“THE SCOREBOARD”
===========
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL USA POLL
CLASS 4A
1. FISHERS (16) 12-0 169
2. CROWN POINT (1) 10-0 152
3. CARMEL 9-0 132
4. MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) 11-2 98
5. PIKE 9-2 87
6. LAWRENCE NORTH 10-1 85
7. PLAINFIELD 12-1 63
8. GOSHEN 9-0 51
9. NORTHRIDGE 10-1 46
10. PORTAGE 12-0 20
11. BEN DAVIS 9-2 9
12. FORT WAYNE SOUTH 13-1 8
13. HOMESTEAD 8-2 4
14. SOUTH BEND ADAMS 10-0 1
=========
CLASS 3A
1. SILVER CREEK (17) 14-1 170
2. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 8-3 143
3. COLUMBIA CITY 10-1 139
4. SHELBYVILLE 10-2 103
5. NORTHVIEW 10-3 87
6. INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 7-2 67
7. BATESVILLE 9-1 59
8. FAIRFIELD 7-1 47
9. PRINCETON 9-3 40
10. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 6-2 29
11. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 9-4 11
12. EVANSVILLE BOSSE 6-3 8
13. INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 5-4 6
14. CORYDON CENTRAL 10-2 5
GUERIN CATHOLIC 8-4 5
16. GIBSON SOUTHERN 8-3 3
17. WEST LAFAYETTE 8-2 2
BREBEUF JESUIT 5-4 2
NEW HAVEN 9-3 2
20. HERITAGE 10-2 1
==========
CLASS 2A
1. OAK HILL (14) 10-0 167
2. PARKE HERITAGE (3) 11-2 143
3. WESTVIEW 9-1 119
4. PAOLI 9-0 118
5. CENTERVILLE 11-1 110
6. BLACKFORD 11-0 96
7. SHENANDOAH 10-1 46
8. TRITON CENTRAL 9-2 36
9. LINTON 8-3 33
10. GARY 21ST CENTURY 7-5 23
11. PARK TUDOR 6-4 13
12. BREMEN 8-0 9
13. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7-2 6
14. SOUTH RIPLEY 8-4 5
15. INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 12-0 4
16. GREENCASTLE 7-3 2
UNIVERSITY 9-3 2
18. JIMTOWN 7-2 1
PROVIDENCE 8-4 1
==========
CLASS 1A
1. KOUTS (13) 8-0 166
2. BARR-REEVE (3) 10-1 148
3. HAUSER (1) 9-2 122
4. BLOOMFIELD 9-2 118
5. WEST CENTRAL 9-0 94
6. ORLEANS 9-2 71
7. TRITON 7-2 61
8. SOUTHWOOD 10-1 57
9. LOOGOOTEE 12-3 35
10. ROSSVILLE 9-2 31
11. LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 6-4 23
12. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 7-4 2
WASHINGTON TWP. 6-2 2
NORTHEAST DUBOIS 8-3 2
MONROE CENTRAL 8-2 2
===========
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 50 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 43
CAREER ACADEMY 47 WESTVILLE 25
DANVILLE 72 INDIANAPOLIS HERRON 60
HAMMOND CENTRAL 74 CALUMET 39
INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN 75 BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY 37
SHAWE MEMORIAL 76 CHRISTIAN ACADEMY MADISON 39
SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) 78 INTERNATIONAL 35
============
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE TUESDAY
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ANDREAN AT GARY WEST 8:00 PM
ARGOS AT NORTH MIAMI 7:30 PM
BARR-REEVE JV AT WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 7:30 PM
BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY AT DANVILLE 6:00 PM
BLUE RIVER VALLEY AT UNION (MODOC) 7:30 PM
BOONE GROVE AT WINAMAC 8:00 PM
CANNELTON AT CLOVERPORT (KY.) 8:00 PM
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) AT DEKALB 7:30 PM
CLAY CITY AT WEST VIGO 7:30 PM
CLINTON PRAIRIE AT WEST LAFAYETTE 6:30 PM
CRAWFORDSVILLE AT MARSHALL (ILL.) 8:00 PM
CROTHERSVILLE AT SCOTTSBURG 7:30 PM
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL AT HAMMOND MORTON 8:00 PM
EASTBROOK AT TAYLOR 7:30 PM
ELKHART CHRISTIAN AT GOSHEN 7:30 PM
ELWOOD AT INDIANA DEAF 7:00 PM
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL AT CASTLE 8:00 PM
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE LUERS AT NEW HAVEN 7:30 PM
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL AT RIVERTON PARKE 7:30 PM
FRANKLIN COUNTY AT SOUTH RIPLEY 7:30 PM
FRONTIER AT CASTON 7:30 PM
GARY LIGHTHOUSE AT WHITING 8:00 PM
HAMILTON AT LAKEWOOD PARK 7:30 PM
HAMMOND NOLL AT HANOVER CENTRAL 8:00 PM
HOBART AT WHEELER 8:00 PM
HOMESTEAD AT FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE AT INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN 6:00 PM
LAKE STATION AT SOUTH NEWTON 8:30 PM
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN AT SMITH ACADEMY 7:30 PM
