“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
MONDAY’S SCORES
CHRISTEL HOUSE 68 KIPP INDY LEGACY 55
HAMMOND NOLL 65 MERRILLVILLE 63
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 50 HIGHLAND 40
INDIANAPOLIS ROOTED 64 INTERNATIONAL 54
JAY COUNTY 58 NEW CASTLE 41
MOORESVILLE 71 CASCADE 65
NORTHWESTERN 78 FRANKFORT 49
SMITH ACADEMY 56 HARLAN CHRISTIAN 42
WHEELER 43 WESTVILLE 33
POSTPONEMENTS
INDIANA DEAF CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN PPD.
CONNERSVILLE WINCHESTER PPD., D17
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ANDREAN AT CULVER ACADEMY 8:00 PM
ARGOS AT KNOX 7:30 PM
BARR-REEVE AT NORTH KNOX 7:30 PM
BETHANY CHRISTIAN AT TRITON 7:30 PM
BLUE RIVER VALLEY AT SHENANDOAH 7:30 PM
BOONVILLE AT PIKE CENTRAL 8:00 PM
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL AT SEYMOUR 7:30 PM
CALUMET AT PORTAGE 8:00 PM
CARMI (ILL.) AT EVANSVILLE DAY 7:00 PM
CENTER GROVE AT PIKE 7:30 PM
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN AT INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE 7:30 PM
CLARKSVILLE AT CHARLESTOWN 7:30 PM
DEKALB AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER 7:30 PM
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL AT CHESTERTON 8:00 PM
EASTERN GREENE AT LOOGOOTEE 7:30 PM
EDGEWOOD AT MARTINSVILLE 7:30 PM
ELKHART AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY 7:30 PM
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN AT SOUTH KNOX 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE NORTH AT EVANSVILLE REITZ 8:00 PM
FORT WAYNE HOMESCHOOL AT FREMONT 7:30 PM
GARY 21ST CENTURY AT VALPARAISO 8:00 PM
GEO NEXT GENERATION AT INDIANAPOLIS ROOTED 7:30 PM
GREENWOOD AT SHELBYVILLE 7:30 PM
GUERIN CATHOLIC AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS 7:30 PM
HAMMOND CENTRAL AT GARY LIGHTHOUSE 8:00 PM
HANOVER CENTRAL AT RENSSELAER CENTRAL 8:00 PM
HERITAGE AT FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH AT LAWRENCE NORTH 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN AT DECATUR CENTRAL 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN AT IRVINGTON PREP 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI AT PERRY MERIDIAN 7:30 PM
ITOWN AT INDIANA DEAF 7:00 PM
JENNINGS COUNTY AT GREENSBURG 7:30 PM
JIMTOWN AT NORTHWOOD 7:45 PM
LAFAYETTE JEFF AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 7:30 PM
LAKE CENTRAL AT GRIFFITH 8:00 PM
LAKE STATION AT BOWMAN ACADEMY 8:00 PM
LAKELAND AT WESTVIEW 7:30 PM
LAKEWOOD PARK AT EASTSIDE 7:30 PM
LANESVILLE AT SOUTH SPENCER 8:00 PM
LAVILLE AT MANCHESTER 7:30 PM
LEO AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP 7:45 PM
LOWELL AT BOONE GROVE 8:00 PM
MADISON AT NORTH DECATUR 7:30 PM
MISHAWAKA AT MICHIGAN CITY 7:30 PM
MONROE CENTRAL AT MUNCIE BURRIS 7:30 PM
MONROVIA AT CLAY CITY 7:30 PM
MORGAN TWP. AT DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 8:00 PM
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) AT HERITAGE HILLS 8:00 PM
NEW WASHINGTON AT SALEM 7:30 PM
NORTH PUTNAM AT WESTERN BOONE 7:30 PM
NORTHFIELD AT SOUTHERN WELLS 7:30 PM
OREGON-DAVIS AT NEW PRAIRIE 8:00 PM
PERU AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH 7:45 PM
PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE AT INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 7:30 PM
SCOTT COUNTY (KY.) AT PROVIDENCE 7:30 PM
SETON CATHOLIC AT KNIGHTSTOWN 7:30 PM
SEVEN OAKS AT EMINENCE 7:30 PM
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) AT LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
SOUTH PUTNAM AT CLOVERDALE 7:30 PM
ST. THOMAS MORE AT TRINITY GREENLAWN 7:30 PM
TERRE HAUTE NORTH AT WEST VIGO 7:30 PM
TIPTON AT MUNCIE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
TRINITY LUTHERAN AT INDIAN CREEK 7:30 PM
TRI-TOWNSHIP AT NORTH WHITE 7:30 PM
TWIN LAKES VS. WESTERN 7:30 PM
WALDRON AT MILAN 7:30 PM
WEST CENTRAL AT FAITH CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
WINAMAC AT CULVER 7:30 PM
==========
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL USA BASKETBALL POLLS
CLASS 4A
1. FISHERS (19) 4-0 190
2. CROWN POINT 2-0 167
3. LAWRENCE NORTH 3-0 140
4. PIKE 4-1 115
5. PLAINFIELD 5-0 114
6. CARMEL 3-0 99
7. MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 4-1 85
8. NORTHRIDGE 5-0 33
9. JEFFERSONVILLE 2-1 27
10. CHESTERTON 3-0 16
11. NEW ALBANY 3-1 14
12. PENDLETON HEIGHTS 4-1 11
13. HOMESTEAD 3-1 10
14. SOUTH BEND RILEY 3-0 9
PENN 3-1 9
16. ZIONSVILLE 3-1 7
17. WESTFIELD 2-2 5
18. WARSAW 1-2 3
19. BLOOMINGTON NORTH 2-0 1
GOSHEN 3-0 1
CLASS 3A
1. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (17) 4-0 188
2. SILVER CREEK (2) 5-0 172
3. NORTHVIEW 3-0 147
4. INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 2-0 96
5. PRINCETON 3-1 82
6. SHELBYVILLE 4-0 59
7. COLUMBIA CITY 4-0 56
8. GREENWOOD 4-1 49
9. GUERIN CATHOLIC 2-2 40
10. NEW PALESTINE 3-1 33
11. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 0-1 28
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 3-2 28
13. INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 2-2 24
14. CORYDON CENTRAL 4-0 9
15. BATESVILLE 3-0 8
16. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 1-0 7
17. NORTHWOOD 2-2 6
BOONVILLE 5-0 6
19. FAIRFIELD 4-0 3
20. EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 4-2 1
CLASS 2A
1. PARKE HERITAGE (17) 4-0 188
2. OAK HILL (1) 4-0 153
3. LINTON (1) 4-0 148
4. CENTERVILLE 4-0 115
5. GARY 21ST CENTURY 2-2 82
6. PARK TUDOR 3-0 74
7. SOUTH RIPLEY 3-1 68
8. WESTVIEW 5-1 66
9. UNIVERSITY 3-1 58
10. PAOLI 3-0 31
11. FOREST PARK 4-1 22
12. FRANKTON 4-1 14
13. SHENANDOAH 3-0 8
14. COVENANT CHRISTIAN 3-0 4
JIMTOWN 4-1 4
16. FORT WAYNE LUERS 1-1 3
BLACKFORD 4-0 3
18. SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 3-1 2
PROVIDENCE 2-1 2
LAPEL 1-1 2
21. TRITON CENTRAL 4-1 1
CLASS 1A
1. KOUTS (10) 5-0 173
2. BARR-REEVE (5) 4-0 164
3. HAUSER (3) 4-1 151
4. BLOOMFIELD (1) 3-1 129
5. ROSSVILLE 4-0 83
6. TRITON 4-1 73
7. WASHINGTON TWP. 3-1 57
8. LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 0-2 43
9. ORLEANS 3-1 38
10. CLAY CITY 2-1 31
11. LOOGOOTEE 3-2 19
12. NORTH DAVIESS 4-2 13
WEST CENTRAL 5-0 13
14. TRI 4-0 11
15. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 4-1 9
NORTHEAST DUBOIS 3-1 9
17. FRONTIER 3-1 7
18. BORDEN 3-1 4
CLOVERDALE 2-1 4
20. NORTH VERMILLION 2-2 3
21. INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN 1-1 2
SOUTHWOOD 3-1 2
============
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
MONDAY’S SCORES
ALEXANDRIA 82 WES-DEL 19
BOONE GROVE 51 NORTH NEWTON 48
CALUMET CHRISTIAN 59 OREGON-DAVIS 47
CASTLE 61 HENDERSON COUNTY (KY.) 35
EVANSVILLE REITZ 67 NORTH POSEY 40
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 42 SOUTHMONT 38
GARY LIGHTHOUSE 40 GARY 21ST CENTURY 8
GRIFFITH 54 CALUMET 20
HAMILTON 40 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 29
HERITAGE HILLS 62 SOUTHRIDGE 13
KIPP INDY LEGACY 39 CHRISTEL HOUSE 26
KANKAKEE VALLEY 65 MICHIGAN CITY 27
MONROE CENTRAL 56 SOUTH ADAMS 43
MUNSTER 39 ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 22
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 52 FISHERS 41
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 71 KNOX 29
SOUTH KNOX 64 VINCENNES RIVET 19
SOUTH PUTNAM 43 CRAWFORDSVILLE 22
VICTORY PREP 43 INDIANA DEAF 33
WARREN CENTRAL 54 ANDERSON 45
WOOD MEMORIAL 64 EVANSVILLE BOSSE 27
MARION COUNTY TOURNAMENT
PIKE 75 INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 54
UNREPORTED
CLINTON CHRISTIAN CAREER ACADEMY 6:00 PM
EASTERN GREENE LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN PPD.
ROCK CREEK ACADEMY WHITEFIELD ACADEMY (KY.) PPD.
SOUTH DECATUR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY MADISON PPD.
TAYLOR CLINTON PRAIRIE PPD., J29
============
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
BEN DAVIS AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 7:30 PM
BENTON CENTRAL AT TWIN LAKES 6:30 PM
BLACKFORD AT JAY COUNTY 7:30 PM
BLOOMFIELD AT WHITE RIVER VALLEY 7:30 PM
CARROLL (FLORA) AT MACONAQUAH 7:30 PM
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) AT BELLMONT 7:30 PM
CASCADE AT MONROVIA 7:30 PM
CASTON AT PIONEER 7:30 PM
CENTER GROVE AT MARTINSVILLE 7:30 PM
CENTERVILLE AT NEW CASTLE 7:30 PM
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN AT INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE 6:00 PM
CHARLESTOWN AT JEFFERSONVILLE 7:30 PM
CHURUBUSCO AT GARRETT 7:30 PM
CLARKSVILLE AT PAOLI 7:30 PM
COLUMBIA CITY AT WARSAW 7:45 PM
CONCORD AT PENN 7:30 PM
COVINGTON AT SOUTH VERMILLION 7:30 PM
CROWN POINT AT HAMMOND MORTON 8:00 PM
CULVER ACADEMY AT BREMEN 7:00 PM
DALEVILLE AT BLUE RIVER VALLEY 7:00 PM
DANVILLE AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 7:30 PM
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN AT TRI-COUNTY 7:00 PM
DUGGER UNION AT SEVEN OAKS 6:00 PM
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) AT MADISON-GRANT 7:30 PM
EASTERN (PEKIN) AT SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 6:00 PM
EASTERN HANCOCK AT LAPEL 7:30 PM
EDINBURGH AT NEW WASHINGTON 6:30 PM
ELKHART AT GOSHEN 7:30 PM
EVANSVILLE HARRISON AT CASTLE 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI AT HENDERSON COUNTY (KY.) 8:00 PM
FAITH CHRISTIAN AT LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 6:00 PM
FOREST PARK AT BOONVILLE 8:00 PM
FORT WAYNE SNIDER AT FORT WAYNE LUERS 7:30 PM
FRANKLIN AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL 7:30 PM
FREMONT AT FAIRFIELD 7:30 PM
GREENSBURG AT CONNERSVILLE 7:30 PM
HAMILTON HEIGHTS AT KOKOMO 7:30 PM
HARRISON (OHIO) AT SOUTH DEARBORN 7:30 PM
HEBRON AT WASHINGTON TWP. 8:00 PM
HERITAGE AT FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 6:00 PM
HIGHLAND AT HAMMOND NOLL 8:00 PM
HOBART AT MORGAN TWP. 8:00 PM
INDIAN CREEK AT WHITELAND 7:30 PM
INDIANA DEAF AT ITOWN PREP 5:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE AT SOUTHPORT 7:30 PM
KOUTS AT LOWELL 8:00 PM
LAKELAND AT WESTVIEW 6:00 PM
LAKEWOOD PARK AT EASTSIDE 6:00 PM
LANESVILLE AT BORDEN 7:00 PM
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT BROWNSBURG 7:30 PM
LAWRENCE NORTH AT NOBLESVILLE 7:30 PM
LAWRENCEBURG AT EAST CENTRAL 7:30 PM
LEWIS CASS AT DELPHI 7:30 PM
LINTON AT OWEN VALLEY 7:30 PM
LOGANSPORT AT NORTHFIELD 7:30 PM
MCCUTCHEON AT LAFAYETTE JEFF 6:30 PM
MEADE COUNTY (KY.) AT CORYDON CENTRAL 7:30 PM
MILAN AT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 7:30 PM
MITCHELL AT SHOALS 6:00 PM
MOORESVILLE AT GREENWOOD 7:30 PM
MORRISTOWN AT SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) 7:30 PM
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) AT NEW PALESTINE 7:30 PM
MUNCIE CENTRAL AT CLINTON CENTRAL 7:30 PM
NEW HAVEN AT MARION 7:30 PM
NORTH DECATUR AT JAC-CEN-DEL 7:30 PM
NORTH PUTNAM AT WESTERN BOONE 6:00 PM
NORTH WHITE AT NORTH JUDSON 7:30 PM
NORTHEAST DUBOIS AT EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 8:00 PM
NORTHVIEW AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH 7:30 PM
NORTHWESTERN AT PERU 7:00 PM
NORWELL AT WOODLAN 7:30 PM
PERRY CENTRAL AT PIKE CENTRAL 8:00 PM
PLYMOUTH AT JOHN GLENN 7:30 PM
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS AT DEKALB 7:30 PM
PROVIDENCE AT AUSTIN 7:30 PM
PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE AT INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 6:00 PM
PURDUE ENGLEWOOD AT INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH 6:00 PM
RENSSELAER CENTRAL AT ANDREAN 8:00 PM
RUSHVILLE AT BEECH GROVE 7:30 PM
SCOTTSBURG AT SILVER CREEK 7:30 PM
SEEGER AT PARKE HERITAGE 7:30 PM
SEVEN OAKS AT EMINENCE 6:00 PM
SEYMOUR AT COLUMBUS NORTH 7:30 PM
SHELBYVILLE AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 7:30 PM
SHERIDAN AT TRI-WEST 7:00 PM
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON AT MISHAWAKA 7:45 PM
SOUTH RIPLEY AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY 7:30 PM
SOUTH SPENCER AT GIBSON SOUTHERN 8:00 PM
SOUTHWOOD AT BLUFFTON 7:45 PM
SPEEDWAY AT TRITON CENTRAL 7:30 PM
ST. THOMAS MORE AT TRINITY GREENLAWN 6:00 PM
SULLIVAN AT SHAKAMAK 7:30 PM
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH AT ROBINSON (ILL.) 7:30 PM
TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 6:00 PM
TRI-CENTRAL AT FRANKFORT 7:30 PM
TRITON AT JIMTOWN 6:30 PM
TRI-TOWNSHIP AT NORTH WHITE 6:00 PM
UNION CITY AT WINCHESTER 6:30 PM
VINCENNES LINCOLN AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 8:00 PM
WAPAHANI AT FRANKTON 7:30 PM
WASHINGTON AT JASPER 7:30 PM
WAWASEE AT BETHANY CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
WEST CENTRAL AT FRONTIER 7:30 PM
WEST LAFAYETTE AT NORTH MONTGOMERY 7:30 PM
WEST NOBLE AT WHITKO 7:30 PM
WEST VIGO AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) 6:30 PM
WEST WASHINGTON AT ORLEANS 7:30 PM
WESTFIELD AT AVON 7:30 PM
===========
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL ICGSA POLLS
CLASS 4A
1. NORWELL (7) 10-1 86
2. HOMESTEAD (1) 9-1 77
3. CENTER GROVE (1) 9-0 69
4. LAWRENCE CENTRAL 9-1 60
5. WARSAW 10-1 58
6. PIKE 9-1 40
7. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 8-0 34
8. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 9-2 30
9. VALPARAISO 8-1 20
10. PENDLETON HEIGHTS 9-2 10
11. BROWNSBURG 5-3 4
12. PLAINFIELD 8-3 3
13. EAST CENTRAL 8-1 2
MCCUTCHEON 10-1 2
CLASS 3A
1. WASHINGTON (7) 8-2 95
2. BELLMONT (2) 10-1 83
3. GREENSBURG (1) 5-3 69
4. CHARLESTOWN 6-1 64
5. INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 10-3 55
6. SILVER CREEK 5-3 47
7. JENNINGS COUNTY 8-2 42
8. MADISON 7-0 28
9. DELTA 8-2 18
10. COLUMBIA CITY 7-4 14
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 6-7 14
12. NEW PALESTINE 10-2 8
13. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 6-4 7
14. CULVER ACADEMY 11-3 3
15. PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 9-1 2
16. NORTHVIEW 6-4 1
CLASS 2A
1. RENSSELAER CENTRAL (5) 9-1 77
2. LAPEL (3) 10-0 72
3. SOUTH KNOX 9-2 55
4. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 11-1 42
5. EASTSIDE 10-0 41
6. NORTH KNOX 8-2 40
7. BREMEN 10-0 37
8. WHITKO 6-1 25
9. BENTON CENTRAL 5-2 10
10. AUSTIN 6-3 6
EASTERN (PEKIN) 6-1 6
LEWIS CASS 9-0 6
13. EASTERN HANCOCK 7-1 5
14. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 6-3 4
BLUFFTON 9-3 4
16. TRITON CENTRAL 5-3 3
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7-3 3
18. CRAWFORD COUNTY 8-2 2
MONROVIA 6-1 2
CLASS 1A
1. BORDEN (6) 8-1 87
2. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (3) 9-0 84
3. FREMONT 10-1 64
4. EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 7-1 61
5. ELKHART CHRISTIAN 9-2 54
6. TRINITY LUTHERAN 6-1 52
7. ORLEANS 6-2 22
8. KOUTS 8-3 19
LOOGOOTEE 6-2 19
10. SPRINGS VALLEY 7-2 12
11. OLDENBURG ACADEMY 9-1 6
12. TRI 6-1 4
ROSSVILLE 10-1 4
WESTVILLE 8-4 4
15. NORTHFIELD 7-3 3
===========
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING SCORES/RANKINGS/NEWS
===========
MEN’S AP COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
- ARIZONA 9-0
- MICHIGAN 10-0
- DUKE 10-0
- IOWA STATE 11-0
- UCONN 10-1
- PURDUE 10-1
- GONZAGA 10-1
- HOUSTON 10-1
- MICHIGAN STATE 9-1
- BYU 9-1
- LOUISVILLE 9-1
- NORTH CAROLINA 9-1
- VANDERBILT 10-0
- ARKANSAS 8-2
- NEBRASKA 11-0
- ALABAMA 7-3
- KANSAS 8-3
- ILLINOIS 8-3
- TEXAS TECH 7-3
- TENNESSEE 7-3
- AUBURN 8-3
- ST. JOHN’S 6-3
- FLORIDA 6-4
- VIRGINIA 9-1
- GEORGIA 9-1
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
SOUTHERN CAL 68, IOWA 47, SETON HALL 46, LSU 19, KENTUCKY 19, UCLA 16, CLEMSON 14, CALIFORNIA 13, SAINT MARY’S 12, ARIZONA ST 5, VILLANOVA 5, NOTRE DAME 4, INDIANA 4, MIAMI (OHIO) 4, MIAMI 4, UTAH ST. 2, SAINT LOUIS 1, WISCONSIN 1.
