bench as a freshman in 2024-25, playing a total of 164 minutes while scoring 50 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.

– Waytashek scored a season-best 14 points in the Nov. 12 win over Trinity Christian.

– Waytashek knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and recorded a pair of steals March 13 in the MVC Tournament against Bradley.

– Waytashek came to Valpo after being named an Honorable Mention All-State honoree as a senior at Royalton [Minn.] H.S., closing her time there as the program’s all-time leader in scoring and blocked shots.

#44 Kamryn Winch

– Winch spent the last three years at Maryville, appearing in 16 games over the last two seasons after redshirting in 2022-23.

– Winch scored a career-best 10 points in 2023-24 against Hannibal-LaGrange and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds in 2024-25 versus UHSP.

– Winch earned All-State honors and was named to the area Girls Basketball Winter Dream Team as a senior after averaging 19 points and 15 rebounds per game for North County [Mo.] H.S.

_______________________________________________________________

++++++++++++UINDY MEN’S SOCCER++++++++++++

MEN’S SOCCER GRABS CRUCIAL WIN AHEAD OF GLVC TOURNAMENT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The UIndy men’s soccer team picked up three points against Lewis to secure the win and home field advantage in the quarterfinals of the GLVC Tournament.

This is the first win for the Greyhounds over the Flyers since UIndy’s 2023 GLVC Tournament semifinal win.

These two teams have met a whopping 11 times since 2020, the most of any UIndy opponent in the last six seasons, with UIndy taking five of the 11 meetings, including today’s 1-0 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Today’s game was a defensive battle between both sides. There were only 13 total shots combined between both sides, with four of those 13 shots coming from UIndy.

The Hounds only mustered one shot in the first half from a chance created by Kabiru Gafar that rang off the crossbar in the 44th minute, keeping the match all square at zero headed to the half.

Keerti Unnamatla got the start in goal today, and corralled in his only two saves of the match in the first half.

With GLVC Tournament hosting implications on the line, the Hounds pushed for that breakthrough goal in the second half. Alex Ziermann almost found the opening goal in the 52nd minute, but his shot was denied by Jeremiah Higgins.

Lucas Bedleg was the one who found the goal to secure the GLVC Tournament hosting rights for UIndy. Alex Ziermann bobbed and weaved his way through the Flyers’ back line, before a simple layoff pass found Bedleg, who fired home a shot into the top corner to give UIndy the 1-0 lead.

UIndy’s defensive effort in the final 20 minutes sought out the game, with the team only allowing one shot that was blocked, to clinch home field in the first round of the GLVC Tournament next weekend.

INSIDE THE BOX

– Bedleg has recorded a goal or an assist in each of his last five matches.

– Ziermann has managed at least one shot in every game he’s played in this season except for two.

– Gafar recorded two shots in today’s match, which is the eighth time this season he’s recorded at least two shots in a game.

– Thomas Piazza played a season high 30 minutes today.

UP NEXT

UIndy will enter the postseason next weekend for the GLVC Tournament as the No. 4 seed, and will host a game at Key Stadium for the seventh straight season.

________________________________________________________________

++++++++++++UINDY WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++++

WOMEN’S SOCCER CONCLUDES SEASON AGAINST LEWIS

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The UIndy women’s soccer team fell in its final regular season game of the 2025 season to Lewis, 2-0.

These sides have split the last four meetings against each other, with the Greyhounds taking four of the last six matchups dating back to 2020.

HOW IT HAPPENED

All of the Hounds’ offense came in the first half, with all five the team’s shots coming in the first half. Senior Rochelle Maxson and Nicole Schroeder recorded the two shots on goal for the Hounds today in the 32nd and 43rd minutes, respectively. Maxson led the team in shots with three. Frannie Poulos was the only other Greyhound with a shot today.

The senior goalkeepers, Maria White and Kendall Ellis made appearances today, with White starting the first half, and Ellis starting the second half. Both had nearly identical statlines, with White recording three saves, and Ellis with four saves, and both allowing one goal.