LAPORTE AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS 7:30 PM
LOWELL AT MERRILLVILLE 8:00 PM
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC AT BOWMAN ACADEMY 7:30 PM
MILAN AT EDINBURGH 7:30 PM
MISHAWAKA AT SOUTH BEND RILEY 7:30 PM
MUNCIE BURRIS AT MUNCIE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
NORTHWESTERN AT WESTERN 7:30 PM
NORWELL AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE 7:30 PM
PAOLI AT MITCHELL 7:30 PM
PURDUE ENGLEWOOD AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 7:30 PM
RENSSELAER CENTRAL AT TWIN LAKES 7:30 PM
SALEM AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 7:30 PM
SEVEN OAKS AT MEDORA 2:30 PM
SHELBYVILLE AT COLUMBUS EAST 7:30 PM
SILVER CREEK AT CLARKSVILLE 7:30 PM
TELL CITY AT HANCOCK COUNTY (KY.) 8:00 PM
TRITON AT JOHN GLENN 7:30 PM
VICTORY CHRISTIAN AT DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
VINCENNES RIVET AT NORTH KNOX 7:00 PM
WABASH AT TIPTON 7:30 PM
WES-DEL AT MONROE CENTRAL 7:30 PM
WEST WASHINGTON AT ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 7:30 PM
ACAC TOURNAMENT
WOODLAN AT JAY COUNTY 7:45 PM R1
BLUFFTON AT SOUTH ADAMS 7:45 PM R1
ADAMS CENTRAL AT HERITAGE 7:45 PM R1
JOHNSON COUNTY TOURNAMENT
CENTER GROVE AT GREENWOOD 7:00 PM R1
INDIAN CREEK AT WHITELAND 7:30 PM R1
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN AT FRANKLIN 7:30 PM R1
MARION COUNTY TOURNAMENT
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN AT PARK TUDOR 6:30 PM R1
FRANKLIN CENTRAL AT SOUTHPORT 6:30 PM R1
LAWRENCE NORTH AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 6:30 PM R1
PERRY MERIDIAN AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 6:30 PM R1
DECATUR CENTRAL AT SPEEDWAY 6:30 PM R1
PIKE AT BREBEUF JESUIT 6:30 PM R1
BEN DAVIS AT WARREN CENTRAL 6:30 PM R1
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT BEECH GROVE 6:30 PM R1
NECC TOURNAMENT
FREMONT AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 7:30 PM R1
CENTRAL NOBLE AT GARRETT 7:30 PM R1
CHURUBUSCO AT LAKELAND 7:30 PM R1
===========
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
CARROLL (FLORA) 50 SHERIDAN 34
CASTLE 53 BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY (KY.) 44
FORT WAYNE LUERS 72 NEW HAVEN 46
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 67 COVINGTON 15
GREENSBURG 74 SOUTH DEARBORN 16
GREENWOOD 45 EDINBURGH 43 OT
HAMMOND MORTON 67 TF NORTH (ILL.) 64
HAMMOND NOLL 66 ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 39
HIGHLAND 51 BOWMAN ACADEMY 3
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 52 INDIANA DEAF 25
INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 55 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 16
IRVINGTON PREP 37 TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 7
MADISON-GRANT 48 TAYLOR 33
NORTH POSEY 56 EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 46
SHAWE MEMORIAL 69 CROTHERSVILLE 25
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 54 ST. THOMAS MORE 44
SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) 74 SALEM 58
SOUTH PUTNAM 49 RIVERTON PARKE 35
TELL CITY 50 HANCOCK COUNTY (KY.) 41
WEST WASHINGTON 59 ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 36
WHEELER 43 GRIFFITH 31
WHITKO 72 NORTHWESTERN 13
INDIANAPOLIS CITY TOURNAMENT
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 85 CHRISTEL HOUSE 16 R1
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 67 INDIANAPOLIS HERRON 2 R1
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY 93 INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECH 18 R1
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 54 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 7 R1
===========
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ATTICA AT NORTH VERMILLION 7:30 PM
AVON AT BEN DAVIS 7:30 PM
BARR-REEVE AT WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 6:00 PM
BATESVILLE AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY 7:30 PM
BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY AT CLINTON CENTRAL 6:30 PM
BENTON CENTRAL AT LOGANSPORT 7:30 PM
BOONE GROVE AT CALUMET 7:00 PM
BREBEUF JESUIT AT TRI-WEST 7:00 PM