===========
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
VCU 84 NIAGARA 58
WOFFORD 83 GARDNER WEBB 57
EAST – WEST AT SOUTHERN INDIANA CANCELED
WYOMING 87 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 72
TCU 69 INCARNATE WORD 65
WESTERN KENTUCKY 102 CAMPBELLSVILLE 59
MCNEESE STATE 78 HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 68
TCU 69 INCARNATE WORD 65
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 101 MINNE CROOKSTON 67
ALABAMA A&M 68 N. ALABAMA 60
===========
AP WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
- UCONN 10-0
- TEXAS 12-0
- SOUTH CAROLINA 10-1
- UCLA 9-1
- LSU 11-0
- MICHIGAN 9-1
- MARYALND 12-0
- OKLAHOMA 11-1
- TCU 11-0
- IOWA STATE 12-0
- IOWA 10-1
- KENTUCKY 11-1
- VANDERBILT 9-0
- OLE MISS 10-1
- BAYLOR 10-2
- LOUISVILLE 10-3
- TENNESSEE 7-2
- NORTH CAROLINA 9-3
- USC 7-3
- NOTRE DAME 9-3
- OHIO STATE 9-1
- WASHINGTON 9-1
- NEBRASKA 11-0
- MICHIGAN STATE 9-1
- PRINCETON 10-1
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
OKLAHOMA ST. 35, TEXAS TECH 26, ALABAMA 13, GEORGIA 12, NC STATE 8, ARIZONA ST. 1, ILLINOIS 1.
===========
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
#13 VANDERBILT 87 S. FLORIDA 58
KENT STATE 117 DAVIS AND ELKINS 37
GEORGIA 77 NORTH CAROLINA A&T 49
MURRAY STATE 85 MEMPHIS 57
EAST TEXAS A&M 76 TEXAS SOUTHERN 60
LOYAL ILLINOIS 59 OAKLAND 56
TEXAS SAN ANTONIO 82 TEXAS A&M KINGSVILLE 40
GRAMBLING STATE 93 JARVIS CHRISTIAN 38
SIENA 94 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE 56
TEXAS RIO GRANDE 87 STEPHEN F AUSTIN 85
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 80 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 63
MOUNT ST. MARY’S 81 MERCYHURST 52
RADFORD 100 CONCORD 48
CAMPBELL 68 NORFOLK STATE 63
LAMAR 77 TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI 49
NORTHWESTERN STATE 65 MCNEESE STATE 58
OKLAHOMA STATE 90 TULSA 58
NORTHERN ARIZONA 95 PARKE UNIVERSITY 53
ARIZONA 89 CHICAGO STATE 70
UC SAN DIEGO 67 CAL BAPTIST 59
SACRAMENTO STATE 102 SIMPSON UNIVERSITY 42
===========
2025 AP ALL-AMERICAN FOOTBALL TEAMS
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
WIDE RECEIVER —MAKAI LEMON, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, JUNIOR, 5-11, 195, LOS ANGELES.
WIDE RECEIVER — JEREMIAH SMITH, OHIO STATE, SOPHOMORE, 6-3, 223, MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA.
WIDE RECEIVER — SKYLAR BELL, UCONN, SENIOR, 6-0, 185, NEW YORK, N.Y.
TACKLE — FRANCIS MAUIGOA, MIAMI, JUNIOR, 6-6, 335,ILI’ILI, AMERICAN SAMOA.
TACKLE — SPENCER FANO, UTAH, JUNIOR, 6-6, 308, SPANISH FORK, UTAH.
GUARD — EMMANUEL PREGNON, OREGON, SENIOR, 6-5, 318, DENVER.
GUARD — BEAU STEPHENS, IOWA, SENIOR, 6-5, 315, BLUE SPRINGS, MISSOURI.
CENTER — LOGAN JONES, IOWA, GRADUATE, 6-3, 202, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.
TIGHT END — ELI STOWERS, VANDERBILT, GRADUATE, 6-4, 235, DENTON, TEXAS.
QUARTERBACK — FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA, JUNIOR, 6-5, 225, MIAMI.
RUNNING BACK — JEREMIYAH LOVE, NOTRE DAME, JUNIOR, 6-0, 214, ST. LOUIS.
RUNNING BACK — AHMAD HARDY, MISSOURI, SOPHOMORE, 5-10, 210, OMA, MISSISSIPPI.
KICKER — KANSEI MATSUZAWA, HAWAII, SENIOR, 6-2, 200, TOKYO.
ALL-PURPOSE — KC CONCEPCION, TEXAS A&M, JUNIOR, 5-11, 190, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
EDGE RUSHER — DAVID BAILEY, TEXAS TECH, SENIOR, 6-3, 250, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA.
EDGE RUSHER — CASHIUS HOWELL, TEXAS A&M, SENIOR, 6-2, 248, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
INTERIOR LINEMAN — KAYDEN MCDONALD, OHIO STATE, JUNIOR, 6-3, 326, SUWANEE, GEORGIA.
INTERIOR LINEMAN — LANDON ROBINSON, NAVY, SENIOR, 6-0, 287, FAIRLAWN, OHIO.
LINEBACKER — JACOB RODRIGUEZ, TEXAS TECH, SENIOR, 6-1, 235, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS.
LINEBACKER — ARVELL REESE, OHIO STATE, JUNIOR, 6-4, 243, CLEVELAND.
LINEBACKER — CJ ALLEN, GEORGIA, JUNIOR, 6-1, 235, BARNESVILLE, GEORGIA.
CORNERBACK — LEONARD MOORE, NOTRE DAME, SOPHOMORE, 6-2, 195, ROUND ROCK, TEXAS.
CORNERBACK — MANSOOR DELANE, LSU, SENIOR, 6-0, 190, SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND.
SAFETY — CALEB DOWNS, OHIO STATE, JUNIOR, 6-0, 205, HOSCHTON, GEORGIA.
SAFETY — BISHOP FITZGERALD, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SENIOR, 5-11, 205, WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA.
DEFENSIVE BACK — JAKARI FOSTER, LOUISIANA TECH, SENIOR, 6-0, 211, PIEDMONT, ALABAMA.
PUNTER — COLE MAYNARD, WESTERN KENTUCKY, SENIOR, 6-1, 180, MOORESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
WIDE RECEIVER — CARNELL TATE, OHIO STATE, JUNIOR, 6-3, 195, CHICAGO.
WIDE RECEIVER — MALACHI TONEY, MIAMI, FRESHMAN, 5-11, 188, LIBERTY CITY, FLORIDA.
WIDE RECEIVER — DANNY SCUDERO, SAN JOSE STATE, SOPHOMORE, 5-9, 174, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.
TACKLE — KADYN PROCTOR, ALABAMA, JUNIOR, 6-7, 366, DES MOINES, IOWA.
TACKLE — CARTER SMITH, INDIANA, JUNIOR, 6-5, 313, POWELL, OHIO.
GUARD — OLAIVAVEGA IOANE, PENN STATE, JUNIOR, 6-4, 323, GRAHAM, WASHINGTON.
GUARD — AR’MAJ REED-ADAMS, TEXAS A&M, GRADUATE, 6-5, 325, DALLAS.
CENTER – JAKE SLAUGHTER, FLORIDA, SENIOR, 6-4, 303, SPARR, FLORIDA.
TIGHT END — KENYON SADIQ, OREGON, JUNIOR, 6-3, 245, IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO.
QUARTERBACK — DIEGO PAVIA, VANDERBILT, GRADUATE, 6-0, 207, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
RUNNING BACK — EMMETT JOHNSON, NEBRASKA, JUNIOR, 5-11, 200, MINNEAPOLIS.
RUNNING BACK — KEWAN LACY, MISSISSIPPI, SOPHOMORE, 5-11, 210, DALLAS.
KICKER — TATE SANDELL, OKLAHOMA, JUNIOR, 5-9, 182, PORT NECHES, TEXAS.
ALL-PURPOSE — WAYNE KNIGHT, JAMES MADISON, JUNIOR, 5-7, 190, SMYRNA, DELAWARE.
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
EDGE RUSHER — RUEBEN BAIN JR., MIAMI, JUNIOR, 6-3, 270, MIAMI.
EDGE RUSHER — JOHN HENRY DALEY, UTAH, SOPHOMORE, 6-4, 255, ALPINE, UTAH.
INTERIOR LINEMAN — A.J. HOLMES JR., TEXAS TECH, JUNIOR, 6-3, 300, HOUSTON.
INTERIOR LINEMAN — PETER WOODS, CLEMSON, JUNIOR, 6-3, 310, ALABASTER, ALABAMA.
LINEBACKER — SONNY SYLES, OHIO STATE, SENIOR, 6-5, 243, PICKERINGTON, OHIO.
LINEBACKER — ANTHONY HILL JR., TEXAS, JUNIOR, 6-3, 238, DENTON, TEXAS.
LINEBACKER — RED MURDOCK, BUFFALO, GRADUATE, 6-1, 240, PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA.
CORNERBACK — D’ANGELO PONDS, INDIANA, JUNIOR, 5-9, 173, MIAMI.
CORNERBACK — CHRIS JOHNSON, SAN DIEGO STATE, SENIOR, 6-0, 195, EASTVALE, CALIFORNIA.
SAFETY — DILLON THIENEMAN, OREGON, JUNIOR, 6-0, 205, WESTFIELD, INDIANA.
SAFETY — LOUIS MOORE, INDIANA, SENIOR, 5-11, 200, MESQUITE, TEXAS.
DEFENSIVE BACK — HEZEKIAH MASSES, CALIFORNIA, SENIOR, 6-1, 185, DEERFIELD BEACH, FLORIDA.
PUNTER — BRETT THORSON, GEORGIA, SENIOR, 6-2, 235, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
THIRD-TEAM OFFENSE
WIDE RECEIVER — ERIC MCALISTER, TCU, SENIOR, 6-3, 205, AZIE, TEXAS.
WIDE RECEIVER — CHRIS BRAZZELL II, TENNESSEE, JUNIOR, 6-5, 200, MIDLAND, TEXAS.
WIDE RECEIVER — JORDYN TYSON, ARIZONA STATE, JUNIOR, 6-2, 200, ALLEN, TEXAS.
TACKLE — KEAGEN TROST, MISSOURI, GRADUATE, 6-4, 316, KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.
TACKLE — BRIAN PARKER II, DUKE, JUNIOR, 6-5, 305, CINCINNATI.
GUARD — KEYLAN RUTLEDGE, GEORGIA TECH, SENIOR, 6-4, 330, ROYSTON, GEORGIA.
GUARD — EVAN TENGESDAHL, CINCINNATI, SOPHOMORE, 6-3, 320, DAYTON, OHIO.
CENTER — IAPANI LALOULU, OREGON, JUNIOR, 6-2, 329, HONOLULU.
TIGHT END — MICHAEL TRIGG, BAYLOR, SENIOR, 6-4, 240, TAMPA, FLORIDA.
QUARTERBACK — JULIAN SAYIN, OHIO STATE, REDSHIRT FRESHMAN, 6-1, 208, CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA.
RUNNING BACK — CAM COOK, JACKSONVILLE STATE, JUNIOR, 5-11, 200, ROUND ROCK, TEXAS.
RUNNING BACK — KAYTRON ALLEN, PENN STATE, SENIOR, 5-11, 219, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.
KICKER — AIDAN BIRR, GEORGIA TECH, JUNIOR, 6-1, 205, KENNEDALE, TEXAS.
ALL-PURPOSE — JADARIAN PRICE, NOTRE DAME, JUNIOR, 5-11, 210, DENISON, TEXAS.
THIRD-TEAM DEFENSE
EDGE RUSHER — CADEN CURRY, OHIO STATE, SENIOR, 6-3, 260, GREENWOOD, INDIANA.
EDGE RUSHER — NADAME TUCKER, WESTERN MICHIGAN, SENIOR, 6-3, 250, NEW YORK.
INTERIOR LINEMAN — TYRIQUE TUCKER, INDIANA, JUNIOR, 6-0, 302, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.
INTERIOR LINEMAN — LEE HUNTER, TEXAS TECH, SENIOR, 6-4, 330, MOBILE, ALABAMA.
LINEBACKER — AIDEN FISHER, INDIANA, SENIOR, 6-1, 231, FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA.
LINEBACKER — CADEN FORDHAM, NORTH CAROLINA STATE, GRADUATE, 6-1, 230, PONTE VEDRA, FLORIDA.
LINEBACKER — OWEN LONG, COLORADO STATE, SOPHOMORE, 6-2, 230, WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.
CORNERBACK — AVIEON TERRELL, CLEMSON, JUNIOR, 5-11, 180, ATLANTA.
CORNERBACK — TREYDAN STUKES, ARIZONA, SENIOR, 6-2, 200, LITCHFIELD PARK, ARIZONA.
SAFETY — MICHAEL TAAFFE, TEXAS, SENIOR, 6-0, 189, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
SAFETY — EMMANUEL MCNEIL-WARREN, TOLEDO, SENIOR, 6-2, 202, TAMPA, FLORIDA.
DEFENSIVE BACK — BRAY HUBBARD, ALABAMA, JUNIOR, 6-2, 213, OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI.
PUNTER — RYAN ECKLEY, MICHIGAN STATE, JUNIOR, 6-2, 207, LITHIA, FLORIDA.
===========
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/SCORES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
DEC. 19, 8 P.M. ET
NO. 8 OKLAHOMA (10-2) VS. NO. 9 ALABAMA (10-3) AT NORMAN, OKLA.
DEC, 20, NOON ET
NO. 7 TEXAS A&M (11-1) VS. NO. 10 MIAMI (10-2) AT COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
DEC. 20, 3:30 P.M. ET
NO. 6 OLE MISS (11-1) VS. NO. 11 TULANE (11-2) AT OXFORD, MISS.
DEC. 20, 7:30 P.M. ET
NO. 5 OREGON (11-1) VS. NO. 12 JAMES MADISON (12-1) AT EUGENE, ORE.
==========
QUARTERFINALS
DEC. 31, 7:30 P.M. ET
COTTON BOWL, ARLINGTON, TEXAS
NO. 2 OHIO STATE VS. WINNER OF TEXAS A&M-MIAMI
==========
JAN. 1, NOON ET
ORANGE BOWL, MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.
NO. 4 TEXAS TECH VS. WINNER OF OREGON-JAMES MADISON
==========
JAN. 1, 4 P.M. ET
ROSE BOWL, PASADENA, CALIF.
NO. 1 INDIANA VS. WINNER OF OKLAHOMA-ALABAMA
==========
JAN. 1, 8 P.M. ET
SUGAR BOWL, NEW ORLEANS
NO. 3 GEORGIA VS. WINNER OF OLE MISS-TULANE
==========
SEMIFINALS
JAN. 8, 7:30 P.M. ET
FIESTA BOWL, GLENDALE, ARIZ.
WINNER OF COTTON BOWL VS. WINNER OF SUGAR BOWL
==========
JAN. 9, 7:30 P.M. ET
PEACH BOWL, ATLANTA
WINNER OF ORANGE BOWL VS. WINNER OF ROSE BOWL
==========
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
JAN. 19, 7:30 P.M. ET
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.
===========
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE
DEC. 16
SALUTE TO VETERANS BOWL
MONTGOMERY, ALA.
TROY VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE, 9 P.M. (ESPN)
============
DEC. 17
CURE BOWL
ORLANDO, FLA.
OLD DOMINION VS. SOUTH FLORIDA, 5 P.M. (ESPN)
68 VENTURES BOWL
MOBILE, ALA.
LOUISIANA VS. DELAWARE, 8:30 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
DEC. 18
XBOX BOWL
FRISCO, TEXAS
ARKANSAS STATE VS. MISSOURI STATE, 9 P.M. (ESPN2)
===========
DEC. 19
MYRTLE BEACH BOWL
CONWAY, S.C.
KENNESAW STATE VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN, 11 A.M. (ESPN)
GASPARILLA BOWL
TAMPA, FLA.
MEMPHIS VS N.C. STATE, 2:30 P.M. (ESPN)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
FIRST ROUND
NO. 11 ALABAMA (10-3) AT NO. 8 OKLAHOMA (10-2), 8 P.M. (ESPN/ABC)
===========
DEC. 20
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
FIRST ROUND
NO. 10 MIAMI (FLA.) (10-2) AT NO. 7 TEXAS A&M (11-1), NOON (ESPN/ABC)
NO. 17 TULANE (11-2) AT NO. 6 MISSISSIPPI (11-1), 3:30 P.M. (TNT/HBO MAX)
NO. 19 JAMES MADISON (12-1) AT NO. 5 OREGON (11-1), 7:30 P.M. (TNT/HBO MAX)
===========
DEC. 22
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL
BOISE, IDAHO
UTAH ST. VS. WASHINGTON ST., 2 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
DEC. 23
BOCA RATON BOWL
BOCA RATON, FLA.
LOUISVILLE VS. TOLEDO, 2 P.M. (ESPN)
NEW ORLEANS BOWL
NEW ORLEANS
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTHERN MISS, 5:30 P.M. (ESPN)
FRISCO BOWL
FRISCO, TEXAS
OHIO VS. UNLV, 9 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
DEC. 24
HAWAI’I BOWL
HONOLULU
CAL VS. HAWAII, 8 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
DEC. 26
GAMEABOVE SPORTS BOWL
DETROIT, MICH.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN VS. NORTHWESTERN, 1 P.M. (ESPN)
RATE BOWL
PHOENIX
NEW MEXICO VS. MINNESOTA, 4:30 P.M. (ESPN)
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL
DALLAS, TEXAS
FIU VS. UTSA, 8 P.M. (ESPN)
=============
DEC. 27
MILITARY BOWL
ANNAPOLIS, MD.
PITTSBURGH VS. EAST CAROLINA, 11 A.M. (ESPN)
PINSTRIPE BOWL
BRONX, N.Y.
CLEMSON VS. PENN ST., NOON (ABC)
FENWAY BOWL
BOSTON
UCONN VS. ARMY, 2:15 P.M. (ESPN)
POP-TARTS BOWL
ORLANDO, FLA.
NO. 12 BYU VS. NO. 24 GEORGIA TECH, 3:30 P.M. (ABC)
ARIZONA BOWL
TUCSON, ARIZ.
FRESNO ST. VS. MIAMI (OH), 4:30 P.M. (CW NETWORK)
NEW MEXICO BOWL
ALBUQUERQUE
NO. 23 NORTH TEXAS VS. SAN DIEGO ST., 5:45 P.M. (ESPN)
GATOR BOWL
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
NO. 25 MISSOURI VS. NO. 20 VIRGINIA, 7:30 P.M. (ABC)
TEXAS BOWL
HOUSTON
LSU VS. NO. 21 HOUSTON, 9:15 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
DEC. 29
BIRMINGHAM BOWL
BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. APPALACHIAN STATE, 2 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
DEC. 30
INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT, LA.
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. LOUISIANA TECH, 2 P.M. (ESPN)
MUSIC CITY BOWL
NASHVILLE, TENN.
TENNESSEE VS. ILLINOIS, 5:30 P.M. (ESPN)
ALAMO BOWL
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
NO. 16 SOUTHERN CAL VS. TCU, 9 P.M. (ESPN)
============
DEC. 31
RELIAQUEST BOWL
TAMPA, FLA.
NO. 13 VANDERBILT VS. NO. 23 IOWA, NOON (ESPN)
SUN BOWL
EL PASO, TEXAS
ARIZONA ST. VS. DUKE, 2 P.M. (CBS)
CITRUS BOWL
ORLANDO, FLA.
NO. 14 TEXAS VS. NO. 18 MICHIGAN, 3 P.M. (ABC)
LAS VEGAS BOWL
LAS VEGAS
NO. 15 UTAH VS. NEBRASKA, 3:30 P.M. (ESPN)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
QUARTERFINALS
AT COTTON BOWL, ARLINGTON, TEXAS
MIAMI/TEXAS A&M WINNER AT NO. 3 OHIO ST., 7:30 P.M. (ESPN)
============
JAN. 1
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
QUARTERFINALS
AT ORANGE BOWL, MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.
JAMES MADISON/OREGON WINNER AT NO. 4 TEXAS TECH, NOON (ESPN)
AT ROSE BOWL, PASADENA, CALIF.
ALABAMA/OKLAHOMA WINNER AT NO. 1 INDIANA, 4 P.M. (ESPN)
AT SUGAR BOWL, NEW ORLEANS
TULANE/MISSISSIPPI WINNER AT NO. 2 GEORGIA, 8 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
JAN. 2
ARMED FORCES BOWL
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
TEXAS STATE VS. RICE, 1 P.M. (ESPN)
LIBERTY BOWL
MEMPHIS, TENN.