Lewis grabbed one goal in each half, with Breanna Culver and Kali Sweet the goal recipients today for the Flyers. Culver now leads the Flyers in goals this season with five. Those two goals were the only ones of the day, as the Flyers came out on top 2-0 in this one.

INSIDE THE BOX

– In her final game with UIndy, Maxson recorded a career high three shots today.

– Nine UIndy seniors made an appearance today; Antiya Sidibe, Ellis, Izzie Wallace, Lyza Shamy, Maxson, Morgan Peters, Sukhmani Shergill, White and Zy’Aire Parker.

UP NEXT

UIndy’s 2025 season comes to a close today in Romeoville, Ill., and the Hounds will now use the next few months to reload for next season.

_________________________________________________________________

+++++++SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES+++++++

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

MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/

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

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

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

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

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

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

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

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

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

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

_______________________________________________________________________

++++++++SPORTS EXTRA+++++++++

+++++++++TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY++++++++++

Nov. 3

1899 — Jim Jeffries beats Sailor Tom Sharkey to retain the world heavyweight title after referee George Siler stops the fight in the 25th round at the Greater New York Athletic Club.

1934 — Lou Gehrig wins the American League Triple Crown after hitting .363 with 49 HR, and 165 RBIs. Philadelphia catcher Mickey Cochrane named AL MVP.

1942 — Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams wins the American League Triple Crown (.356 average, 36 HRS, 137 RBI) but Yankees pitcher Joe Gordon is AL MVP.

1968 — Jim Turner of New York kicks six field goals to lead the Jets to a 25-21 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

1973 — Roosevelt Leaks rushes for 342 yards to lead Texas to a 42-14 victory over Southern Methodist.

1973 — Jay Miller sets an NCAA record with 22 catches for 263 yards as Brigham Young beats New Mexico 56-21.

1973 — Stan Mikita of Chicago scores his 1,000th NHL point with an assist in a 5-4 loss to Minnesota.

1987 — New York Rangers’ center Marcel Dione becomes the 2nd NHL player to score 1,700 career points.

1989 — Lou Piniella is named manager of the Cincinnati Reds, replacing Pete Rose who is banned for life for gambling on MLB games.

1990 — David Klingler tosses seven TD passes, offsetting the NCAA record of 690 passing yards by Texas Christian substitute quarterback Matt Vogler, to lead Houston to a 56-35 victory.

1990 — Atlanta Hawks’ center Moses Malone sets an NBA record for free throws made in a career by hitting 7-of-9 in a 121-120 win over Indiana Pacers at the Omni; passes Oscar Robinson’s record (7,694).

1995 — The Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies open their first NBA season with victories. The Raptors beat New Jersey 94-79 and the Grizzlies beat Portland 92-80.

1996 — Jerry Rice becomes the first player with 1,000 career NFL receptions in San Francisco’s 24-17 victory over New Orleans.

1996 — Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant becomes the then youngest player to make his NBA debut (18 years, 2 months, 11 days) in 91-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Great Western Forum.

1996 — Philadelphia kicker Gary Anderson becomes the fourth player in NFL history to crack the 1,500 point mark with his first-quarter extra-point kick in a 31-21 win over Dallas.

2001 — Arkansas beats Mississippi 58-56 in seven overtimes in the longest major college football game in history. The Razorbacks stop the Rebels’ 2-point conversion try in the seventh overtime for the win. After ending regulation tied at 17, the teams score touchdowns in every extra period but the second.

2007 — Navy snaps an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame with a 46-44 victory in triple overtime. It’s the first time Navy beat Notre Dame since a 35-14 win in 1963 when Roger Staubach was quarterback for the Midshipmen.

2007 — Al Arbour makes a one-night return to the bench and the New York Islanders rallies from a two-goal deficit to beat Pittsburgh 3-2. Arbour was behind the bench for the Islanders’ four Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s and was invited back to coach the team for the 1,500th time. He earns win No. 740.

2007 — Todd Reesing throws a school-record six touchdown passes as No. 8 Kansas batters Nebraska 76-39. The Jayhawks score touchdowns on 10 straight possessions and rolled up the most points ever scored against Nebraska in 117 years of Huskers’ football.