NO. 22 NAVY VS. CINCINNATI, 4:30 P.M. (ESPN)
DUKE’S MAYO BOWL
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
MISSISSIPPI ST. VS. WAKE FOREST, 8 P.M. (ESPN)
HOLIDAY BOWL
SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
NO. 21 ARIZONA VS. SMU, 8 P.M. (FOX)
=========
NFL
WEEK 15
MONDAY, DEC. 15
PITTSBURGH 28 MIAMI 15
===========
NFL WEEK 16
THURSDAY, DEC. 18
LA RAMS AT SEATTLE, 8:15 P.M. (PRIME VIDEO)
SATURDAY, DEC. 20
GREEN BAY AT CHICAGO, 4:30 P.M. OR 8 P.M. (FOX)
PHILADELPHIA AT WASHINGTON, 4:30 P.M. OR 8 P.M. (FOX)
SUNDAY, DEC. 21
KANSAS CITY AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M. (CBS)
NY JETS AT NEW ORLEANS, 1 P.M. (CBS)
NEW ENGLAND AT BALTIMORE
BUFFALO AT CLEVELAND, 1 P.M. (CBS)
TAMPA BAY AT CAROLINA, 1 P.M. (FOX)
MINNESOTA AT NY GIANTS, 1 P.M. (FOX)
LA CHARGERS AT DALLAS, 1 P.M. (FOX)
ATLANTA AT ARIZONA, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)
JACKSONVILLE AT DENVER, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)
PITTSBURGH AT DETROIT, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)
LAS VEGAS AT HOUSTON, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)
CINCINNATI AT MIAMI, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)
MONDAY, DEC. 22
SAN FRANCISCO AT INDIANAPOLIS, 8:15 P.M. (ESPN)
===========
NBA SCORES
DETROIT 112 BOSTON 105
TORONTO 106 MIAMI 96
UTAH 140 DALLAS 133 OT
DENVER 128 HOUSTON 125 OT
MEMPHIS 121 LA CLIPPERS 103
===========
NHL SCORES
FLORIDA 5 TAMPA BAY 2
ANAHEIM 4 NY RANGERS 1
OTTAWA 3 WINNIPEG 2 OT
NASHVILLE 5 ST. LOUIS 2
DALLAS 4 LOS ANGELES 1
===========
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
SEMIFINALS: THURSDAY, DEC. 18
TBA | NO. 1 KENTUCKY VS. NO. 3 WISCONSIN
TBA | NO. 1 PITT VS. NO. 3 TEXAS A&M
===========
MEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER TOURNAMENT
FINALS: MONDAY, DEC. 15
WASHINGTON 3 NC STATE 2 OT
===========
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
STEELERS MAINTAIN MONDAY MAGIC, ELIMINATE DOLPHINS
Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and Kenneth Gainwell amassed 126 scrimmage yards to help the host Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins 28-15 on Monday night.
The Steelers (8-6) won their second game in a row and maintained a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. Pittsburgh won its 23rd consecutive home “Monday Night Football” game to extend a streak that began in 1992.
The Dolphins (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention and had a four-game winning streak snapped. It is the second consecutive season that Miami will not make the postseason.
Gainwell ran for 80 yards on 13 carries and caught a team-high seven passes for 46 yards. Rodgers connected on 23 of 27 passes for 224 yards.
Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa was sacked four times, and he completed 22 of 28 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Both of his scoring tosses went to Darren Waller, who finished with seven catches for 66 yards.
Dolphins running back De’Von Achane ran 12 times for 60 yards and made six receptions for 67 yards.
The Dolphins dueled the Steelers in a defensive stalemate early, and Miami led 3-0 after Riley Patterson’s 54-yard field goal with 5:11 left in the second quarter.
However, after a short kickoff put the ball on their own 40, the Steelers drove 60 yards on 12 plays and started a run of 28 consecutive points with a 1-yard dive by Connor Heyward.
Pittsburgh held the Dolphins to minus-20 yards of offense in the third quarter and to 93 total yards to that point.
Rodgers broke the game open with a 19-yard touchdown toss to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the first possession of the second half. The Steelers got another TD when Rodgers threaded a pass to DK Metcalf, who bounced off a tackler and scored from 28 yards out to give Pittsburgh a 21-3 edge late in the third.
With 13:01 left in the fourth, Pittsburgh scored a touchdown on its fourth consecutive possession. Tight end Jonnu Smith lined up in the backfield and ran for a 14-yard score against his former team. It was Smith’s first rushing touchdown since 2020, when Smith played for the Tennessee Titans.
Miami safety Minkah Fitzpatrick left the game in the fourth quarter with a calf injury. Pittsburgh offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo sustained a triceps injury in the third quarter.
NFL WEEK 15 WINNERS AND LOSERS: BILLS, BEARS EARN KEY VICTORIES; PACKERS DEFENSE IN TROUBLE?
This was one of those weeks in the NFL when you were reminded how crazy this league can be. It’s already been a wild year with all the parity and the rise of upstarts like the Patriots, Bears and Jaguars. Week 15 was a reminder of how much unpredictability still remains. You saw that in places like Tampa Bay and Carolina and certainly in New England, where the Bills sent a stark reminder that the AFC East is still open for business.
This was a week filled with important matchups. What we ultimately learned is that a lot can change in a matter of days in this league. That’s why this edition of The First Read wants to go back to an old favorite: winners and losers. It feels like the best way to make sense of what we just witnessed.
WINNERS
1) Matthew Stafford
Stafford sits at the top of the MVP race with New England falling to Buffalo on Sunday. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye seemed to be on the verge of taking a sizable lead when his team led the Bills, 21-0, in that contest. But then Buffalo stormed back and Maye wound up with his worst stat line of the season (14-for-23 for 155 yards and an interception). Stafford, on the other hand, passed for 368 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions. That now gives Stafford 37 touchdown passes and just five interceptions on the season. At 37 years old, he’s enjoying the best year of his career and doing it for a team that is rolling. Maye could’ve helped himself immensely by beating Josh Allen and putting the Patriots in position to clinch the AFC East title. Instead, he failed in one of the few big moments he’s had because of New England’s soft schedule, while Stafford — who lost star wide receiver Davante Adams to a hamstring injury on Sunday — thrived in his showcase game.
2) Sean McDermott
Speaking of the Bills, their head coach had to be thrilled by the effort his team produced after falling behind early against New England. Buffalo has won the last five AFC East titles, and it proved why on Sunday: This team usually plays its best football in November and December. The Bills won seven of their last nine regular-season games in 2024. They ended the 2023 regular season on a five-game win streak and the 2022 campaign on a seven-game win streak. This is what they do. It was equally important for McDermott to see his underwhelming defense make some key stops that allowed quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense to get this team back into the game. Of course, the Bills still need help to have a chance of winning the division. But there’s something else that has to make McDermott feel better: As long as the Bills don’t implode, they’ll go into their first postseason under this head coach without any chance of seeing Kansas City in January.
3) Chicago Bears
The Bears have been bouncing all over the playoff picture these days, but they have to like where they sit right now. Chicago is now the No. 2 seed in the NFC after Sunday’s win over Cleveland and Green Bay’s loss to Denver. The Bears had been the top seed heading into Week 14, but a defeat to the Packers dropped them all the way down to the seventh seed. Now that the Bears are back in position to potentially play playoff games at home in January, their circumstances are in a much better place. For one, they’ll play a rematch with Green Bay on Saturday, and the Packers just took a major hit when edge rusher Micah Parsons apparently sustained a torn ACL in a loss to Denver. Chicago also hosts the Lions in Week 18, and Detroit is two games behind the 10-4 Bears. If that’s not enough, the Bears also hold the tiebreaker over the Eagles — who are currently the No. 3 seed — because Chicago beat Philadelphia on Black Friday. These games won’t be easy, but the Bears can set themselves up by handling their business.
4) Jesse Minter
The Chargers defensive coordinator is turning himself into a hot prospect for a head coaching job. Six days after leading a unit that forced five turnovers in a Monday night win over Philadelphia, Minter watched his defense hold the Chiefs to 13 points in a victory that moved the Chargers one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. Kansas City generated just 239 total yards and committed two turnovers in that contest. Minter’s defense also was able to exploit an injury-plagued Chiefs offensive line to produce five sacks. The play of the Chargers defense has been crucial to this team’s success because Los Angeles has been dealing with its own health issues, both along its offensive line and with quarterback Justin Herbert (who’s been playing with a fractured left hand). Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh helped launch the career of one of his former defensive coordinators at Michigan, as Mike Macdonald has done great things in Seattle. Minter could be next in line if his defense continues to perform at a high level.
LOSERS
1) Kansas City Chiefs
There will be a long offseason in Kansas City after the way the Chiefs watched their playoff hopes — and certainly this dynastic era — die in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. The major news was the torn ACL that ended the season of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. There’s now plenty of uncertainty about when he’ll be ready to play for this team next season. The Chiefs also were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the Charger loss (combined with wins by the Bills, Jaguars and Texans). It tells you how bad the Chiefs’ season has been when they still need a variety of things to happen to be eliminated … and all of them ultimately occur. The way that game ended — with a number of other Chiefs either needing medical attention or leaving the game for certain stretches — creates the question of how bad this season will become. Kansas City is currently 6-8 and playing without the one player who always gave this team hope. It’s not impossible to think this squad doesn’t win another game this year.
2) Jeff Hafley
The loss of Micah Parsons will be seismic for the Packers and, specifically, Hafley’s defense. Parsons changed the entire trajectory of that unit when he arrived in a trade from Dallas prior to the season-opener. Suddenly, a defense that had all sorts of issues with pressuring opposing quarterbacks had a one-man wrecking ball working off the edge every week. Parsons already had produced 12.5 sacks this season, and he surely was responsible for helping his teammates accumulate many others. That’s all gone today. Hafley will have to scheme, adjust and ask more of lesser talents to make this work. That doesn’t mean the Packers will be lousy moving forward. It just means they lost their best chance to be dominant.
3) Dave Canales
How do you lose that game? That is what every Carolina fan must be asking after the Panthers suffered a 20-17 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. All the momentum favored Canales and his team coming into the game. The Buccaneers incredibly lost to the Falcons on Thursday night, so all the Panthers had to do was beat a 3-10 team to create an ideal scenario. If the Panthers had beaten the Saints, they would be playing Tampa Bay this coming Sunday with a chance to clinch their first NFC South title since 2015 (and first playoff appearance since 2017). Now Canales has to hope his team can do this the hard way. Carolina will play Tampa Bay this week and then again in the regular-season finale. The Panthers still have a good shot of accomplishing their goal, but Canales watched a better opportunity evaporate right before his eyes.
4) Everyone who thought Philip Rivers would flop
Admit it: Rivers did much better than most folks imagined he would do after returning to the NFL at age 44. The man hadn’t played in five years, but he somehow did enough to give Indianapolis a chance to win a huge game in Seattle against the Seahawks’ vaunted defense. Rivers looked every bit his age when it came to how he moved and how often he pushed the ball down the field. What he didn’t do was embarrass himself. He played with savvy, managed the game as best he could and drove the Colts into a position where they kicked a go-ahead field goal with just under a minute left. Give Sam Darnold and the Seahawks credit for driving into position for a game-winning field goal from Jason Myers. Even though Rivers ended the game with a desperation interception in the final seconds, he did enough to make the Colts not look crazy for bringing him back.
INJURIES TO PATRICK MAHOMES AND MICAH PARSONS RUIN NFL’S WEEK 15
First, Patrick Mahomes went down. Then, it was Micah Parsons.
The NFL lost two of its all-time greatest players to serious knee injuries in a span of a few hours on Sunday, ruining a day filled with exciting comebacks and fascinating stories.
Forty-four-year-old Philip Rivers played his first game in 1,800 days and nearly led the 14-point underdog Indianapolis Colts to a stunning upset against Seattle before Jason Myers kicked a 56-yard field goal with 29 seconds left to lift the Seahawks to an 18-16 victory.
Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills from a 21-0 deficit to a 35-31 victory at New England, snapping the Patriots’ 10-game winning streak and preventing them from clinching the AFC East.
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough rallied the New Orleans Saints to a 20-17 comeback victory over the Panthers capped by Charlie Smyth’s 47-yarder as time expired, damaging Carolina’s chances to win the NFC South and boosting Tampa Bay’s hopes.
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams overcame a 10-point deficit and rolled past the Lions 41-34, dampening Detroit’s playoff bid. The Rams lost three-time All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to a hamstring injury in the game. He could miss Thursday night’s game at Seattle, a battle for first place in the NFC West.
Jalen Hurts played like the Super Bowl MVP and the Philadelphia Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 31-0 rout over the woeful Las Vegas Raiders.
But the injuries to Mahomes and Parsons overshadowed everything else that happened in Week 15.
Even the Chiefs being eliminated from playoff contention was secondary to the news about Mahomes.
The three-time Super Bowl MVP tore the ACL in his left knee late in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that ended Kansas City’s streak of 10 straight playoff appearances and seven consecutive trips to the AFC championship game.
“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes posted on social media before the diagnosis was announced. “And not going to lie it hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever.”
Parsons is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, a person with knowledge of the All-Pro pass rusher’s injury told The Associated Press on Sunday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the severity of the injury hadn’t been confirmed by tests.
“I’m sickened,” Parsons told the AP in a text message.
Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Green Bay Packers, who lost 34-26 to Denver on Sunday to fall a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.
Parsons was steps away from another sack when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground, grabbing at his left knee.
Asked about the possibility that Parsons tore his ACL, coach Matt LaFleur responded: “It doesn’t look good. I’ll leave it at that.”
With Parsons, the Packers were Super Bowl contenders. Without him, it’ll be much more difficult to get there. The Packers take on the Bears in a showdown for first place on Saturday night.
“We all know what type of player he is and the impact he’s had on our football team and to lose somebody like that, it’s tough,” LaFleur said. “Like I said, nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got to find a way and guys have got to rally around one another.”
Mahomes and Parsons will not only miss the rest of this season but their status for the start of 2026 is uncertain. Players typically return from ACL injuries in 9-12 months.
Running back Adrian Peterson tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Dec. 24, 2011. He was back on the field for Week 1 the next season, ran for 2,097 yards in 16 games and became the last non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP award in one of the most remarkable comebacks in league history.
Quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL, LCL and sustained damage to his IT band and meniscus on Dec. 17, 2017 and ended up watching the Eagles win the first Super Bowl in franchise history from the sideline. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 3 the following season, and threw for 3,074 yards, 21 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 102.2 passer rating in 11 games.
If Mahomes and Parsons didn’t damage other ligaments, it increases the possibility they could return for the 2026 season opener.
Regardless, both star players have a long, grueling rehab ahead.
MRI CONFIRMS PACKERS STAR MICAH PARSONS SUFFERED TORN ACL VS. BRONCOS
The expected worst-case scenario for Green Bay was realized on Monday when an MRI confirmed that Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL during Sunday’s 34-26 loss to the Broncos, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
Parsons suffered a non-contract knee injury during the second half of Sunday’s game when he was in pursuit of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. Parsons took an awkward step on the play, immediately grabbed at his knee and went down. He was helped to the locker room with his arm around a trainer.
“I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated,” Parsons wrote Monday on social media. “This injury is my greatest test — a moment God allowed to strengthen my testimony. I believe He walks with me through this storm and chose me for this fight because He knew my heart could carry it. I’m deeply grateful to the Packers organization and my teammates for their unwavering support, love, and belief in me during this season. I trust His timing, His plan, and His purpose. I will rise again.”
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur did not paint an optimistic picture of Parsons’ status after the game, telling reporters, “It doesn’t look good, I’ll leave it at that,” when asked if Parsons had torn his ACL. Monday’s news confirmed the team’s fears.
Parsons joined Green Bay just before the start of the season as the headliner of a stunning blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was on his way to more postseason accolades in 2025, posting 12.5 sacks and 26 QB hits to help lead a Packers squad that is on the cusp of a third consecutive playoff berth.
Green Bay (9-4-1) currently holds the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture and has a 88 percent chance to make the postseason, according to Next Gen Stats.
However, making the playoffs — and more importantly, making a push to a Super Bowl — is a much more difficult proposition without Parsons in the fold.
Rashan Gary is currently second on the team in sacks (7.5), and Green Bay will look for greater contributions from edge rushers Quay Walker and Lukas Van Ness, who each have 1.5 sacks on the year.
In their first game without Parsons, the Packers will face off against the rival Chicago Bears (10-4) at Soldier Field on Saturday.
CHIEFS QB PATRICK MAHOMES VISITING DALLAS FOR SECOND OPINION ON ACL
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is heading to Dallas for a second opinion on his left knee injury after initial testing revealed a torn ACL.
Head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes would visit Dr. Dan Cooper in Dallas and then attack his plan for surgery and recovery.
In general, players who suffer major injuries that require surgery seek a second opinion. Reid said the additional medical input is not a sign the Chiefs fear additional ligament damage.
“Most guys get a second opinion. That’s just part of it,” Reid said.
Mahomes was injured running away from pressure Sunday when he was hit on his left leg from behind by pursuing Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.
“I’ve had a good visit with him a couple of different times. He’s in a good place,” Reid said Monday of Mahomes. “He feels like he let people down, but he’s ready for the challenge ahead, which is what’s real right now. He’s just got to get through surgery, wherever it might be, and move on from there.”
Typical recovery from ACL reconstruction would likely put the Chiefs in position to need another quarterback next year, at the very least as insurance Mahomes will not be available for the start of the regular season.
Gardner Minshew entered Sunday’s game when Mahomes was injured and was driving the Chiefs for a potential game-tying field goal when his pass intended for tight end Travis Kelce was intercepted.
Reid said Monday he has a “ton of confidence” Minshew can do the job. Backup Chris Oladokun, 28, has been on the practice squad since 2022.
REPORT: RAVENS BELIEVE LB TEDDYE BUCHANAN TORE ACL
The Baltimore Ravens fear rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan tore his ACL during Sunday’s shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN reported Monday.
Buchanan, 23, was set to undergo more testing to confirm the initial diagnosis.
He fell to the field while covering a punt in the first quarter of Baltimore’s 24-0 road win. He clutched his right knee, walked to the sideline with the support of staff and was carted to the locker room.
Buchanan is the Ravens’ second-leading tackler (93) behind Roquan Smith. He assumed a starting role in Week 2 and was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month in October.
The fourth-round draft pick out of Cal recorded five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and 0.5 sacks in 14 games (13 starts).
“It sucks anytime you see your guy go down — somebody you go to war with every day and truly just a good dude,” Smith said postgame Sunday. “It’s giving me chills thinking about it, and just knowing what (Buchanan) stands for, knowing all that he’s gone through. Obviously, it’s an unforgiving business, and we know that. We signed up for that, and it just sucks, but I know it’s a minor setback for him.”
The Ravens (7-7) trail the Steelers by a half-game in the AFC North standings heading into Pittsburgh’s Monday night matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Baltimore hosts the New England Patriots next Sunday and visits the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 before traveling to Pittsburgh for the season finale.
REPORT: PACKERS WR CHRISTIAN WATSON AVOIDS MAJOR INJURY
Packers wideout Christian Watson avoided a major injury in Sunday’s devastating defeat in Denver, NFL Network reported on Monday.
Micah Parsons, Green Bay’s star pass-rusher, is believed to have sustained a torn left ACL during the 34-26 loss to the Broncos.
Watson, who missed the first six games this season while rehabbing his own torn ACL, left with 12:55 remaining in the third quarter with an apparent chest or shoulder injury that required a trip to the hospital.
Watson, 26, sustained the injury on a deep pass that was intercepted by Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who landed on Watson while making the catch.
Watson had three catches for 29 yards at Denver and has 28 receptions for 481 yards and five touchdowns in eight games (all starts) this season.
A second-round draft pick in 2022, the speedy Watson has recorded 126 catches for 2,134 yards with 19 TDs in 46 career games (43 starts).
JERRY JONES WITH 3 GAMES LEFT: ‘VERY DISAPPOINTED,’ COWBOYS ‘UNDERACHIEVED’
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones walked away from the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night with one overwhelming emotion.
“It’s very disappointing. I’m really obviously very disappointed for our fans,” Jones said of the Cowboys losing to the Minnesota Vikings and falling to 6-7-1 to be eliminated from wild-card playoff contention.
“I’m disappointed for these players. I didn’t expect that. I thought we could come out here and on both sides of the ball make a better accounting of ourselves. Minnesota did the best job out there on both sides of the ball.”
The Cowboys have a playoff prayer left, but they would have to finish the season with three consecutive wins while the Philadelphia Eagles lose their final three games to forfeit their lead in the NFC East.
Dallas plays the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) on Sunday and faces the Washington Commanders (4-10) on Christmas Day in another short-week, Thursday game. The season finale is Jan. 4 against the New York Giants (2-12).
Philadelphia plays at Washington on Saturday night, at Buffalo (10-4) on Dec. 28 and faces the Commanders again in the Week 18 finale on Jan. 4.
Like Jones, first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer also used the “d” word after a deflating loss to the Vikings (6-8) that dropped Dallas to 3-6-1 against NFC opponents this season.
“I’m disappointed,” Schottenheimer said. “We didn’t play well against Detroit (Week 14). I really do think … we’re beating ourselves quite a bit and that starts with us as a coaching staff. It’s always going to start with me and the things that I messed up and didn’t do very well. (Vikings DC) Brian Flores was better than me.”
Quarterback Dak Prescott said he was “definitely surprised” by Sunday’s loss because of what the Cowboys knew was at stake. He’s focused on being a consistent voice the rest of the season to bring professional accountability to the offense.
“Nothing’s going to change for me, and that’s going to be my influence as a leader,” Prescott said. “My message to anybody around me is take pride in who you are as a man and who you are as a football player and the job responsibility that you have and what that entails is giving your best every day. And if you don’t, you probably won’t be in this league for long.”
GIANTS’ MIKE KAFKA NOT FOCUSED ON IMPACT TO HEAD COACHING OPPORTUNITIES
Mike Kafka is 0-4 as the interim head coach of the Giants but said he is not concerned about the impact the team’s continued struggles might have on his prospects to land a full-time head coaching job with New York or elsewhere.
“I’m not really concerned about any of that stuff,” he said Monday. “That would be super selfish of me to think about that. Where we’re at in this season, my only focus is on the players and the coaches and getting our guys ready to roll.”
The Giants were 2-8 when coach Brian Daboll was fired on Nov. 10 and Kafka was elevated from offensive coordinator to interim head coach. Since then, the Giants have dropped four consecutive games, including a 29-21 setback at home on Sunday against a Washington Commanders team that entered with an eight-game losing streak and a journeyman backup quarterback.
Kafka, 38, has been credited with aiding the development of quarterback Jaxson Dart and fellow rookie Cam Skattebo, the now-injured running back. The Giants do own the NFL’s 12th-ranked offense, but their average of 343.2 yards per game has been padded a bit by consistently playing from behind during their eight-game losing streak.
“I love being the head coach of the New York Football Giants and it’s a privilege to do this job,” Kafka said. “The challenges and the things that come with it are part of the job. I look forward to it every day, coming into work, to attack it every single day and give our players the best opportunity to be successful.
“Every day brings a new learning experience and a new opportunity to grow. So, I’ve just been taking those experiences to continue to learn from. When there are decisions to be made, I go in there and make those decisions with the best intentions for the team.”
New York will close out the string against Minnesota, at Las Vegas and home against Dallas. After that, general manager Joe Schoen will conduct the search for the next head coach.
That may or may not include Kafka, who interviewed for several vacancies last year and has been considered one of the top young offensive minds in the league.
“We’ve got a great opportunity ahead of us with three games left. Nothing’s more important than this game right now against Minnesota,” Kafka said. “So, that’s really where our mind’s at. That’s where my mind’s at. Watching the tape, getting these corrections made so that we can go and continue to improve, and then let’s get on the tape for Minnesota, let’s go attack those guys.”
Kafka was asked if learning the nuances of being a head coach, especially while being thrown into the fire mid-season with the Giants, has been an eye-opening experience.
“This is the situation that I’m in and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” he said. “Any opportunity that I have to help this team and put my fingerprint on the team, I will. Obviously, yeah, when you have the opportunity to do it from the start, you have a way to kind of change certain things, build the culture the way you want to build it.
“But we have a great team here, we have a great staff here and I look forward to coming to work every single day. I love working with these guys. They’re giving us everything they’ve got and we’re going to find a way to get a W.”
JETS FIRE DC STEVE WILKS AFTER 48-20 LOSS TO JAGUARS
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Monday following a lopsided loss in Jacksonville.
The Jets (3-11) surrendered season highs in yards (438) and points in the 48-20 thumping by the Jaguars (10-4) on Sunday.
Chris Harris, the defensive backs coach and passing-game coordinator, takes over as interim defensive coordinator with three games left in the season.
Through Sunday’s games, the Jets rank 20th in the NFL in total defense (337.4 yards per game) and 30th in scoring defense (28.4 points per game).
Wilks, 56, was in his first season with the Jets. He was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
Wilks also worked as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (2023), Panthers (2022, 2017), University of Missouri (2021) and Cleveland Browns (2019). He has been coaching in college and the NFL since 1995.
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BIG TEN PUTS 10 ON AP ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM, LED BY 4 FROM OHIO STATE AND HOOSIER STAR MENDOZA
Four players from Ohio State are among 10 first-team picks from the Big Ten on The Associated Press All-America team released Monday, a group headed by repeat selection Caleb Downs of the Buckeyes and AP Player of the Year Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.
The AP has named an All-America team every year since 1925, and Notre Dame’s two first-team picks this season increased its all-time lead to 87.
Downs, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, has made the first team each of his two seasons at Ohio State after landing on the second team as a freshman at Alabama in 2023. He is one of 12 players on the 27-man first team who did not start their careers at their current school. Downs is joined on the first team by fellow Buckeyes Jeremiah Smith, Kayden McDonald and Arvell Reese.
Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy over the weekend, led the top-ranked Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after transferring from California. He has thrown a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes and is the catalyst of one of the most productive offenses in the country.
A total of 18 schools are represented on the first team, including seven of the 12 in the CFP.
Iowa has had at least one first-team player seven straight years and in 10 of the last 12. This is the fourth year in a row Miami, Notre Dame and Ohio State have had at least one.
Punter Cole Maynard gave Western Kentucky its first-ever first-team pick. Defensive lineman Landon Robinson is Navy’s first since 1975 and kicker Kansei Matsuzawa is Hawaii’s first since 1986.
First-team All-Americans (by conference)
Big Ten — 10
SEC — 6
Big 12 — 3
ACC — 1
Independent — 3
Conference USA — 2
American — 1
Mountain West — 1
BILLY NAPIER BACK IN SUN BELT AT JAMES MADISON. IT’S A CHANGED WORLD FROM LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE DAYS
HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Four years ago, Billy Napier walked away from a Sun Belt Conference powerhouse he had built at Louisiana-Lafayette. It was, in part, because he wasn’t sure how that program would handle the financial challenges of new rules allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness.
Four years later, Napier is returning to the league with James Madison. And the Dukes’ ability to compete financially was one of the main drivers behind his decision to become the successor to UCLA-bound Bob Chesney.
“This place has what it takes to dominate the competition for sure,” Napier said of a program ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and headed to the College Football Playoff.
Napier went 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette, dominating Sun Belt competition. His Ragin’ Cajuns won the Western Division all four years he was there and claimed league championships in his final two seasons. He was twice named the league’s coach of the year.
But after posting a 12-1 record and his second Sun Belt title in 2021, Napier left for Florida.
“I stayed at Louisiana after Year 2 when we had opportunities, after Year 3 when we had opportunities,” Napier said. “And we probably, truth be known, would have stayed longer if it wasn’t for NIL. Because we know that was coming. We knew that roster was going to be tough to keep together.”
Changed landscape
Napier went 22-23 at Florida, starting this season 3-4 when he was fired in his fourth year leading the Gators.
As he surveyed the landscape, considering his future, he thought a lot about how college football had changed since he first took over at Louisiana-Lafayette in 2018. The NIL rules allowing college athletes to cash in on their fame went live in summer 2021, while this year marked the arrival of revenue sharing following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement.
“It’s very different,” Napier said. “Obviously (revenue sharing) is ultimately a huge difference maker at the Group of Six level. Now, you evaluate jobs relative to alignment, resources — which basically means building infrastructure and hiring a great staff — and then the rev share that allows you to compensate really good players.”
Napier said that, the transfer portal and roster limits following the House settlement have changed the game since he last coached in the Sun Belt.
“But ultimately, football’s football,” Napier said. “We’re going to need to evaluate well. Basically going to recruit a high school cycle each year. Then you’re going to recruit a portal cycle each year. Then start over.”
Those changes aren’t something Napier is thinking about in the abstract.
He jumps right into one of the most awkward positions in the country — seeking to retain players of a CFP-bound team while their current coach presumably is hoping to take some of the Dukes’ top talent with him west to UCLA. (No. 12 seed JMU faces No. 5 Oregon on Saturday night.)
“I’m for transparency,” Napier said. “Let’s rip the Band-Aid off. Who are you taking? And who wants to go?”
Roster management
When Curt Cignetti left JMU for Indiana, he took 13 of the program’s top players with him. That group includes the Hoosiers’ leader in rushing touchdowns (Kaelon Black), its leader in receiving scores (Elijah Sarratt), its leader in pass breakups (D’Angelo Ponds) and its second-leading tackler (Aiden Fisher).
Nine former JMU players started multiple games this season for top-ranked Indiana, which beat then-No. 2 Ohio State for the Big Ten Conference title and is the top seed in the 12-team playoff.
Chesney had to rebuild JMU almost entirely from scratch. He brought in 58 new players his first season.
Athletic director Matt Roan said he and Chesney navigated the entire season with openness and honesty, starting with UCLA’s first inquiries about Chesney after Week 3. That gives him confidence that Chesney and Napier will be able to work simultaneously and professionally toward the future of both coaches’ programs.
“We were very transparent throughout,” Roan said. “The day that UCLA announced that DeShaun Foster was being removed as the head coach, they started calling. And every program in America started calling. And we would have those open, honest conversations about where things could go. We’ve been the adults in the room.”
JMU president Jim Schmidt expressed confidence the Dukes will remain successful under Napier no matter how the fight over players turns out.
“I have no doubt that we may lose some talented players to UCLA,” Schmidt said. “We certainly lost some talented players to Indiana. I believe that we will retain the right players and I believe Coach Billy will bring some great players to round that out.”
ALABAMA’S KALEN DEBOER DISPELS MICHIGAN RUMORS, SAYS HE’S ‘VERY HAPPY IN TUSCALOOSA’
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer is “very happy in Tuscaloosa” and has no interest in pursuing other jobs, he said in a statement Sunday.
With the sudden opening at Michigan, the second-year coach has stated he will stay at Alabama as the ninth-ranked Crimson Tide prepare for a playoff game at No. 8 Oklahoma.
“I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job,” he said in a statement released through Yea Alabama, the school’s NIL collective. “I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as head football coach at the University of Alabama.”
DeBoer has a 19-7 record in two seasons at Alabama after going 10-3 this season.
The Crimson Tide were the top team in the SEC during the regular season with a 7-1 conference record, and were selected to the College Football Playoff after missing the 12-team field a season ago.
There’s also been recruiting success. Alabama has a consensus top 5 recruiting class according to all major recruiting services.
The Crimson Tide will play at Oklahoma on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
MICHIGAN SEARCH INCLUDES ARIZONA STATE’S KENNY DILLINGHAM, MISSOURI’S ELI DRINKWITZ, AP SOURCE SAYS
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The firm hired by Michigan to search for a football coach to replace Sherrone Moore has contacted representatives for Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because they were not authorized to share details of the search.
Moore was fired on Wednesday, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Two days later, Moore was charged with three crimes after prosecutors said he “barged his way” into the apartment of a woman he’d been having an affair with and threatened to kill himself.
College football’s winningest program suddenly needs a coach.
After the 35-year-old Dillingham was linked to numerous open jobs last month, he said he was not leaving his alma mater.
Two weeks ago, Drinkwitz agreed to a six-year contract that increases his average compensation to $10.75 million annually.
Michigan is hoping to hire a coach this month, helping its chances of retaining recruits and keeping key players out of the transfer portal in January.
Dillingham, who is from Scottsdale, Arizona, graduated from Arizona State in 2013 and started his coaching career as an assistant for the Sun Devils. After coaching at Memphis, he was the offensive coordinator for Auburn, Florida State and Oregon before returning to Arizona State.
Dillingham orchestrated a quick turnaround, leading the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff for the first time last year.
Arizona State was 8-4 this season, improving Dillingham’s record to 22-16 over three seasons.
The 42-year-old Drinkwitz is 46-28 in six seasons at Missouri after going 12-1 in a year at Appalachian State. He has built the Tigers into a steady Southeastern Conference program, earning five straight bowl bids.
MICHIGAN STATE QB AIDAN CHILES ENTERING TRANSFER PORTAL
Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles will enter the transfer portal next month after two seasons with the Spartans, he confirmed Monday to ESPN.
A junior with one year of eligibility remaining, Chiles began his career at Oregon State and has played in 30 games with the Spartans (2024-25) and Beavers (2023).
Chiles has completed 61.3% of his passes for 4,116 yards with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He has rushed for 531 yards and 12 scores.
Chiles enjoyed one of his best games in 2025 against current No. 1 Indiana, completing 27 of 33 passes for 243 yards and one TD in Michigan State’s 38-13 loss on Oct. 18 in Bloomington, Ind.
FLORIDA QB DJ LAGWAY TO ENTER TRANSFER PORTAL
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is entering the transfer portal next month after two seasons with the Gators, he announced Monday.
The sophomore passer was a five-star recruit in former coach Billy Napier’s 2024 signing class, ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect by 247Sports.
Lagway completed 63.2% of his passes for 2,264 yards with 16 touchdowns and an SEC-high 14 interceptions in 12 games this season for the 4-8 Gators. He directed a win against then-No. 9 Texas on Oct. 4 but finished 1-6 against ranked opponents.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such an incredible program here at the University of Florida,” Lagway posted on Instagram. “After much prayer, reflection, and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”
The 6-foot-3 quarterback’s two-year totals included 4,179 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 23 picks in 24 games. Lagway went 6-1 as a starter as a true freshman in 2024, including wins against LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Florida fired Napier after a 3-4 start and hired former Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall to take over the program on Nov. 30.
The transfer portal opens Jan. 2 and players have until Jan. 16 to submit their names. Players competing in the College Football Playoff final will have an extended window from Jan. 20-24.
MICHIGAN’S PLAYERS ‘FEEL VERY BETRAYED,’ SAYS INTERIM COACH BIFF POGGI
In his first public comments since becoming Michigan’s interim coach following Sherrone Moore’s firing and arrest, Biff Poggi declared Monday that his players “feel very betrayed.”
Poggi spoke in Orlando, Fla., where he and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian visited to drum up interest in their teams’ Citrus Bowl clash Dec. 31.
But thoughts of the game between the 13th-ranked Longhorns (9-3) and the No. 18 Wolverines (9-3) have been on the backburner since Wednesday, when the 39-year-old Moore was fired with cause by Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel for an inappropriate relationship with an employee in the football office.
Shortly after his firing, Moore went to the staffer’s residence uninvited. On Friday, he was charged with third-degree home invasion, stalking and breaking and entering. He was released after posting $25,000 bond.
“It has been a tumultuous time,” Poggi said. “A lot of … first, disbelief, and anger. Really, what we’re in right now is the phase of — the kids, quite frankly, feel very betrayed. And we’re trying to work through that.”
Poggi, who served as an associate head coach for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, spent the 2023-24 seasons as Charlotte’s head coach. After posting a 6-16 record there, he returned to Ann Arbor this year as Moore’s associate head coach. Poggi was named the Wolverines’ acting head coach for two games in September while Moore served a suspension for his role in the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal.
To say the Wolverines’ current situation is rare would be an understatement.
“Multiple levels of complexity that our young people are dealing with, our university’s dealing with, our athletic director Warde Manuel’s dealing with,” Poggi said in low, measured tones. “You know, our team, our coaches and our kids (too). It’s been … I don’t know that you can prepare for something like this. It’s been, I’ll just say, complicated.”
Poggi indicated he has met with all of the players and their parents (via Zoom) on several occasions.
“The message has been listening, right? I want to listen to them,” Poggi said. “I want to understand what the kids are feeling and what their parents are feeling. And so, a lot of listening. There has been a wide range of emotions, as you can imagine. We’re kind of going through those steps. They’re not over yet, and I don’t expect them to be over for a while, quite frankly.”
REPORT: JOURNEYMAN QB TJ FINLEY HITS PORTAL, SEEKS 7TH YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY
TJ Finley is aiming for lucky No. 7.
Finley is filing a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility and planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3.
The quarterback, who will turn 24 in March, started his collegiate career with LSU in 2020. He played for Georgia State this past season after also suiting up for Auburn, Texas State and Western Kentucky.
In addition, Finley was supposed to be Tulane’s QB for 2025, but he entered the transfer portal after being suspended from the program following an arrest in April on a charge related to a stolen pickup truck.
The Louisiana native alluded to that incident in his announcement on Instagram, where he explained his decision to seek another year of eligibility.
“The last two years have been the most challenging of my life,” Finley said. “Balancing new fatherhood, injuries and adversity off the field has been tested in ways football never could. Through it all, my love for the game never left. Football is who I am. I still love competing, leading and playing at the highest level.
“Due to a season-ending injury sustained in 2024, I am applying for a seventh year, and I’ve decided to pursue it fully. … I’m focused, healthy and motivated. I look forward to finishing my career at a university that gives me an opportunity to compete, lead and finish strong. The story isn’t over.”
Finley completed 127 of 201 passes for 1,244 yards across seven games for Georgia State in 2025. He threw for six touchdowns and was intercepted seven times while posting a 1-6 record. His best season came with Texas State in 2023, where he threw for 3,439 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Overall, Finley has recorded 7,372 yards, 43 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in his 41-game collegiate career.
DELAWARE, LOUISIANA TO SHOWCASE DIFFERENT OFFENSE STYLES IN 68 VENTURES BOWL
Teams with opposite offensive philosophies will tangle Wednesday night when Delaware faces Louisiana in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Delaware (6-6, 4-4 CUSA) has a pass-first offense directed by quarterback Nick Minicucci. The Blue Hens averaged 302.2 passing yards per game, which was the best in Conference USA and ranked sixth nationally. Delaware also tied for the lead in Conference USA in points per game (29.8).
Minicucci’s top targets in the passing game are wide receivers Sean Wilson and Kyre Duplessis. Wilson finished the regular season ranked fourth among Conference USA receivers in catches (60) and third in receiving yards (796). Duplessis was tied for fifth in receptions (55) and fifth in receiving yards (755).
“They’re a little unique in that they’re going to throw it a little more — a lot more — than what we’ve seen this year,” Louisiana coach Michael Desormeaux said. “We’re going to need a big day from our defensive line and the edge players in the pass rush. In the back end, we have to play with really good eye discipline.”
Minicucci also rushed for 10 touchdowns this season.
Louisiana (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) is a ground-and-pound team that has the 29th-ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 189.8 yards per game. Running backs Bill Davis and Zylan Perry give the Rajin’ Cajuns a one-two punch in the backfield and have accounted for 1,407 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns this season.
Delaware, a perennial contender at the NCAA I-AA/FCS level over four decades including the 2003 national championship, joined the FBS this season and was technically ineligible for the postseason due to restrictions regarding teams transitioning from the FCS level. However, due to a lack of qualifying teams, Delaware was awarded a bowl berth after it completed the regular season on Nov. 29 with a 61-31 victory over Texas-El Paso to reach six wins.
“It’s very exciting,” Delaware coach Ryan Carty said. “I grew up a coach’s son. My brothers and I — we loved the bowl season. … I can sit and remember years and years literally watching every bowl game, just edge of my seat in those games. To be part of it is pretty special.
“We loved our FCS playoffs. We enjoyed being part of that as well. And so this has been really exciting, I think, mainly because it’s novel. It’s something new for us and I know our student-athletes are really excited about it and as a program and a department there’s a feeling around here that’s palpable.”