2012 — Kenjon Barner rushes for a school-record 321 yards and five touchdowns and No. 2 Oregon produces another landmark offensive performance in a 62-51 victory over No. 18 Southern California. Oregon’s 730 yards and 62 points are the most ever allowed by USC, which began playing football in 1888.

2012 — Brooklyn makes a winning return to major pro sports, with the Nets topping the Toronto Raptors 107-100 in the first regular-season NBA game at Barclays Center.

2013 — Nick Foles ties an NFL mark with seven touchdown passes and throws for 406 yards to revitalize the Philadelphia Eagles in a 49-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

2016 — Harvard University suspends its men’s soccer team for the rest of the season over sexual comments made about members of the women’s soccer team. The soccer team, currently ranked first in the Ivy League, forfeits its remaining games of the season.

Nov. 4

1934 — The Detroit Lions rush for an NFL-record 426 yards in a 40-7 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The only bright spot for the Pirates is scoring the first touchdown against Detroit this season, ending the Lions’ shutout streak at seven games.

1951 — The U.S. wins six of eight singles matches and ties another to win the Ryder Cup 9½-2½ over Britain at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

1959 — Ernie Banks, Cubs shortstop, wins his 2nd consecutive NL MVP.

1960 — Wilt Chamberlain of Philadelphia scores 44 points and sets an NBA record by missing all 10 of his free throws in the Warriors 136-121 victory the Detroit Pistons.

1976 — Baseball holds its first free agent draft with 24 players from 13 major league clubs participating. Reggie Jackson eventually signs the most lucrative contract of the group, $2.9 million over five years with the New York Yankees. Others free agents are Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor, Bobby Grich and Willie McCovey.

1984 — Seattle’s Dave Brown returns two interceptions for touchdowns in a 31-17 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs.

1987 — NBA announces 4 new franchises; Charlotte & Miami for 1988 & Minneapolis & Orlando for 1989.

1989 — Sunday Silence holds off the late charge by favorite Easy Goer to win the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by a neck at Gulfstream Park.

2000 — R.J. Bowers rushes for 128 yards to become the first player in NCAA history to gain 7,000 yards in his career, leading Grove City past Carnegie Mellon 14-10.

2000 — In the highest scoring Division I-AA game in NCAA history, Ricky Ray passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns and scores three more to lead Sacramento State over Cal State Northridge 64-61.

2001 — Luis Gonzalez’s RBI single caps a two-run rally off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth, and the Arizona Diamondbacks win their first championship by beating the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game 7.

2006 — Rod Brind’Amour of Carolina scores his 1,000th career point, assisting on a goal in the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win over Ottawa.

2007 — Adrian Peterson runs for an NFL-record 296 yards and three touchdowns in Minnesota’s 35-17 win over San Diego.

2009 — The New York Yankees win the World Series, beating the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 behind Hideki Matsui’s record-tying six RBIs.

2012 — Andrew Luck breaks the NFL’s single-game rookie record by throwing for 433 yards in leading Indianapolis to a 23-20 win over Miami

2016 — Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Scott Hartnell and Josh Anderson score two goals apiece and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat Montreal 10-0, matching the biggest loss in the Canadiens’ storied history.

2017 — Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw rushes for a career-high 265 yards and Army ends Air Force’s 306-game scoring streak with a 21-0 victory.

2017 — With a 31-24 overtime victory over Nebraska, Northwestern becomes the first Football Bowl Subdivision program to win three consecutive overtime games.

_____

Nov. 5

1927 — Walter Hagen beats Joe Turnesa 1-up to capture the PGA Championship for the fourth consecutive year and fifth overall.

1955 — Montreal’s Jean Beliveau scores the second fastest hat trick in NHL history in a 4-2 win over Boston. Beliveau, who scores all four Canadien goals, gets three in 44 seconds against Bruins goaltender Terry Sawchuk on the same power play.

1961 — Bill Stacy of the St. Louis Cardinals returns two interceptions for touchdowns in a 31-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

1966 — Virgil Carter of Brigham Young passes for 513 yards and rushes for 86 to set an NCAA record for total yards with 599 in a 53-33 victory over Texas Western.