Louisiana is playing in a bowl game for the eighth consecutive season, and for the 13th time in 15 seasons. The Ragin’ Cajuns overcame a 2-6 start by winning their last four games, all by single digits.
Louisiana will be seeking its first bowl victory since 2021.
“Excited for our guys to earn this opportunity,” Desormeaux said. “(Losing in bowl games) is a taste we desperately want to get out of our mouths. We didn’t do all this work and come this far just to get here. We’re intent on going out there and finding a way to win this game. I expect them to play really well and pretty hard and get one more for the Cajuns.”
SOUTH FLORIDA, OLD DOMINION TURN TO BACKUP QBS FOR CURE BOWL
The South Florida Bulls will make a push for their 10th win this season in Wednesday’s Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla., but they will do it without the standout quarterback that led them through a season that had them ranked at one point.
Byrum Brown, the dual-threat quarterback who ran former coach Alex Golesh’s offense, will not play in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt). Brown turns the 9-3 American Conference squad over to senior Gaston Moore for his final college game.
Brown, who passed for 3,158 yards and rushed for 1,008, could head to the NFL draft, follow his former coach to Auburn or return to the Bulls, but he will have a new role in the postseason — assistant coach.
“Byrum continues to attend every team activity/practice and has been incredible in supporting his teammates as he always is,” USF’s CEO of athletics Rob Higgins said on Wednesday. “So much so, that we’ve asked Byrum to serve as a coach in the Cure Bowl to help us get our 10th win.”
Another victory would mark the third time in school history the Tampa school has reached double figures in wins. It did so under coach Charlie Strong in 2017 (10-2) and the year before with coach Willie Taggart (11-2), with both seasons ending with Birmingham Bowl triumphs.
A graduate transfer who played for the Tennessee Volunteers, Moore appeared in seven games this season and went 14-for-20 for 54 yards and a touchdown.
With Golesh gone, current Bulls defensive line coach Kevin Patrick is serving as interim head coach. Tight ends coach Jack Taylor will handle the offensive play-calling.
“(Moore’s) been in the system six years, coming from Tennessee. He’s played some valuable reps there,” Patrick said. “You go watch out at practice, and you talk to our defensive staff and the defensive backfield, I mean, the guy’s got an arm on him.
“He’s confident, and the guys are confident around him.”
Keshaun Singleton has been the Bulls’ top receiver this season, producing 877 yards on 50 receptions with eight TDs — all team highs — in 12 games.
Similarities exist between the two programs.
The Monarchs will be without its driving force and top producer, quarterback Colton Joseph, and also are seeking a 10-win campaign.
The multi-faceted sophomore accounted for 34 touchdowns (21 passing, 13 rushing) and totaled 2,624 passing yards and 1,007 rushing on his way to Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors.
However, the Newport Beach, Calif., product will take his throwing and running talents elsewhere in 2026, most likely a major Power 4 program, after announcing those intentions last Tuesday via social media.
Sophomore Quinn Henicle, Joseph’s backup, will lead the team in Orlando after playing in three games last season and starting the 2024 finale at Arkansas State, a 40-32 victory in which he was 9-of-12 passing for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 19 times for 206 yards and two scores.
The coaching staff has faith that the native of Downingtown, Pa., can be a suitable replacement for Joseph. Henicle is 6-of-15 passing for 57 yards along with 20 carries for 201 yards this season.
“Colt leaving was not a shocker to us,” said Old Dominion offensive coordinator Kevin Decker. “But nothing really changes. All year long, they’ve been 1-2 in practice. Quinn knows every single game plan.”
Trequan Jones has rushed for 736 yards on 97 carries (7.6 per rush) and five scores. Tre’ Brown III totaled 751 yards on 37 receptions (20.3 per catch) and four TDs.
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MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
ARIZONA, MICHIGAN STAY 1-2 IN AP TOP 25 MEN’S POLL; NO. 15 NEBRASKA HITS HIGHEST MARK SINCE 1991
No. 1 Arizona and No. 2 Michigan remained locked in place atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll released Monday while No. 15 Nebraska jumped to its highest Top 25 ranking in nearly 35 years.
The Wildcats had 42 of 61 first-place votes to hold the top spot while the Wolverines received 15 to keep the teams at 1-2 for a second consecutive week.
The Wildcats (9-0) rallied from a halftime deficit Saturday to claim a 21-point win against then-No. 12 Alabama in the Crimson Tide’s home state, adding to a list of victories against ranked opponents that includes reigning national champion Florida, at UConn and Auburn.
The Wolverines (10-0) have won their last seven games by at least 18 points, a run that includes romps against Auburn (102-72) and Gonzaga (101-61). And Michigan sits atop analytics rankings by KenPom, Evan Miyakawa and Bart Torvik.
The top tier
The top 10 was largely unchanged, with No. 7 Gonzaga and No. 8 Houston swapping spots from last week the only new wrinkle. No. 3 Duke (three) and No. 4 Iowa State (one) were the only other teams to earn first-place votes.
UConn and Purdue were next after the Cyclones, and Michigan State and BYU rounded out the top 10.
Rising
The Cornhuskers (11-0) had the week’s biggest jump of eight spots after Saturday’s win at then-No. 13 Illinois on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Nebraska has not been ranked this high since it was No. 11 in March 1991 for the final poll of that season.
Nebraska had been ranked just 15 times in the more than three decades since, then jumped in at No. 23 last week.
No. 14 Arkansas climbed three spots after beating then-No. 16 Texas Tech over the weekend, while No. 12 North Carolina, No. 13 Vanderbilt and No. 17 Kansas each rose two spots.
In all, seven teams moved up from last week.
Sliding
The now-No. 18 Illini and 23rd-ranked Florida had the week’s biggest slides, with each falling five spots. Alabama fell four spots after losing to Arizona and Texas Tech slid three, joining Houston as the week’s five teams to drop.
Nearly half of the poll (12 teams) held their positions from the previous week.
Comings and goings
Georgia was the lone new addition to the poll, moving in at No. 25 to replace UCLA. This marks only the third time the Bulldogs have been ranked since the 2002-03 season, the others coming in January 2011 (No. 24) and last January (No. 23).
Conference watch
The Southeastern Conference has the most ranked teams with seven, though none higher than Vanderbilt at No. 13.
The Big 12 was next with six ranked teams, including four in the top 10 and two in the top five, followed by the Big Ten with five and the Atlantic Coast Conference with four. Each of those three leagues have at least three teams ranked higher than anyone in the SEC.
The Big East (two) and West Coast Conference (one) rounded out the roll call.
THRIVING TREVON BRAZILE LEADS NO. 14 ARKANSAS AGAINST QUEENS
No. 14 Arkansas avenged a heartbreaking 2025 NCAA tournament loss to Texas Tech with a 93-86 victory last Saturday, another strong effort on a schedule that requires it.
The Razorbacks’ next opponent, Queens, won’t inspire a similar thirst for revenge because Tuesday’s nonconference game in Fayetteville, Ark., is the first between the schools.
On the other hand, Arkansas (8-2) can’t relax. The Royals (5-6) were the preseason pick to win the Atlantic Sun after collecting 20 wins last year. They’re among the 22 regular-season games Arkansas must play against teams that won at least 20 games a year ago.
Senior forward Trevon Brazile had his second double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds and Darius Acuff Jr. and Karter Knox scored 20 points apiece in the rematch against Texas Tech, when the Razorbacks had three 20-point scorers for the first time this season.
“It was 100% a personal game, especially for the returnees,” said Brazile, whose team surrendered a 16-point second-half lead in an 85-83 Sweet 16 overtime loss to Texas Tech. “It was obviously an emotional game for us.”
Brazile was a factor on both ends. His blocked shot with 45 seconds remaining and Arkansas clinging to an 89-83 lead blunted a potential Texas Tech comeback. The fifth-year senior averages a career-high 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals while also shooting a career-best 40.7% from 3-point range and 81.1% at the line.
“You’re looking at a different Trevon Brazile,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said. “‘TB’ has to be one of the best players in the country because he impacts the game in so many different ways.”
Freshman point guard Acuff, who had eight assists against Texas Tech, said simply: “Every time I throw it to him, he scores.”
“We’re just getting that chemistry together, me and him,” Brazile said of Acuff, “but even more as a team. We’re clicking as a team. We’re a hard team to beat.”
Knox had his most productive game of the season, finishing one point short of his career high while adding six rebounds to help the Razorbacks to a 40-33 rebounding edge. He had two blocked shots.
“We know who he is,” Acuff said. “His shot-making ability is crazy.”
Calipari said he has spoken to Knox about blocking out the noise.
“I’ve worked for two weeks on Karter to quit playing to expectations,” Calipari said in a television interview. “Just play and have fun. Quit listening to everybody.
“My job is to get every player to play their best. Yes, they are playing for the University of Arkansas. But they are playing for each other and, instead of competing, they are trying to complete each other.
“That’s where I am trying to take this. I’m proud of them.”
Queens may try to run with the Razorbacks. The Royals are averaging 84.3 points per game and have hit 100 points in three of their last seven games, although only one was against a Division I team (UNC Greensboro).
“We’re very talented,” Queens coach Grant Leonard said after Friday’s 102-78 victory over South Carolina State. “This group can be special if we decide our identity is going to start with defense.”
Senior guard Nasir Mann leads the Royals in scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.6 rpg) and is one of four double-digit scorers. Chris Ashby averages 13.0 points and has drilled 39 of 96 3-point attempts (40.6%).
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WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
UNDEFEATED UCONN KEEPS TOP SPOT IN AP TOP 25 WOMEN’S POLL; TEXAS, SOUTH CAROLINA UCLA NEXT
UConn went to California and blew out USC to keep its undefeated season intact and maintain its hold on the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll released Monday.
The Huskies received 24 first-place votes from a 32-member national media panel. UConn has now been ranked 646 weeks in the poll to tie Stanford for third most in the 50-year history of the poll, trailing only Tennessee (801 appearances) and Texas (649).
The second-ranked Longhorns garnered the other eight first-place ballots. South Carolina, UCLA and LSU remained the next three teams in the poll.
Michigan was sixth with Maryland seventh. Oklahoma flipped places with TCU to move up to eighth after beating rival Oklahoma State last week. Iowa State rounded out the top 10. The Cyclones beat in-state rival Iowa 74-69 last week. The Hawkeyes remained 11th.
Louisville made the biggest jump this week, climbing six spots to No. 16 after an overtime victory over then-No. 12 North Carolina on Sunday. The Tar Heels fell six places to 18th.
In and out
Princeton moved in to the poll at No. 25 as the Tigers earned a ranking at least once in four of the past five seasons. Carla Berube’s squad has only lost once this season (Maryland). The Tigers replaced Oklahoma State, which fell out.
Conference supremacy
The Big Ten once again had nine teams in the poll while the Southeastern Conference was next with eight. The Big 12 and ACC each had three. The Big East and Ivy each have one ranked team.
Games of the week
The second annual women’s Champions Classic will take place in New York on Saturday with No. 17 Tennessee playing No. 16 Louisville in the opener and top-ranked UConn facing No. 11 Iowa in the second game of the doubleheader. The women’s doubleheader started last season. These two games are the only ones between ranked teams this week.
NO. 13 VANDERBILT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF USF TURNOVERS, ROLLS TO WIN
All five Vanderbilt starters scored in double figures as the No. 13 Commodores cruised to an 87-58 win over South Florida on Monday in Nashville.
Mikayla Blakes hit just 7 of 19 field-goal attempts, but she still led Vanderbilt (10-0) with 19 points. Sacha Washington followed with 16 points, Justine Pissott scored 13, Aubrey Galvan added 11 and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda chipped in with 10.
Stefanie Ingram was the lone player to score in double figures for the Bulls (6-5), winding up with 23 on 10-of-13 shooting. South Florida outshot Vanderbilt from the floor, 44.1% to 42.3%, but the Bulls committed 20 turnovers that resulted in 28 points for the Commodores.
The Bulls jumped to an early 7-2 lead before the Commodores scored the last nine points of the first quarter, capped by a three-point play from Blakes. The margin grew to 17 points in the second quarter, and Vanderbilt was ahead 38-25 at halftime.
The Commodores opened the third quarter with a layup from Mwenentanda and a 3-pointer from Blakes, and South Florida never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
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NBA NEWS
REPORT: NBA CUP MIGHT BE LEAVING LAS VEGAS ENTIRELY
The NBA Cup is considering relocating the in-season tournament’s championship game away from Las Vegas next season, ESPN reported Monday.
The league already announced in September that they will no longer play both the semifinals and championship game at a neutral site. Now the title game could be going bust just off the famed Las Vegas Strip as well.
There have seen plenty of empty seats for the eight games played in Las Vegas over the past three seasons.
The report said the NBA is concerned about the lack of energy and enthusiasm, compared to the quarterfinal games played at NBA home arenas.
The New York Knicks will meet the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Cup final on Tuesday night.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 and the Milwaukee Bucks won the title last season.
NBA ROUNDUP: JAZZ OVERCOME COOPER FLAGG’S HISTORIC OUTING FOR MAVS
Keyonte George scored 37 points — his second straight 30-plus-point game — and dished out six assists while leading the Utah Jazz to a 140-133 overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday in Salt Lake City.
Utah overcame a historic performance from Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, who became the first 18-year-old to have a 40-point game in NBA history. Flagg produced 42 points while also finishing with six assists and seven rebounds.
Lauri Markkanen added 33 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Jazz, teaming with George to score nine of Utah’s 11 overtime points. Kyle Filipowski chipped in 25 points and nine rebounds as the Jazz won for the fourth time in six games.
P.J. Washington chipped in 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, who had won five of their previous six games. Naji Marshall had 15 points, and Ryan Nembhard added 14 points and 11 assists.
Nuggets 128, Rockets 125 (OT)
Jamal Murray scored six of his 35 points in overtime, Nikola Jokic produced 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists before fouling out, and host Denver beat Houston.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Cameron Johnson scored 13 apiece and Spencer Jones contributed 11, including a 3-pointer in overtime to help Denver end its four-game home losing streak. The Nuggets, who have won five in a row overall, saw Peyton Watson leave for good in the first quarter due to a right trunk injury.
Alperen Sengun finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Kevin Durant added 25 points and five blocks, Amen Thompson had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. logged 16 points and 10 boards for Houston.
Grizzlies 121, Clippers 103
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a season-high 31 points, Cam Spencer added a career-high 27 points and Memphis finished off a victory over Los Angeles at Inglewood, Calif.
Jaylen Wells added 16 points for the Grizzlies, who opened a 90-76 lead through three quarters and cruised to their third victory over the Clippers since Nov. 28. Memphis star Ja Morant was held to 12 points over 21 minutes in his second game since returning from a calf injury. Morant shot 4 of 12 from the floor and played just 21 minutes as the team restricts his action.
Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and Kris Dunn added 17 for the Clippers, who lost their eighth consecutive home game. James Harden was held to 13 points as Los Angeles fell to 3-12 over a stretch in which it has played 12 of the 15 games on the road.
Pistons 112, Celtics 105
Cade Cunningham collected 32 points and 10 assists to help visiting Detroit extend its winning streak to four games by beating Boston.
Cunningham was 11 of 21 from the floor, which included 6 of 10 from 3-point territory. Caris LeVert and Tobias Harris each added 13 points for the Pistons.
Jaylen Brown had 34 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Boston, but missed seven of his 14 free-throw attempts. Derrick White tossed in 31 for the Celtics, who have lost two in a row.
Raptors 106, Heat 96
Brandon Ingram scored 28 points as Toronto snapped a four-game skid with a win over host Miami.
Ingram buried 5-of-7 3-pointers, while Scottie Barnes compiled 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Immanuel Quickley added 15 points as the Raptors dominated the fourth quarter 32-19.
Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell posted 20 points each for Miami, which suffered its fifth straight defeat. Adebayo also hauled in 10 boards and Kel’el Ware had 13 rebounds in 19 minutes for the Heat, who lost Tyler Herro before the game with a right big toe contusion, then suffered another blow when Nikola Jovic suffered a right elbow injury in the first quarter.
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NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: SENATORS GET LATE EQUALIZER, TOP JETS IN OT
After Jake Sanderson tied it with a goal late in regulation, Brady Tkachuk scored 2:11 into overtime as the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 3-2 victory over the host Winnipeg Jets on Monday night.
Tim Stutzle contributed with three assists, including a helper on a 2-on-1 break that set up Tkachuk for the game-winner. Sanderson added an overtime assist, and Nick Cousins also scored for Ottawa.
Linus Ullmark stood tall with 23 saves to help the Senators finish their road trip 2-1-0.
Neal Pionk and Logan Stanley each tallied a goal for the Jets, who have lost four of their last five games. Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves.
Predators 5, Blues 2
Filip Forsberg scored a hat trick to lead visiting Nashville past St. Louis.
Michael Bunting and Reid Schaefer also scored for the Predators, who won for the seventh time in 10 games — and for the second time against the Blues in five days. Roman Josi and Ryan O’Reilly earned two assists apiece for Nashville, and Juuse Saros made 20 saves.
Dalibor Dvorsky scored twice for the Blues, who lost for the third time in their past four games. Joel Hofer allowed four goals on 25 shots.
Panthers 5, Lightning 2
Sam Reinhart scored short-handed and on the power play and visiting Florida concluded a 3-1-0 road trip with a win over rival Tampa Bay.
Carter Verhaeghe notched a goal and an assist while Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand each tallied a marker to round out the scoring for the Panthers. Aaron Ekblad and Uvis Balinskis posted two assists each, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves to help Florida improve to 5-1-1 in its past seven games.
Max Crozier netted his first NHL goal for the Lightning, and J.J. Moser also scored. Brayden Point had two assists and backup Jonas Johansson stopped 19 shots against his former team.
Stars 4, Kings 1
Casey DeSmith made 27 saves as Dallas beat visiting Los Angeles.
Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who had lost their previous two games by a combined score of 9-2. The Stars have earned at least a point in eight consecutive home games against the Kings (7-0-1).
Andrei Kuzmenko scored for Los Angeles, which has lost three straight games (0-1-2) while scoring four goals.
Ducks 4, Rangers 1
Cutter Gauthier scored the tiebreaking goal on a power play 5:51 into the third period as part of a two-goal performance, and visiting Anaheim beat New York.
The game marked the return of Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba after both players were dealt to Anaheim since the start of last season. Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov also scored for the Ducks, and Lukas Dostal made 26 saves for the win.
Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots as the Rangers lost for the fourth time in five games (1-2-2). Matthew Robertson produced New York’s lone goal.
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BASEBALL NEWS
BRAVES LAND SS HA-SEONG KIM ON 1-YEAR, $20M DEAL
Ha-Seong Kim, who joined the Atlanta Braves late last season, will stick around for at least one more year.
The 30-year-old free agent signed a one-year, $20 million contract with the Braves on Monday, and he will remain the team’s starting shortstop, according to Atlanta’s president of baseball operations, Alex Anthopoulos.
By turning down a $16 million contract option last month, Kim wound up getting an additional $4 million.
Atlanta claimed Kim off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 1, and beginning the next day, he started all but one of the Braves’ remaining games.
Kim hit .309 with a .372 on-base percentage, three homers and 12 RBIs in his first 19 games for Atlanta. He closed the season by going 1-for-19 with no RBIs over the last five games.
Anthopoulos said of Kim’s decision to stay with the Braves, according to MLB.com, “I do know he liked the experience. It was just a comfort, like anything, when you’re around someone and you get to know him and how well he fit in.”
The recovery from a shoulder injury kept Kim sidelined for the first half of the 2025 season with Tampa Bay, and his brief time with the Rays was marked by other injuries. He wound up playing just 24 games for Tampa Bay and hitting .214 with a .290 on-base percentage, two homers and five RBIs.
A Gold Glove winner for the Padres in 2023, Kim spent the first four seasons of his major league career in San Diego. He hit .242 with a .326 on-base percentage, 47 homers, 200 RBIs and 78 stolen bases in 540 games as a Padre from 2021-24.
In 588 career major league games, Kim has a .242 average, a .324 on-base percentage, 52 home runs, 217 RBIs and 84 stolen bases.
“We think there’s some more power there,” Anthopoulos said, according to MLB.com. “We think the speed is going to continue to come back to where it was, the stolen bases, the baserunning, the defense and so on. So I think we’ve got a very good chance to get the guy he was those years with San Diego. That could be a 3- to 4-WAR player.”
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GOLF NEWS
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER JOINS TIGER WOODS BY WINNING PGA TOUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR
Scottie Scheffler earned another comparison with Tiger Woods on Monday, joining him as the only players to win PGA Tour player of the year at least four times in a row.
Scheffler made an easy case to pick up another Jack Nicklaus Award. His tour-leading six victories were twice as many as anyone else and included two majors, the PGA Championship and the British Open, to leave him on the cusp of a career Grand Slam.
He became the first player since Woods in 2000 to lead the PGA Tour with the lowest scoring average in each of the four rounds.
Scheffler was on the ballot with Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Ben Griffin. The award is a vote of the players, though the PGA Tour did not release what percentage of the votes Scheffler received or how many players voted.
Woods is an 11-time winner of the award and won five straight times from 1999 through 2003.
McIlroy had a big year in his own right, nothing grander than his playoff victory in the Masters for the final leg of the career Grand Slam and a green jacket he had been pursuing for 15 years. He also added titles at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship.
Scheffler, however, has been putting on a master class of consistency since breaking through with his first PGA Tour title in 2022. Along with 19 victories in his last 80 events on the PGA Tour — that doesn’t include his Olympic gold medal last year in Paris — Scheffler has finished among the top three in just over 46% of his PGA Tour starts.
This season alone, Scheffler led the PGA Tour in 17 statistical categories, ranging from his accuracy from tee-to-green, how often he followed a bogey with a birdie or better (36%) and official earnings, which this year topped $27 million.
And he effectively gave McIlroy and everyone else a head start. Scheffler sliced his right hand during Christmas last year while using a wine glass to cut ravioli. He missed nearly two months and didn’t really find his groove until a week before the Masters when he was runner-up in Houston.
That began an astonishing stretch in which Scheffler didn’t finish worse than a tie for eighth the rest of the year. He played his final six PGA Tour events without a round over par, and he had a stretch of 21 consecutive rounds in the 60s.
He also won his hometown CJ Cup Byron Nelson in the Dallas area by matching the PGA Tour record for 72 holes at 253, an eight-shot victory.
Neither of his two major titles was particularly close. He won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow by five shots and he won the British Open at Royal Portrush by four shots.
Aldrich Potgieter was voted PGA Tour rookie of the year. He was among five rookies who won this year, but the South African was the only player to win a tournament that offered full FedEx Cup points and qualify for the postseason.
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TOP INDIANA RELEASES/HEADLINES
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NEWS
KNOX QB MYLES MCLAUGHLIN NAMED 2025 INDIANA MR. FOOTBALL
KNOX, Ind. (WNDU) – For the first time ever, Indiana Mr. Football is calling the Michiana area home.
Knox senior quarterback Myles McLaughlin was named this year’s recipient of the prestigious award, which is presented annually by The Indianapolis Star to the top high school football player in the Hoosier State.
McLaughlin finished his career as the nation’s second all-time leading rusher (11,839 yards) and broke national records this year for rushing yards (4,846) and touchdowns (71) in a single season.
He led Knox to a 13-1 record and a Class 3A regional championship this past season.
McLaughlin will play collegiately at Murray State.
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COLTS FOOTBALL NEWS
SHANE STEICHEN: COLTS PLAN TO RIDE WITH QB PHILIP RIVERS
Philip Rivers earned another start for the Indianapolis Colts with his performance Sunday at Seattle, his first NFL game in five seasons.
Head coach Shane Steichen said Monday Rivers is the planned QB this week as Anthony Richardson Sr. received medical clearance to return to some team activities.
Indianapolis dropped to 8-6 with an 18-16 loss to the Seahawks after leading the game with less than two minutes remaining. Rivers, in his first game since Jan. 9, 2021, completed a key pass to Alec Pierce after the two-minute warning to set up Blake Grupe’s 60-yard field goal for a 16-15 lead.
The Seahawks answered with a game-winning field goal, but that didn’t change the quarterback depth chart, Steichen said Monday.
“We didn’t bring him in here to sit on the bench, I’ll say that” Steichen said. “He’s excited for this challenge. We obviously got to take it one week at a time and then we go from there.”
The urgency of the Colts’ current situation is clear after the AFC South division-leading Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) and Houston Texans (9-5) both won.
Steichen said Monday he’s leaving the ball in the hands of Rivers with the Colts hosting the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) in Indianapolis on ‘Monday Night Football’ on Dec. 22.
“I think obviously him being off for that long, obviously there was some unknown. But for him to go out there and do what he did to put us in a position to win in a hostile environment after that long of a layoff was pretty impressive,” Steichen said. “Getting us into the right plays, managing the game, I thought he was phenomenal in that regard. On the sidelines, his leadership, all those things that he brings to our team will be beneficial for all of us.”
For his part, Rivers expressed confidence in his wideouts despite the limited time with his new teammates.
“Obviously I’ve been around (Michael Pittman Jr.), but not the other guys in person,” Rivers said. “So, like I said, those kind of plays — I had full trust in those. Those are-trust building … But we don’t have time – it’s not like we’re building this thing out. You’re looking at 21 days left, you know, whatever, to find a way to get in.”
The Colts might be working this week without left tackle Bernhard Raimann, who exited the game on the final drive with an elbow injury. Steichen said the team is in wait-and-see mode on Raimann leading up to the Week 16 game. Starting right tackle Braden Smith (concussion/neck) was placed on injured reserve last week.
Former first-round pick Richardson was medically cleared to begin ramping up from his eye injury. Richardson was placed on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone in October. Steichen said there is no discussion of Richardson being active or even practicing right now, because they first want him to get comfortable in the weight room and conduct other team activities.
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INDY FUEL NEWS
FUEL FACE HEARTLANDERS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT
FISHERS– The Fuel will travel to Iowa for the first time this season to take on the Heartlanders on Wednesday night. Looking to gain some ground in the Central division standings, Indy hopes to claim the win over the last place team.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was last season when the Heartlanders visited Indy on March 2, 2025. Iowa claimed the 4-2 victory, despite the Fuel outshooting them 29-16. The Heartlanders scored two power play goals and an empty-netter while the Fuel claimed one shorthanded goal, proving special teams made a big impact in that game.
SCOUTING REPORT
Iowa forward Jack O’Brien currently leads the Heartlanders with 20 points in 22 games, scoring ten goals and ten assists. He will be one to watch alongside Jaxon Nelson who is averaging over a point per game for Iowa. Former Fuel player Nathan Noel leads the team in penalty minutes with 51 and will likely look to get under the skin of his former teammates during their trip to Coralville.
WATCH THE SCHEDULE
After a packed November, the Fuel play just four home games in the month of December, and only one remains on December 28. In the meantime, Indy is on the road against some divisional opponents and an old foe in Wheeling. They have just four home games again in January, with nine on the road. The Fuel will hope to collect some regulation wins and climb the standings while on the road in the coming months.
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INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
LAMAR WILKERSON NAMED CO-BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana redshirt senior guard Lamar Wilkerson was named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday afternoon.
Wilkerson shared the distinction with Nebraska junior forward Pryce Sandfort.
The Sam Houston State transfer averaged 29.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in just 23.0 minutes per night as the Hoosiers split games against Penn State (113-72 on Dec. 9) and at Kentucky (60-72 on Dec. 13). He shot 63.6% (21-of-33) from the floor, 60.0% (12-of-20) from the 3-point line, and 83.3% (5-of-6) from the free throw line.
Wilkerson opened the week with a career-high 44 points against Penn State, a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall record, and a program-record 10 made 3-pointers. He added four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 24 minutes.
Per OptaSTATS, Wilkerson is the only Division I or NBA player in the last 30 seasons to score 40-plus points and make 10-plus 3-pointers in a game while playing less than 25 minutes. His scoring outburst marked the most by a Hoosier against a Big Ten opponent since Mike Woodson scored 48 points at Illinois on March 3, 1979, and the most in a Big Ten home game since Jimmy Rayl posted 44 points against Wisconsin on Feb. 12, 1962. He is the first Big Ten player since Luka Garza (44 on Dec. 6, 2019) to score at least 44 points in a single game. The school-record 10 made 3-pointers are the most by a Big Ten player since Jordan Bohannon (10) against Maryland on Feb. 10, 2022.
He followed the historical outing with 15 points and two rebounds at Kentucky.
Redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries claimed Co-Player of the Week honors on Nov. 10.
The Indiana Hoosiers will be back in action at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 20 against Chicago State at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
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INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
CIEZKI, MAKALUSKY SWEEP BIG TEN WEEKLY AWARDS
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Indiana women’s basketball senior guard Shay Ciezki was named the Big Ten Player of the Week while freshman forward Maya Makalusky earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for their performances in wins over ULM and Eastern Michigan last week.
Ciezki earns her second weekly honor this season and IU’s first multiple week award winner since Mackenzie Holmes in 2022-23. She averaged 28.0 points while shooting 61.8 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent from the 3-point line and was perfect from the free throw line (8-for-8) in wins over ULM and Eastern Michigan. The Buffalo, N.Y. native also added 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals. Ciezki notched her third 30-plus scoring game with her 31 points against ULM, going 12-for-17 from the floor and hit three 3-pointers while pulling down five rebounds. She followed up with a team-high 25-point performance against Eastern Michigan connecting on three 3-pointers again to go along with two steals, two assists and two rebounds.
Makalusky made her first career starts for the Hoosiers last week, putting up a season-high 22 points against ULM. The Hamilton Southeastern grad averaged 15.5 points on the week while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent from beyond-the-arc while adding 5.0 rebounds per game. Against ULM, Makalusky went 60 percent (6-for-10) from the 3-point line in the win, going 8-for-12 total from the field and pulling down four boards, three assists, two steals and a block in her first career start. She added three more triples (nine total points) to her resume with a team-high six rebounds versus Eastern Michigan.
Indiana (10-2) resumes action on Dec. 21 when it hosts Western Carolina in the non-conference finale at 1 p.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
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NOTRE DAME BASEBALL NEWS
IRISH BASEBALL SQUAD ANNOUNCES 2026 SCHEDULE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame Baseball program and John P. and Catherine Murphy Head Baseball Coach Shawn Stiffler have announced the schedule for the 2026 spring season.
The 2026 schedule has the Irish squaring off against seven teams who competed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament in opponents LSU, Duke, Louisville, Clemson, North Carolina, NC State and Florida State. LSU and Louisville both advanced to the Men’s College World Series while LSU went on to take the 2025 championship. The full slate of competition is available here.
Notre Dame will begin the season on the road with a series at Florida Atlantic University (Feb. 13-15) before competing in the Live Like Lou Jax College Baseball Classic over February 20-22. At the prestigious event, the Irish take on Central Florida, LSU and Indiana. The Irish make a trip to Tennessee to face Alabama A&M, UIC and host Tennessee Tech from February 27 through March 1.
Notre Dame is slated for their home opener on March 3 against Eastern Michigan before beginning ACC play at Duke (Mar. 6-8). The Irish will travel to Queens for a single game on March 10 before closing out the spring break week at Louisville for an ACC series (Mar. 13-15).
The squad is then slated to have a two-week homestand with a midweek matchup against Central Michigan (Mar. 17), an ACC series against Clemson (Mar. 20-22), a midweek game against Western Michigan (Mar. 24) and a home series against North Carolina (Mar. 27-29).
The Irish travel to NC State for an ACC series to begin April (Apr. 2-4) and return home to host Michigan State (Apr. 8) ahead of a home ACC series against Virginia (Apr. 10-12). Notre Dame is then set to square off against in-state foe Valparaiso on April 14.
The team travels to Florida State for an ACC series from April 17-19 and makes the trek to East Lansing to face Michigan State on the road on April 22. The Irish host Boston College for a series (Apr. 24-26), Milwaukee for a midweek contest (Apr. 29), Stanford for a league series (May 1-3) and Oakland for a weekend series (May 8-10) to close out their home slate of competition.
The Irish will serve as the home team for a game at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio against Dayton on May 12 before ending the regular season at Pittsburgh (May 14-16).
The 2026 ACC Tournament will take place Tuesday, May 19 through Sunday, May 24 at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Irish will then look to claim a spot in the NCAA Tournament, with Regionals and Super Regionals culminating in the Men’s College World Series from June 12-22 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL NEWS
IRISH SOFTBALL ANNOUNCES 2026 SCHEDULE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame softball team and head coach Kris Ganeff have announced the schedule for the 2026 season, which includes games in six different states including multiple trips to Florida and California in the first couple months. The full schedule can be viewed here.
“We are very excited about our 2026 season starting up here in February!” Ganeff said. “We feel like we have put together a competitive schedule to take us across the country to be able to play various conferences that will help us as a team prepare for the tough conference slate that we have in front of us.”
“In our conference, every weekend you play opponents who have heavy postseason aspirations. We are looking forward to hosting strong opponents and going on the road to compete in unique and competitive venues! This team has worked very hard and had a great fall to prepare us for the spring season that is ahead. We have a great complimentary group that is ready to compete at the highest level.”
Notre Dame will face 13 teams who competed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament a season ago in Auburn, Liberty, UCF, Georgia Tech, Grand Canyon, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, Stanford, Clemson, Cal, Florida State, Indiana and Northwestern.
The Irish begin the season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida from February 6-8 for the third-straight year. The Irish will take on multiple power four teams, including Auburn, BYU and Rutgers. North Carolina Central, Longwood and Liberty round out the opening six-game stretch for Notre Dame.
The following weekend, the Irish head to the Purple-Gold Classic, hosted by East Carolina. Notre Dame will take on Maryland on Friday, February 13th before taking on East Carolina and Buffalo twice in the next two following days. The Irish will then trek down to Orlando for the SpaceU Classic and take on Charleston Southern, Ohio, Penn State and tournament host UCF from February 20-22.
The first Atlantic Coast Conference test will be at Georgia Tech from February 28-March 1st. Notre Dame will follow that up with a trip to San Diego to compete in the USD/SDSU Tournament and face a plethora of California schools from March 6-8 before a road test at UC Santa Barbara on March 11th. The California spring break trip concludes for the Irish at Stanford from March 13-15.
The home opener for Notre Dame is a double-header against Oakland on March 18th with game one beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium. It’s the first two games of a nine-game home stand, consisting of games against Clemson, Cal and Western Michigan before heading back on the road to take on Florida State in Tallahassee from April 2-4.
The Irish return back to campus for a stint against Valparaiso on April 8th before hosting Louisville from April 10-12 for the annual Strikeout Cancer Weekend. Notre Dame will then face a pair of Big Ten schools the following week, at Indiana on April 14th before hosting Northwestern on the 15th.
The final road ACC series is against Syracuse from April 17-19th before the Irish close out the regular season with seven-straight home games. First, Notre Dame hosts Central Michigan on April 21st followed by a clash with Michigan State on the 22nd. Boston College will arrive in South Bend to close out conference play from April 24-26 before a pair of home midweek games against UIC on April 28th and DePaul on April 29th will be the final tune up before the ACC Softball Championship, hosted this year by Virginia, from May 6-9.
The Irish will look to return to the NCAA Regionals this season from May 15-18, followed by Super Regionals from May 22-24 before the Women’s College World Series kicks off in Oklahoma City from May 27-June 5.
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BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
HIGH-SCORING BUTLER TRAVELS TO NO. 5 UCONN FOR TUESDAY NIGHT TIP
Butler travels to Hartford for a game at Top-10 ranked UConn Tuesday. Butler opened the BIG EAST season Saturday with a 113-110 double-overtime win over Providence.
Butler Bulldogs (8-2, 1-0 BIG EAST) at #5/5 Connecticut (10-1, 0-0)
Tuesday, Dec. 16 • 8:30PM
PeoplesBank Arena • Hartford, Conn.
Follow Along
TV/Stream: Peacock & NBC Sports Network • Justin Kutcher & Donny Marshall
Radio/Audio: 93.5 & 107.5FM, SiriusXM 390, Sirius XM App, Butler Sports App & ButlerSports.com • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
Butler and Providence Just Traded Baskets Again as You Are Reading These Bullet Points
• The Bulldogs and UConn played twice last season; the Huskies won both match-ups by a combined six points (with one of the two contests going to overtime).
• Michael Ajayi led the Bulldogs with season-highs of 28 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Providence.
• His performance against Providence earned Ajayi BIG EAST Player of the Week honors for the second time this season (also Nov. 24 following the Greenbrier Tip-Off).
• Ajayi now has eight double-doubles in Butler’s 10 games this season. Ajayi began the season with six consecutive double-doubles. The last Bulldog to have five or more consecutive double-doubles was Gordon Hayward (with five between Feb. 11-March 6, 2010).
• Ajayi is the first Bulldog with 15 rebounds in a game since Bo Hodges against Providence March 10, 2022 in the BIG EAST Tournament.
• Ajayi is second nationally, averaging 11.9 rebounds per game.
• In addition to Ajayi’s 28 points, Finley Bizjack scored 26. They are the first Bulldog duo to each score 25 points in the same game since Jahmyl Telfort and DJ Davis against Texas Tech Nov. 30, 2023.
• Evan Haywood scored a career-high 18 points in the win over Providence. His fourth three-pointer of the game (which tied his career-high) was the game-winner with 35 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.
• Drayton Jones had a career-high eight assists to go along with 11 points and seven rebounds. His previous career-high was four assists (twice) during his time at South Carolina State.
• Butler had six players in double figures for the first time since a win at Seton Hall Feb. 5, 2025.
• Despite playing 50 minutes, the Bulldogs committed a season-low seven turnovers.
• Butler held a 50-45 rebounding advantage over Providence and has now out-rebounded nine of its 10 opponents this season. The team’s rebounding margin of +9.5 per game ranks 27th nationally.
• The Bulldogs only had six games last season with a rebounding margin of +10 or better but have accomplished the feat six times already this season.
• Butler ranks tenth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage according to KenPom, collecting 40.5 percent of their misses.
• The Bulldogs went to the free throw line 38 times against Providence, converting 27. On the season, Butler ranks eighth in the nation at 28.8 free throw attempts per game.
• The Bulldogs average 90.1 points per game this season, which is 19th nationally.
• On the season, Butler is hitting 38.9 percent of their long-range attempts, which is 26th nationally.
• Bizjack is second in the BIG EAST in both scoring (18.8 points per game; 60th nationally) and three-point percentage (38.9 percent; 95th nationally).
• Jalen Jackson will have season-ending ankle surgery. He last played Nov. 23 in the Greenbrier Tip-Off. Jackson has announced that he will return to Butler next season.
• Freshman Azavier Robinson has taken over the starting point guard role since Jackson last played Nov. 23 against Virginia.
• Eight different Bulldogs have at least two double-figure scoring games for Butler through seven contests; that includes Haywood, Traore and Robinson off the Butler bench.
• Butler received votes in both the Dec. 1 and Nov. 24 national coaches polls, the first votes for the Bulldogs this season.
• Butler is averaging 15.9 fast-break points per game, which is 45th nationally.
• The Bulldogs picked up wins over South Carolina and Virginia to win the 2025 Greenbrier Tip-Off.
• Ajayi earned both BIG EAST Player of the Week and USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors Nov. 24 after averaging 16.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in Butler’s two wins at the Greenbrier.
One for the Record Books
• Butler topped Providence, 113-110, in double-overtime at Hinkle Fieldhouse Dec. 13.
• The game had 30 lead changes and 20 ties.
• It’s the second-highest combined point total in a BIG EAST conference game (223). On Feb. 9, 2002, Notre Dame (116) and Georgetown (111) combined for 227 in a four-overtime contest.
• It marked the eighth time overall that two league teams scored 100 in a BIG EAST game and the first since Jan. 9, 2019 (Marquette 106, Creighton 104).
• It’s the first Butler game where both teams scored at least 100 points since Evansville defeated the Bulldogs, 136-128, in double-overtime Feb. 9, 1991.
• It’s the fifth-most points scored by Butler in a game in program history (the Bulldogs’ 112 points in the Nov. 8 win over IU Indy are sixth in program history).
Hubbub on the Huskies
• UConn’s defense allows only 61.8 points per game, which is eighth nationally. The Huskies also rank in the Top 20 nationally in field goal percentage defense.