1977 — BYU sophomore Marc Wilson sets an NCAA record with 571 passing yards in a 38-8 rout of Utah.

1978 — Oakland coach John Madden becomes the 13th head coach to win 100 games in the NFL as the Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-10.

1988 — Alysheba becomes the richest racehorse when he beats Seeking the Gold by a half-length in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

1994 — George Foreman regains part of the heavyweight title he lost to Muhammad Ali in 1974, stopping Michael Moorer with a two-punch combination at 2:03 of the 10th round. Foreman, 45, captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.

1999 — Carolina’s Ron Francis becomes the sixth NHL player to reach 1,500 career points when he assisted on Sami Kapanen’s first-period goal for the Hurricanes in 3-2 loss at Detroit.

2008 — Tony Parker scores a career-high 55 points, including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime in San Antonio’s 129-125 victory over Minnesota.

2010 — Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano tussle at Churchill Downs just moments after tangling during the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon in an ugly, chaotic scene. Castellano’s horse Prince Will I Am runs into the path of Romp and Martin Garcia. Garcia is able to stay on top of his horse but also impedes Borel and A.U. Miner. After the race, an enraged Borel is restrained by security personnel and his older brother Cecil.

2010 — Mexico beats the United States in one of the biggest upsets in the history of women’s soccer. The Mexicans, on goals by Maribel Dominguez and Veronica Perez, post 2-1 victory and qualify for the 2011 World Cup.

2011 — Drew Alleman kicks a 25-yard field goal in overtime to give top-ranked LSU a 9-6 win over No. 2 Alabama.

2016 — Arrogate catches 4-5 favorite California Chrome in the final 100 yards to win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

2017 — Shalane Flanagan dethrones three-time winner Mary Keitany to become the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon since 1977.

2017 — Eli Manning of the Giants became the seventh NFL quarterback to reach the 50,000-mark with his completion to Sterling Shepard in the fourth quarter against the Rams.

2022 — Alex Ovechkin scores 787th career goal for the Washington Capitals surpassing Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings, for all-time NHL record for most goals scored for a single team, in 3-2 loss to Arizona Coyotes.

2022 — MLB World Series: Houston Astros win 2nd title in franchise history; beat Philadelphia Phillies, 4-1 iat Minute Maid Park, Houston for 4-2 series victory; MVP: Astros SS Jeremy Peña, Dusty Baker (73) becomes oldest manager to win championship, Phillies set ignominious record striking out 71 times.

_____

Nov. 6

1869 — First U.S. college football game played, Rutgers 6, Princeton 4.

1934 — Joe Carter scores four touchdowns and Swede Hanson rushes for 190 yards as the Philadelphia Eagles crush the Cincinnati Reds 64-0.

1966 — Philadelphia’s Timmy Brown returns kickoffs 93 yards and 90 yards for touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 24-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

1981 — Larry Holmes knocks out Renaldo Snipes in the 11th round to retain the world heavyweight title in Pittsburgh.

1983 — James Wilder of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushes for 219 yards and a touchdown in a 17-12 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

1988 — Britain’s Steve Jones win the New York City Marathon in 2:08:20, the fastest time in the world this year. His margin of victory, 3 minutes and 21 seconds over Salvatore Bettiol, is the largest in the history of the five-borough race. Grete Waitz wins an unprecedented ninth women’s title, finishing in 2:28:07 well ahead of Italy’s Laura Fogli (2:31:26).

1992 — Manon Rheaume of the Atlanta Knights becomes the first woman to suit up for a regular-season pro hockey game. The 20-year-old goalie doesn’t play in Atlanta’s 3-2 overtime loss to Cincinnati in the IHL game.

1993 — French-based Arcangues stages the biggest Breeders’ Cup upset, rallying to beat Bertrando by 2 lengths in the $3 million Classic at Santa Anita. Arcangues went off at 133-1 and returned $269.20 on a $2 bet.

1993 — Evander Holyfield regains the WBA and IBF heavyweight championships from Riddick Bowe in a fight disrupted by a parachutist. During the seventh round at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the chutist tumbles into the ringside seats and stops the fight for 21 minutes. Holyfield becomes the fourth man to become a heavyweight champion at least twice.