• UConn has four Top 25 wins this season.
• Five Huskies were recognized with All-BIG EAST Preseason honors.
History with the Huskies
• Butler and UConn first met in the 2011 NCAA national championship game in Houston, the second of the Bulldogs’ back-to-back runs to the Final Four.
• Ten of the 11 match-ups in the series history with UConn have come since the 2020-21 season when the Huskies re-joined the BIG EAST Conference.
The Series: UConn leads, 11-0
Streak: UConn, W11
In Conn.: UConn leads, 5-0
First Meeting: April 4, 2011; UConn, 53-41 (NCAA Championship Game; Houston)
Last Meeting: Jan. 21, 2025; UConn, 80-78 (OT) (at UConn)
Up Next
The Bulldogs take a break from BIG EAST play to close out the non-conference portion of their schedule. Butler and Northwestern will tip Saturday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis as part of the Indy Classic. Butler then hosts NJIT at Hinkle Fieldhouse Monday (Dec. 22).
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IU INDY MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
MEN’S BASKETBALL TO CAP THREE-GAME HOMESTAND ON TUESDAY NIGHT
INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indianapolis men’s basketball team will cap a three-game homestand on Tuesday night (Dec. 16) when the Jaguars host Miami Middletown inside the Jungle at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on 1430 Indy’s Sports Ticket in Central Indiana.
The Jaguars (3-9) look to snap a three-game skid as head coach Ben Howlett’s team opened Horizon League play with three straight losses. The most recent loss came to an upstart Green Bay squad, 85-75, inside the Jungle. Kyler D’Augustino and Micah Davis scored a team-high 17 points apiece and Jaxon Edwards added 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots off the bench. IU Indy led throughout the first half and 36-33 at the break before being outscored 52-39 in the second half. Scoring has become a struggle of late for the Jaguars as they’re shooting just 38 percent and scoring just 69.3 points per game since the start of Horizon League play.
For the year, D’Augustino leads the squad in scoring at 16.3 points per game and fifth-year Matt Compas is tallying 11.5 points per game. True freshman Maguire Mitchell is tallying 10.1 points per game with a team-high 30 made threes and both Kameron Tinsley and Davis are scoring better than nine points per game. The Jaguars have been elite with their distribution, averaging better than 20 assists per game while also ranking among the nation’s best in turnover margin, sitting at +4.5 per game.
QUOTABLE
We’ve got work to do. We just haven’t been consistent enough. We got some (defensive) stops tonight, but didn’t convert when we had opportunities. We rebounded better, but we gave up some rebounds in some key moments that hurt us. Winning league games is hard to do and we’re still learning. We’re not there yet but we’re going to keep working and keep practicing hard and doing things the right way and it’ll come,” Howlett said following Thursday’s defeat to Green Bay.
SCOUTING MIAMI MIDDLETOWN
Miami Middletown enters play at 0-8 on the season and 0-4 in road games. The Thunderhawks average 72.1 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from three-point range. Below are their probable starters ahead of Tuesday’s game.
G- Ramy Ahmed (6-1, Fr.) – 8.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg
G- Kadar Gardner (5-9, Soph.) – 14.5 ppg, 3.1 apg
G- Jakari Parker (6-3, Soph.) – 11.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg
G- Jamison Rountree (6-3, Soph.) – 11.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F- Tyler Weathington (6-4, Soph.) – 13.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg
INSIDE THE SERIES
IU Indy is 2-2 all-time against Miami Middletown, but the two schools haven’t met since February 1975. The program swept a regular season series in 1974-75, winning 76-65 on the road and 93-76 at home.
UP NEXT
The Jaguars will begin a stretch of three straight road games on Monday, Dec. 22 when they head west to face Grand Canyon at 8:00 p.m. on the Mountain West Network. In addition, Monday’s game can be heard in Central Indiana on 1430 Indy’s Sports Ticket as Jimmy Cook (pxp) calls the action.
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BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL NEWS
ROGERS, MACHADO REPRESENT CARDINALS ON PRESEASON ALL-MIVA TEAM
MUNCIE, Ind. – As anticipation builds for the upcoming season, The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association announced the results for the 2026 Preseason All-MIVA Team and MIVA Preseason Poll Monday afternoon.
Representing Ball State as 2026 Preseason All-MIVA selections are Patrick Rogers and Lucas Machado. Standing atop the conference voting after an impactful offseason is Rogers, who was named as the MIVA Preseason Player of the Year.
Under the direction of a new coaching staff, led by interim head coach Mike Iandolo, and the addition of seven valuable newcomers, the Cardinals are predicted to finish No. 3 in the league, narrowly behind Ohio State (2nd) and Loyola Chicago (1st).
In his second year with the Cardinals, Rogers was credited with a team-leading 363 kills, averaging 3.18 per set along with a .271 hitting clip. Rogers also compiled 65 total blocks and led the squad in service aces with 33. At the end of the 2025 season, Rogers was named All-MIVA first team and received an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American Honorable Mention. Rogers spent his offseason with the US National Team, winning gold at the 2025 NORCECA Final Six and being recognized with the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award. Rogers also secured silver with the Men’s U23 National Team at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup.
Making 20 starts in 26 matches played last year, Machado tallied a team-leading 771 assists, averaging 8.38 per set. He recorded a career-high assist total of 54 against Purdue Fort Wayne (Feb. 26) and captured 40 or more assists on seven occasions. Machado also completed 117 digs, 49 total blocks and 22 service aces. During the offseason, Machado was selected to the 2025 Brazilian U26 National Team.
The Ball State men’s volleyball team opens its 2026 season inside Worthen Arena, hosting Trine Jan. 3 with action set to begin at 5 p.m.
The Cardinals begin conference action with back-to-back contests versus Queens (Feb. 5 and 6) at home.
2026 Preseason Poll
1. Loyola Chicago – 73 (5)
2. Ohio State – 68 (2)
3. Ball State – 63 (1)
4. Lewis – 57 (1)
5. McKendree – 52
6. Lindenwood – 33
7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 24
8. Northern Kentucky – 19
9. Queens – 16
2026 Preseason All-MIVA Team
Lucas Machado – Ball State
*Patrick Rogers – Ball State
Oguzhan Oguz – Lewis
Nico Paula – Lewis
Ryan McElligott – Loyola Chicago
Daniel Fabikovic – Loyola Chicago
Aleksander Sosa – Loyola Chicago
Yadiel Diaz – McKendree
Nate Flayter – McKendree
Stanislaw Chacinski – Ohio State
Shane Wetzel – Ohio State
Logan Muir – Purdue Fort Wayne
*Preseason Player of the Year
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INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
PRACKETT EARNS MVC NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK HONORS
ST. LOUIS – Indiana State junior forward Clemisha Prackett was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.
Prackett registered her team-leading fourth double-double of the season in the Sycamores’ most recent game at Butler, finishing with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds against the Bulldogs.
The West Memphis, Arkansas, native tied for the team lead with four field goals against Butler and also added four free throws. Eight of her 15 rebounds came on the offensive glass, the most by any player on either side.
Prackett’s 15 rebounds and eight offensive rebounds were both career-high marks, with the eight offensive boards also being the most by a Sycamore this season. Her four double-doubles rank second in the MVC this season and inside the top 30 nationally, while her 3.8 offensive rebounds per game are tied for the MVC lead. She ranks fourth in the conference with 8.5 rebounds per game and seventh in blocks per game.
Monday’s honor is the first weekly award for Prackett in her career, and marks the second weekly honor for the Sycamores this season Tierney Kelsey previously earned MVC Newcomer of the Week honors in November.
Prackett and the Sycamores open MVC play Wednesday night against Drake, with tipoff from Hulman Center set for 7 p.m.
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PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
ALANA NELSON NAMED #HLWBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue Fort Wayne’s Alana Nelson was selected as the Horizon League’s Player of the Week for the second week in a row, the league announced on Monday (Dec. 15).
Nelson led Purdue Fort Wayne to a pair of wins over league foe Milwaukee and future league foe Northern Illinois. She scored 20 points against Milwaukee, the most in a league game this week. The graduate student followed it up with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds. She averaged 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game for Purdue Fort Wayne, the only Horizon League team to go 2-0 this week.
Nelson leads the Horizon League in scoring with 23.0 points per game in league play, 16.6 overall.
Behind Nelson’s lead, the Mastodons are riding a four-game winning streak with a 3-0 start to league play. The ‘Dons are up to No. 123 in the most recent NET rankings, the second-best in the Horizon League behind just No. 91 Green Bay.
The Mastodons will welcome Aquinas to the Gates Sports Center for their final non-league tuneup before Horizon League play resumes on December 29 with a visit from Northern Kentucky.
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PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
HADNOT NAMED #HLMBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue Fort Wayne’s Corey Hadnot II has been named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Dec. 15).
Hadnot averaged 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in wins over Eastern Michigan and Detroit Mercy. Hadnot shot 54.8 percent from the field in the two games.
Hadnot scored 28 points in the Mastodons’ 80-65 victory over Eastern Michigan. He followed with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the 81-77 win over Detroit Mercy.
The junior has established himself as an elite scorer in the NCAA. He ranks second in the nation in both field goals (101) and points (263). At 20.2, he is 20th in the nation and leads the Horizon League in points per game
This is Hadnot’s second Horizon League Player of the Week honor of the season and career. He also took home the honor on Nov. 17.
The Mastodons are back in action on Sunday (Dec. 21) in a 2 p.m. start at Notre Dame.
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EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
UE MEN OPEN MVC SLATE ON TUESDAY AGAINST BELMONT
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Tuesday will mark the Missouri Valley Conference opener for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team who plays host to Belmont at 6 p.m. inside the Ford Center. ESPN+ and Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Looking Back
– Last season, the UE excelled against the Bruins, splitting the season series
– Following a close 85-82 home loss, UE earned an 80-75 road win at Curb Event Center on Feb. 2
– Josh Hughes and Connor Turnbull scored 14 points apiece in the road triumph
Last Time Out
– Saturday’s game at Notre Dame saw Connor Turnbull lead the Purple Aces with 17 points and 9 boards in an 82-58 loss
– Josh Hughes added 14 points
– Evansville trimmed a 12-point halftime deficit to just three points (52-49) before UND went on a 26-4 run to pull away
Record-Breaking Performance
– Connor Turnbull set the UE program record with nine blocked shots at WKU and is averaging 6.0 blocks over the last three games
– His total broke the previous Aces mark of eight, which happened on three occasions, and was the most by an MVC player since Ehimen Orukpe of Wichita State had nine against Southern Illinois on Jan. 9, 2013
– On Dec. 8, he was named the MVC Player of the Week after averaging 20 points, 9 boards, and 7 blocks against WKU and BSU
– In the win over Ball State, he posted season highs in points (21) and boards (5) on the way to his second collegiate double-double
– Turnbull is averaging 18.75 PPG over the last four games and has a total of 21 blocks over that span
Still Going Strong
– While AJ Casey has not reached double figures over the last four games, he has registered a solid 6.25 points and 5.75 rebounds per game
– Included in that rebound tally is a career-high 11 caroms in the win over Ball State that saw him add nine points
– Casey is tied for 10th in the MVC with 5.73 boards/game and is tied for 4th in offensive caroms (2.36/gm)
Back to Form
– In the four games leading to the contest at Notre Dame, Josh Hughes averaged 4.0 points per game after posting 13.2 PPG in the first six games
– He knocked down four of his eight attempts from outside to finish with 14 points against the Fighting Irish
– Two of his three career double-doubles have come in the first six games of the season; after opening the season with 15 points and 11 boards at #1 Purdue, Hughes recorded 16 points and a career-best 12 boards in the win over Oregon State
Scouting the Opponent
– Belmont comes into Tuesday’s game with a 10-1 record following an 87-84 win over UIC in their MVC opener on Saturday
– The only loss for the Bruins came against Richmond on Dec. 3
– They have multiple impressive wins this season including Air Force, Oral Roberts, Toledo, Charleston, and Middle Tennessee State
– Four Bruins averaged double figures with Tyler Lundblade leading the way with 15.9 points per game
– Just behind him is Sam Orme, who sits at 14.0 PPG and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game
– Following them are Nic McClain (12.1 PPG) and Drew Scharnowski (10.3 PPG)
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SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL NEWS
USI BASEBALL ANNOUNCES 2027 EARLY SIGNING CLASS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball announced early signees for the 2027 class. The Screaming Eagles welcome seven players to the program for 2027.
“I am excited about the early signing class we have signed to join the program next fall,” said USI Head Coach Chris Ramirez. “Recruiting is a process that never stops and I have to commend one of the hardest working recruiters in the country, Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich and my entire coaching staff, Derek Beasley, Beau Wills, Nick Mayerhofer and strength coach Josh Wildeman, on the work they do.
“We wanted to get younger on the mound and we were able to add three talented arms that should thrive in the system we develop our players in,” said Ramirez. “Once again, we also landed some of the top junior college pitching and hitting prospects from around the United States. It is a great time to be Screaming Eagles!”
The class of 2027 newcomers, who are seventh in the @TheJBB Early Window Recruiting Class Ranking, are:
Mike Schaefer | Infielder | 6-2 | 200 | L-R | Lancaster, New York
Schaefer is in his second season at SUNY Niagara where he was third-team All-Region and second-team All-WNYAC. He batted .437 as a freshman with 59 runs scored, 48 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and two home runs in 49 games in 2025.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Schaefer: “Mike is a natural left-handed hitter and he hits every time I’ve seen him. An integral part of a winning program that had an undefeated 2025 regular season, he is an above-average athlete that allows him to create some havoc on the bases and be a good defender across the infield.”
Jeremiah Torres | Infielder | 6-0 | 210 | R-R | Spring, Texas
Torres played in 35 games as a freshman at Ranger College, hitting .361 with 24 RBIs and 29 runs scored. Also lettered in baseball at Klein High School (Klein, Texas).
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Torres: “Jeremiah is a physical hitter, who can really control his at-bats and use the entire field. He had a really good freshman year in a really tough Texas JUCO conference and has a chance to be a middle of the order impact bat in an Eagles uniform.”
Carter McKinney | Pitcher | 6-7 | 205 | R-R | Benton, Kentucky
McKinney posted a 5-2 record during his first full season with John A. Logan College in 2025. He struck out 35 batters and had a 5.09 ERA in 40.2 innings of work as a redshirt freshman. McKinney also lettered in baseball at Marshal County High School (Benton, Kentucky) where he was All-Region in 2023 and a member of three district championships.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on McKinney: “Carter is a big body and a presence of knowing how to pitch. A versatile pitcher that can be used in any situation, Carter threw a lot of big innings for one of the top JUCOs in the country last year. His potential is through the ceiling and is going to keep getting better.”
Traelyn James | Pitcher | 6-5 | 235 | R-R | Mesquite, Texas
James will be starting his season at Dallas College Eastfield after posting a 2-2 record and a 4.35 ERA in 31.0 innings of work as a freshman. He also struck out 29 batters and had three saves. James lettered in baseball and football at Poteet High School (Mesquite, Texas).
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on James: “Traelyn is a big body with a strong arm and has shown the ability to start a game or close them. He had a team-leading three saves and two wins on a team that won 45 games. Traelyn has total control when he steps on the mound and his versatility is going to make him a big weapon for us.”
Porter Hay | Pitcher | 6-1 | 180 | R-R | Lewisport, Kentucky
Hay is a senior at Hancock County High School (Lewisport, Kentucky) and has produced a 1-0 record on the mound and a 1.73 ERA in two varsity seasons. He also has struck out 27 batters in 28.1 innings of work.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Hay: “Porter is from right across the boarder and it is always good when the talented player from our backyard wants to become an Eagle. He has all the makings to be a big piece of what we do and make an impact early. It’s going to be fun to watch him develop the next four years in an Eagle uniform.”
Garrett Cyphers | Pitchers | 6-2 | 185 | R-R | Brentwood, Tennessee
Cyphers, a baseball and football letterwinner at Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tennessee), had a 1-2 record and a 3.85 ERA during his junior season in 2025. He is 2-2 during three varsity seasons, producing a 4.40 ERA in 28.2 innings of work and striking out 22 batters.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Cyphers: “Garrett is an athletic high school arm who is starting to scratch the surface on his potential. He has shown the ability to pitch and has three pitches he can command. We are looking forward to watching him grow and develop for the next four years at USI.”
Mason Hamlett | Pitchers | 6-3 | 210 | R-R | Auroa, Indiana
Hamlett is a three-sport letterwinner (baseball, basketball, football) at South Dearborn High School (Aurora, Indiana). He was named Cincinnati.com Baseball Player of the Year and EIAC All-Conference in 2025 after posting a 1.58 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 44 innings of work. A 2024 All-County performer also led South Dearborn in RBIs and home runs in 2025.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Hamlett: “Mason is a big physical, power arm who dominated his 2025 high school season by striking out 63 and posting a 1.58 ERA in 44 innings. He came onto the scene late for us and we are excited that he is an Eagle.”
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SOUTHERN INDIANA SWIMMING/DIVING
USI DIVING TO COMPETE IN THE ERSC DIVING INVITATIONAL
EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Swimming and Diving returns to the pool for the Evansville Regional Sports Commission Diving Invitational Tuesday and Wednesday at the Deaconess Aquatic Center.
The Screaming Eagles will compete in the one and three-meter dives over the two-day event. Both days of competition will begin at 10 a.m.
Southern Indiana will take on Indiana State University, Illinois State University, and the University of Evansville in the final meet of the 2025 calendar year.
MEN’S
The Men’s team is coming off an eighth-place finish at the House of Champions hosted by Indiana University Indianapolis, which wrapped up on November 22.
In the one-meter dive, senior Lane Pollock sat atop the USI leaderboard, finishing the preliminaries in 10th with an impressive 264.15. Junior Nathan Deputy was close behind, finishing 14th in the preliminary round following a 237.20 attempt.
Junior George Blake and sophomore Stokes Knight tallied top 25 finishes in the one-meter event. Blake nabbed 210.40 points, and Knight had 170.20.
Pollock and Deputy also earned a spot in the consolation finals of the three-meter dive. Pollock finished 14th overall, recording a team high 267.55, while Deputy came in two spots behind with a 259.00 score.
WOMEN’S
The women are coming off a 10th-place performance at the House of Champions.
Junior Maranda Uttke led the team in the three-meter event, finishing 17th overall with a 208.55 score. Sophomore Gabbie Meier finished right behind Uttke, recording a 204.60. Rounding out the event for the Eagles, senior Autumn Turley earned a 182.65.
For the one-meter event, the team was led by freshman Lucia Tenny, who recorded a 190.85. Tenny finished 12 points ahead of team second-place Meier, who recorded a 178.20 in the event.
Stay Connected
Follow our social media @USIAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, follow @usi_swimdive on Instagram for content. Team scores will be posted on usiscreamingeagles.com once the results are finalized.
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VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CLOSES NONCONFERENCE SLATE AT ARC WEDNESDAY
Valparaiso (0-11, 0-1 MVC)
Game #12 – December 17, 2025 – 6 p.m.
Central Michigan (5-4, 0-0 MAC)
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valpo women’s basketball team closes out the nonconference schedule on Wednesday evening at the ARC, as the Beacons welcome Central Michigan to town.
Previously: The Beacons got off to a strong start Sunday afternoon in their final nonconference road game of the season, taking a double-figure lead over Western Michigan in the opening quarter, but the hosts battled back for a 58-48 win. Freshman Allia von Schlegell tied her career high in scoring for a second straight game with 18 points.
Following Valpo Basketball: Video: ESPN+
Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com
Head Coach Courtney Boyd (0-11 at Valpo, 1st season; 190-79 [.706] overall, 9th season): 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 has won 20 or more games in seven of her first eight seasons as a head coach. 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: Central Michigan holds a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series over Valpo – the Chippewas had won five in a row before the Beacons claimed the last meeting, a 71-64 victory at CMU on Nov. 7, 2022. Leah Earnest went 8-of-11 from the field for a then-career high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds to lead Valpo, while Katie Beyer and Olivia Brown scored 11 points apiece and Ali Saunders chipped in 10 points.
@ValpoWBB…
…at Western Michigan
– Western Michigan knocked down a 3-pointer on its first possession, but the Beacon defense kept the Broncos off the board for the next eight-plus minutes.
– Meanwhile, Valpo was off to a scorching start from deep on the offensive end. Fiona Connolly knocked down two early triples, followed by a Mikayla Huffine 3-pointer, and when Allia von Schlegell hit from downtown nearing the halfway mark of the opening quarter, WMU was forced to use a timeout with Valpo leading 12-3.
– The Beacons got their lead to double figures with 1:18 to play in the period on a midrange jumper from Milana Nenadic before the Broncos scored the final four of the quarter to slice Valpo’s advantage to 14-7.
– von Schlegell carried the Valpo offense in the first half of the second quarter, scoring the Beacons’ first seven points of the quarter as the lead remained seven points at the halfway mark.
– A 7-2 spurt for WMU late in the quarter cut Valpo’s lead to two points, but the Beacons kept hold of the lead and were up 31-28 at halftime.
– WMU opened the second half on a 6-1 run to take its first lead since the game’s opening minute, forcing a Valpo timeout two minutes into the half trailing 34-32.
– The score stayed at 34-32 for over four minutes until a pull-up jumper from Autumn Dibb tied the game. A 3-pointer from Mor Shabtai put the Beacons in front with 2:13 to play in the third quarter, but the Broncos scored eight points on their final three possessions of the period to lead 42-39 with 10 minutes to play.
– von Schlegell brought Valpo back within one with a pair of free throws just nine seconds into the fourth quarter before WMU went on a 9-0 run over the next three-plus minutes to extend its lead to double figures at 51-41.
– Another strong stretch for the Beacon defense kept WMU from putting a point on the board for over four minutes, but the Beacons scored just four points of their own over that stretch and got no closer than six in the late stages.
– For the second time in less than 48 hours, von Schlegell matched her career high and led all players, scoring 18 points. The freshman hit a trio of 3-pointers and went 7-of-8 from the foul line in her fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
– Connolly scored in double figures for the eighth time this year, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
– Nenadic set a career high with 10 rebounds, while Dibb posted a career-best four assists.
– The 58 points WMU scored marked a season low by a Valpo opponent. The Broncos hit just 35.1% from the floor and were 5-of-19 from 3-point range.
– The Beacons finished the afternoon 14-of-47 (29.8%) from the field. After starting the game 4-for-4 from deep, Valpo hit just three of its last 20 3-point attempts.
…versus SIUE
– The Beacons found themselves in an early hole, as the Cougars opened the game on a 10-2 run over the first four minutes.
– Valpo responded with an 11-2 run featuring points from five different players, and when Milana Nenadic hit a jumper with 2:18 to play in the opening period, the Beacons led 13-12.
– SIUE held a 15-13 edge when the clock expired on the first quarter.
– The Cougars’ lead was six approaching the midway point of the second period before Allia von Schlegell and Kennedy Sproule hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, forcing SIUE to call a timeout with the score tied at 21 and 5:19 remaining in the half.
– Out of the stoppage, SIUE went on a 10-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to regain control. The Cougars’ lead was 36-30 at halftime.
– The story of the third quarter was close but no cigar for the Beacons. Six separate times, Valpo cut the SIUE advantage to a one-possession game, but was never able to tie or take the lead.
– A 3-point play from Autumn Dibb and a pair of free throws from von Schlegell brought Valpo within 51-50 with 1:59 to play in the third period, but SIUE scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 55-50 with 10 minutes to play.
– Back-to-back triples for the Cougars blew a five-point lead up to 11, forcing a Valpo timeout with 6:02 remaining in the game. The Beacons battled back from as much as a 12-point deficit to get to within five late, but were unable to get any closer.
– von Schlegell finished with a game-high 18 points, outdoing her previous best of 15 from earlier this season at Milwaukee. It was her fourth double-figure scoring effort of the season.
– Fiona Connolly joined her in double figures with 13 points, hitting double digits for the seventh time this year. Connolly also dished out a team-best four assists while not committing a turnover.
– Valpo did a lot of its offensive damage at the foul line Friday, where it was a +14 over SIUE. The Beacons hit 20-of-24 from the stripe, their first time hitting at least 20 free throws while shooting at least 80% since doing so last December against Southern Illinois.
– The Beacons held the edge in the rebounding department for the third time in their last five games, finishing with a 38-33 advantage. A balanced team effort on the glass was led by six boards from Dibb.
– Valpo finished with a season-low 12 turnovers.
…looking ahead
– Valpo has 12 days between games, returning to action Monday, Dec. 29 to kick off the heart of the MVC slate against UNI at the ARC.
– The Beacons then face the Indiana road swing, traveling to Indiana State and Evansville.
– The heart of the MVC slate kicks off Monday, Dec. 29 as the Beacons host UNI.
…at the ARC
– Wednesday’s game is the fourth of 13 home games this season for the Beacons, as Valpo will host three nonconference games and 10 MVC games.
– The Beacons are currently 0-3 at the ARC this year.
– Valpo posted a 9-6 record at the ARC last season, the program’s first winning record at home since the 2019-20 season.
….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.
@CMUWBBall
– Central Michigan enters Wednesday’s game with a 5-4 record, but has dropped its last two games at nationally-ranked Michigan and Kentucky squads.
– The Chippewas were picked to finish fifth in the MAC preseason poll.
– Reigning MAC Freshman of the Year Madi Morson leads CMU, averaging 14.7 points/game, while preseason Second Team All-MAC selection Ayanna-Sarai Darrington averages 12.6 points and a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game.
Defensive Improvement
– Valpo limited Western Michigan to 58 points last time out, a season low for a Valpo opponent.
– That continues the recent trend of improved defense from the Beacons: after not holding a team to under 70 points in the season’s first five games, Valpo has done so three times in the last six games.
– Other improvements defensively in the last six as compared to the first five include:
– Scoring defense improved by 13.1 points/game
– Rebounding margin improved by 7.9 rebounds/game
– Opponents’ field goal percentage down 23 points
– Opponents’ turnovers up 1.6/game
– Opponents’ free throw attempts down 4.1/game
All For Allia
– After entering last week with a career best of 15 points, freshman Allia von Schlegell scored 18 points twice in less than 48 hours last weekend, doing so at home on Friday against SIUE and at Western Michigan on Sunday.
– In both instances, von Schlegell led all players in scoring.
– von Schlegell has scored in double figures five times already this season, matching the most double-digit scoring outputs in nonconference play by a Valpo freshman since 2015-16:
– Meredith Hamlet, 2015-16, 8
– Allia von Schlegell, 2025-26, 5
– Ali Saunders, 2022-23, 5
– Saniya Jackson, 2023-24, 4
– Shay Frederick, 2018-19, 4
– Notably, three of the other four on that list went on to earn All-Freshman Team honors.
Shifting Starters
– Valpo used its fifth different starting lineup of the season last time out at Western Michigan, as Autumn Dibb earned the first start of her collegiate career.
– It was the Beacons’ smallest starting lineup of the year, with Dibb at 5-10 being the tallest starter.
– Eight different players have been a part of at least one starting five this year, with three of those – Fiona Connolly, Mor Shabtai and Mikayla Huffine – starting every game.
Gimme Mor
– Sophomore guard Mor Shabtai had a career performance in the Beacons’ MVC opener last Sunday against UIC.
– Shabtai, who entered the game with career highs of 11 points and four rebounds, easily outdid that as she paced Valpo with 16 points and nine rebounds.
– She went 6-of-9 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, to set new bests in field goals made and 3-pointers made.
– Shabtai is just the third Valpo player in the last six seasons to post at least 16 points, nine rebounds and three made 3-pointers in a single game, joining Leah Earnest (2x) and Shay Frederick.
Home Sweet Home
– After playing their first three games of the year and seven of their first eight away from home, the Beacons will enjoy their beds at home this month.
– Four of Valpo’s five games in December are at the ARC, with its lone road game being Sunday’s short trip to Kalamazoo to play at Western Michigan.
– Valpo will play its first two MVC games at home as part of this stretch, the first time it opens conference play with two home games since the 2020-21 season.
All-Tournament Honoree
– Fiona Connolly represented Valpo on the All-Tournament Team at the CSU Invitational, as she averaged 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over the Beacons’ trio of games in Cleveland.
– Connolly opened with her career-high 21 points and also tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds against Radford.
– She tied for game-high honors with 14 points versus Cleveland State, and closed the tournament with nine points and seven boards against St. Bonaventure.
The Tall and the Short
– This year’s Valpo roster features recent extremes on both ends of the height spectrum.
– Mor Shabtai and Mikayla Huffine both are listed at 5-4, making them the shortest Valpo players since 5-3 Rashida Ray (2007-11).
– On the flip side, Kamryn Winch and Milana Nenadic both check in at 6-3, making them the tallest Valpo players since 6-5 Nicole Johanson (2018-19).
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).
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UINDY MEN’S BASKETBALL NEWS
MEN’S BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO PARKSIDE FOR TUESDAY NIGHT CONTEST
vs. Parkside 3-4
Tuesday // December 16
Watch | Live Stats | Listen | Tickets
After a week break, the UIndy Men’s basketball team will travel to Kenosha, WI to face the Parkside Rangers on Tuesday night.
The two squads have met a total of 48 times, with UIndy leading the series 31-17. The Rangers took the 70-71 win in the last meeting between the two in 2023.
The Hounds return to action following a four-game win streak with wins over Hillsdale, Lewis, Maryville, and UMSL, earning a 3-0 record to start off conference play.
The Greyhound offense is led by Senior Carmelo Harris who is averaging 16 points per game and coming off a 25-point performance against Missouri-St.Louis.
Shaun Arnold was a big contributor to the five-point win over UMSL, recording his second straight double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 boards for UIndy.
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WRESTLING NEWS
LOGAN WAGNER EARNS WHAC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS – Coming off Marian’s win on Friday night in their home opener, Logan Wagner of the Knights’ wrestling program has been named as the WHAC Wrestler of the Week.
Wagner had a dominant match on Friday in the home opener, pinning Maurice Ames of Siena Heights in 31 seconds to take the win by fall. Wagner scored six of the team’s 35 points in its 35-9 victory.
Marian wrestles again on Friday at the Bluegrass Invite, hosted by the University of the Cumberlands.
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SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
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TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
DECEMBER 16
1892 – Commencement of first Sheffield Shield cricket game, South Africa versus New South Wales.
1918 – Jack Dempsey knocks out Carl Morris in 14 seconds.
1922 – Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Baseball Clubs formally organizes.
1922 – New South Wales all out for 786 against South Australia Cricket.
1926 – Kenesaw Mountain Landis renews 7-years as baseball commissioner.
1927 – Cricket first-class debut of Donald Bradman, New South Wales versus South Australia.
1929 – First NHL game at Chicago Stadium; Chicago Blackhawks beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1.
1930 – Golfer Bobby Jones wins James E Sullivan Award.
1938 – Donald Bradman scores 143 South Australia versus New South Wales, 11 fours 91 singles.
1939 – Donald Bradman scores 251 South Africa versus New South Wales in cricket, 271 minutes, 38 fours 2 sixes.
1940 – Joe Louis knocks out Al McCoy in six rounds for heavyweight boxing title in Chicago, Illinois.
1945 – Cleveland Rams win NFL championship.
1962 – New York Giants’ Y.A. Tittle sets NFL season touchdown pass record at 33 with six touchdowns versus Dallas Cowboys (41-31).
1967 – Wilt Chamberlain of NBA Philadelphia 76ers scores 68 points versus Chicago Bulls.
1972 – Miami Dolphins become first undefeated NFL team (14-0-0).
1973 – O J Simpson becomes first NFL player to rush 2,000 yard in a season.
1975 – Bill Veeck buys 80 percent of Chicago White Sox from John Allyn.
1979 – 68th Davis Cup: USA beats Italy in San Francisco (5-0).
1979 – Quarterback Roger Staubach’s last regular season game with the Dallas Cowboys.
1982 – Tom Seaver agrees to new contract with New York Mets.
1983 – Replacing Billy Martin, Yogi Berra is hired for the second time to manage the New York Yankees.
1989 – Commencement of first Test Cricket play at Bellerive Oval, Hobart (versus Sierra Leone).
1989 – Geoff Marsh completes 355 for Western Australia against South Australia.
1991 – Florida Marlins sign their first player, 16-year-old pitcher Clemente Nunez.
2003 – Miguel Tejada agrees to a six-year $72 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles making it the largest deal in the history of the franchise.
2021 – At SAP Center in San Jose, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Vancouver Canucks beats San Jose Sharks by score 5-2.
2021 – At Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, NHL regular season game: Edmonton Oilers beats Columbus Blue Jackets by score 5-2.
2021 – At Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, NHL regular season game: Buffalo Sabres beats Minnesota Wild by score 3-2.
2021 – At Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, NHL regular season game: Nashville Predators beats Colorado Avalanche by score 5-2.
2021 – At UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, USA, NHL regular season game: New York Islanders beats Boston Bruins by score 3-1.
2021 – At PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, NHL regular season game: Carolina Hurricanes beats Detroit Red Wings by score 5-3.
2021 – At Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, USA, NHL regular season game: Vegas Golden Knights beats New Jersey Devils by score 5-3.
2021 – At FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Los Angeles Kings beats Florida Panthers by score 4-1.
2021 – At Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Tampa Bay Lightning beats Ottawa Senators by score 2-1.
2021 – At Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, NHL regular season game: Montreal Canadiens beats Philadelphia Flyers by score 3-2.
Births of sports figures on December 16
1850 – Birth of Fred Morley; cricket player (legendary Notts and England bowler 1880-83).
1882 – Birth of John Berry Hobbs in England; first cricket player knighted (1953).
1897 – Birth of Jacobus Petrus Duminy; cricket player (three Tests for South Africa 1927-29).
1907 – Birth of Syd Curnow; cricket player (South African batsman in 7 Tests 1930-32).
1909 – Birth of Lall Singh; cricket player (scored 15 and 29 in India’s first Test match).
1947 – Birth of Vincent Matthews; American 400-metre dash (Olympics-gold-1972).
1952 – Birth of Joel Garner; cricket player (two-metre West Indian pace bowler 1977-87).
1954 – Birth of Joslyn Y Hoyte-Smith in Barbados; 4X400 metre hurdler (Olympics-bronze-1980).
1955 – Birth of Graeme Stevenson; cricket player (England medium pacer 1980-81).
1958 – Birth of Bart Oates; NFL center (New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers).
1962 – Birth of William “The Refrigerator” Perry; NFL defensive back (Chicago Bears).
1963 – Birth of Brian Clark in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada; Canadian Tour golfer (1994 Morden Pro-Am).
1963 – Birth of Cathy Johnston-Forbes in High Point, North Carolina, USA; LPGA golfer (1990 du Maurier).
1963 – Birth of Silvio Diliberto; WLAF kicker (Amsterdam Admirals).
1964 – Birth of Billy Ripken in Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA; second baseman (Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers).
1964 – Birth of Evelyn Conley in San Francisco, California, USA; WPVA volleyball player (US Open-7th-1989).
1964 – Birth of Heike Drechsler in Gera, German Democratic Republic; sprinter (1988 world record).
1965 – Birth of Brent Franklin in Barrie, Ontario, Canada; Canadian Tour golfer (1992 Japan Open-second).
1965 – Birth of Chris Jones in Utica, New York, USA; outfielder (New York Mets).
1965 – Birth of Moe Elewonibi; NFL/Canadian Football League tackle (Philadelphia Eagles, British Columbia Lions).
1965 – Birth of Page Dunlap in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA; LPGA golfer (1994 Atlanta Women’s-8th).
1965 – Birth of Romallis Ellis in Washington DC; lightweight boxer (Olympics-bronze-1988).
1966 – Birth of Clifford Robinson; NBA center (Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers).
1967 – Birth of Donovan Bailey in Manchester, Jamaica; Canada 100-metre runner (Olympics-2 gold-1996).
1968 – Birth of Darryll Lewis; NFL cornerback (Houston/Tennessee Oilers).
1968 – Birth of Wendy Doolan in Sydney, Australia; LPGA golfer (1991 British Amateur Champion-second).
1969 – Birth of Charles Mincy; NFL safety (Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
1969 – Birth of Craig White; cricket player (England all-rounder 1994-95, AIS graduate).
1969 – Birth of Martin Ulrich; hockey defenseman (Team Austria 1998).
1971 – Birth of Catherine “Cathy” Symon in Washington DC, USA; rower (Olympics-1996).
1971 – Birth of Kristen Kane in Jacksonville, Florida, USA; diver (Olympics-1996).
1973 – Birth of Kristie Boogert in Rotterdam, Netherlands; tennis star (1996 Paris).
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TV SPORTS TODAY
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| NBA CUP FINAL: SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS NEW YORK KNICKS | 8:30PM | PRIME |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| UTAH MAMMOTH VS BOSTON BRUINS | 7:00PM | NESN UTAH16 |
| CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS VS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS | 7:00PM | TSN CHSN |
| PHILADELPHIA FLYERS VS MONTREAL CANADIENS | 7:00PM | NBCS-PHI TSN |
| NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS DETROIT RED WINGS | 7:00PM | MSGSN FANDUEL SPORTS DET |
| VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS NEW YORK RANGERS | 7:00PM | SN MSG |
| ANAHEIM DUCKS VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS | 7:00PM | VICTORY+ FANDUEL SPORTS OHIO |
| EDMONTON OILERS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | 7:30PM | TNT MAX |
| WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS MINNESOTA WILD | 8:00PM | MNMT FANDUEL SPORTS NORTH |
| COLORADO AVALANCHE VS SEATTLE KRAKEN | 10:00PM | TNT MAX |
| CALGARY FLAMES VS SAN JOSE SHARKS | 10:00PM | NBCS-CA SN |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| VETERANS BOWL: TROY VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE | 9:00PM | ESPN |
| MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| HOWARD AT DREXEL | 11:00AM | NBCS-PHI |
| BRYAN AT SAMFORD | 1:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LIPSCOMB AT DUKE | 6:00PM | ACCN |
| MIDWAY AT LIBERTY | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DARTMOUTH AT HOLY CROSS | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SACRED HEART AT UMASS LOWELL | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TOLEDO AT MICHIGAN STATE | 6:30PM | PEACOCK |
| MIAMI (OH)-MIDDLETOWN AT IU INDIANAPOLIS | 6:30PM | ESPN+ |
| KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN AT UNC ASHEVILLE | 6:30PM | ESPN+ |
| LOUISVILLE AT TENNESSEE | 7:00PM | ESPN |
| SOUTH CAROLINA AT CLEMSON | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| KANSAS CITY AT OKLAHOMA | 7:00PM | SECN |
| FLORIDA STATE AT DAYTON | 7:00PM | CBSSN |
| BELMONT AT EVANSVILLE | 7:00PM | MVC TV |
| DEPAUL AT ST. JOHN’S | 7:00PM | PEACOCK |
| FIU AT MIAMI (FL) | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| UTRGV AT LAMAR | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MARY BALDWIN AT HIGH POINT | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT UNCG | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CANISIUS AT RHODE ISLAND | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| RIDER AT DELAWARE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OHIO WESLEYAN AT OHIO | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CHICAGO STATE AT BOWLING GREEN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MIAMI (OH) AT WRIGHT STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MARIST AT GEORGIA TECH | 7:30 PM | ESPN+ |
| LIU AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | 7:30PM | SEC NETWORK+ |
| LITTLE ROCK AT MOREHEAD STATE | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| ETSU AT NORTH CAROLINA | 8:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| LE MOYNE AT TEXAS | 8:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| VALPARAISO AT NORTHWESTERN | 8:00PM | PEACOCK |
| ORAL ROBERTS AT MISSOURI STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EAST-WEST AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NORTHERN COLORADO AT TEXAS TECH | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| YORK AT OMAHA | 8:00PM | SUMMIT |
| BUTLER VS. UCONN | 8:30PM | PEACOCK |
| TOWSON AT KANSAS | 9:00PM | ESPN |
| QUEENS AT ARKANSAS | 9:00PM | SEC NETWORK |
| ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT ARIZONA | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PACIFIC AT BYU | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COLORADO-COLORADO SPRINGS AT DENVER | 9:00PM | SUMMIT |
| MONTANA STATE AT CAL POLY | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| STANTON AT UC RIVERSIDE | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UC SAN DIEGO AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT | 11:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| LEAGUE CUP: CARDIFF CITY VS CHELSEA | 3:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
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