1995 — Art Modell officially announces Cleveland Browns are moving to Baltimore, Maryland.

1999 — Charles Roberts rushes for 409 yards and five touchdowns to lead Sacramento State past Idaho State 41-20, setting a new NCAA record for a single-game rushing performance.

2005 — Annika Sorenstam becomes the first player in LPGA Tour history to win a tournament five straight times, shooting an 8-under 64 for a three-stroke victory in the Mizuno Classic.

2010 — Michigan wins the highest scoring game in its 131-year history by stopping a 2-point conversion attempt in the third overtime for a 67-65 victory over Illinois.

2010 — Zenyatta comes within a head of finishing a perfect career. Horse racing’s biggest star closes from dead last, but Blame holds off the 6-year-old mare and wins the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic under the lights Churchill Downs. Zenyatta entered the race hoping to improve to 20-0 on her career.

____________________________________________________________________________

+++++++++TV SPORTS+++++++++

(ALL TIMES EASTERN)
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND/OR BLACKOUTS

MONDAY, NOV. 3

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)

6:30 P.M.

BTN — COPPIN ST. AT MARYLAND

FS1 — QUINNIPIAC AT ST. JOHN’S

7 P.M.

ACCN — CENT. ARKANSAS AT NORTH CAROLINA

ESPNU — BOSTON COLLEGE AT FAU

TNT — ARIZONA VS. FLORIDA, LAS VEGAS

TRUTV — ARIZONA VS. FLORIDA, LAS VEGAS

SECN — SOUTHERN U. AT ARKANSAS

8 P.M.

CBSSN — LEHIGH AT HOUSTON

8:30 P.M.

BTN — JACKSON ST. AT ILLINOIS

FS1 — OAKLAND AT MICHIGAN

9 P.M.

ACCN — SC STATE AT LOUISVILLE

9:30 P.M.

TNT — BYU VS. VILLANOVA, LAS VEGAS

TRUTV — BYU VS. VILLANOVA, LAS VEGAS

10:30 P.M.

BTN — EASTERN WASHINGTON AT UCLA

COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)

NOON

ESPN — BAYLOR VS. DUKE, PARIS

SECN — NORFOLK ST. AT MISSISSIPPI

2:30 P.M.

ESPNU — CALIFORNIA VS. VANDERBILT, PARIS

HORSE RACING

9:30 P.M.

FS2 — THE MELBOURNE CUP: FROM FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

NBA BASKETBALL

7 P.M.

PEACOCK — MINNESOTA AT BROOKLYN

10 P.M.

NBATV — L.A. LAKERS AT PORTLAND

NFL FOOTBALL

8:15 P.M.

ABC — ARIZONA AT DALLAS

ESPN — ARIZONA AT DALLAS

ESPN2 — ARIZONA AT DALLAS (MNF WITH PEYTON AND ELI)

NHL HOCKEY

7:30 P.M.

NHLN — PITTSBURGH AT TORONTO

SOCCER (MEN’S)

7:15 A.M.

FS2 — 2025 FIFA U-17 MEN’S WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: COSTA RICA VS. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, GROUP C, DOHA, QATAR

9:30 A.M.

FS2 — 2025 FIFA U-17 MEN’S WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE: ARGENTINA VS. BELGIUM, GROUP D, DOHA, QATAR

3 P.M.

NBC — ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: EVERTON AT SUNDERLAND

10:30 P.M.

FS1 — MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF: MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE, FIRST ROUND – GAME 2

TENNIS

6 A.M.

TENNIS — WTA FINALS: ROUND ROBIN; PARIS-ATP, JIUJIANG-WTA, HONG KONG-WTA & CHENNAI-WTA FINALS

7 A.M.

TENNIS — WTA FINALS: ROUND ROBIN; ATHENS-ATP & METZ-ATP EARLY ROUNDS

6 A.M. (TUESDAY)TENNIS — WTA FINALS: ROUND ROBIN; ATHENS-ATP & METZ-ATP EARLY ROUNDS