BREMEN AT NORTHWOOD 7:45 PM
CANNELTON AT CLOVERPORT (KY.) 6:30 PM
CAREER ACADEMY AT BETHANY CHRISTIAN 6:00 PM
CARMEL AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS 7:30 PM
CARMI (ILL.) AT MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) 8:30 PM
CENTERVILLE AT ANDERSON PREP 6:00 PM
CHARLESTOWN AT EASTERN (PEKIN) 7:30 PM
COLUMBUS EAST AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 7:30 PM
CROSSPOINTE CHRISTIAN AT MOORESVILLE CHRISTIAN 5:45 PM
CULVER ACADEMY AT TWIN LAKES 7:00 PM
DELPHI AT FAITH CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN AT KNOX 8:00 PM
DIXIE HEIGHTS (KY.) AT EAST CENTRAL 7:00 PM
EASTERN GREENE AT DUGGER UNION 7:30 PM
EASTERN HANCOCK AT NEW CASTLE 7:30 PM
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE NORTH AT JASPER 8:00 PM
FOREST PARK AT CORYDON CENTRAL 7:30 PM
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY AT LEO 6:00 PM
FORT WAYNE NORTHROP AT BELLMONT 7:30 PM
FRANKFORT AT ROSSVILLE 7:30 PM
GREENCASTLE AT NORTH MONTGOMERY 7:30 PM
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL AT ANDERSON 7:30 PM
HAMILTON AT LAKEWOOD PARK 6:00 PM
HEBRON AT HOBART 8:00 PM
HENRYVILLE AT AUSTIN 7:30 PM
INDIAN CREEK AT MOORESVILLE 7:30 PM
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI AT GREENSBURG 7:30 PM
JENNINGS COUNTY AT FLOYD CENTRAL 7:30 PM
JIMTOWN AT CONCORD 7:45 PM
KANKAKEE VALLEY AT ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 8:00 PM
KOKOMO AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) 7:30 PM
LANESVILLE AT TRINITY LUTHERAN 7:30 PM
LAPORTE AT PLYMOUTH 7:30 PM
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN AT EMINENCE 7:30 PM
MACONAQUAH AT PIONEER 7:30 PM
MADISON AT SILVER CREEK 7:30 PM
MARION AT MISSISSINEWA 7:30 PM
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC AT LAKE CENTRAL 8:00 PM
MARSHALL (ILL.) AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH 8:00 PM
MARTINSVILLE AT TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 7:30 PM
MCCUTCHEON AT VALPARAISO 6:00 PM
MILAN AT RISING SUN 7:30 PM
MISHAWAKA MARIAN AT ELKHART CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM
MISSISSINAWA VALLEY (OHIO) AT UNION COUNTY 7:30 PM
MITCHELL AT NEW WASHINGTON 6:30 PM
MONROE CENTRAL AT EASTBROOK 6:30 PM
MONROVIA AT EDGEWOOD 7:30 PM
MORGAN TWP. AT WASHINGTON TWP. 8:00 PM
MUNCIE BURRIS AT ELWOOD 6:00 PM
MUNSTER AT CROWN POINT 8:00 PM
NEW PRAIRIE AT LAVILLE 7:30 PM
NOBLESVILLE AT LAFAYETTE JEFF 7:45 PM
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) AT SULLIVAN 7:30 PM
NORTH DECATUR AT MORRISTOWN 7:30 PM
NORTH NEWTON AT FRONTIER 8:00 PM
NORTH POSEY AT HERITAGE HILLS 8:00 PM
NORTH WHITE AT CLINTON PRAIRIE 7:30 PM
NORTHEAST DUBOIS AT SOUTHRIDGE 7:30 PM
NORTHVIEW AT CASCADE 7:30 PM
PARKE HERITAGE AT SOUTH VERMILLION 7:30 PM
PERRY CENTRAL AT TECUMSEH 7:00 PM
PERU AT MANCHESTER 7:45 PM
PHALEN ACADEMY AT PERRY MERIDIAN 6:00 PM
PIKE CENTRAL AT LOOGOOTEE 6:30 PM
PORTAGE AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 8:00 PM
PRINCETON AT EVANSVILLE REITZ 8:00 PM
PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE AT KIPP INDY LEGACY 6:00 PM
RICHMOND AT CONNERSVILLE 7:30 PM
RUSHVILLE AT SHELBYVILLE 7:30 PM
SEYMOUR AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 7:30 PM
SHAKAMAK AT NORTH DAVIESS 7:30 PM
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON AT WESTVILLE 7:30 PM
SOUTH DECATUR AT KNIGHTSTOWN 7:30 PM
SOUTH KNOX AT WOOD MEMORIAL 8:00 PM
SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) AT PROVIDENCE 7:30 PM
SPEEDWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 7:30 PM
SPRINGS VALLEY AT CRAWFORD COUNTY 7:30 PM
STEEL CITY ACADEMY AT GARY 21ST CENTURY 6:00 PM
TIPTON AT LEWIS CASS 7:30 PM
TRI AT NORTHEASTERN 7:30 PM
TRI-COUNTY AT SEEGER 7:30 PM
TRITON CENTRAL AT NEW PALESTINE 7:30 PM
TRI-TOWNSHIP AT KOUTS 8:00 PM
UNIVERSITY AT GUERIN CATHOLIC 7:30 PM
VICTORY PREP AT CHRISTEL HOUSE 6:00 PM
WALDRON AT BLUE RIVER VALLEY 6:00 PM
WAWASEE AT COLUMBIA CITY 7:30 PM
WEST CENTRAL AT NORTH JUDSON 7:30 PM
WEST LAFAYETTE AT LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 7:30 PM
WEST VIGO AT CLOVERDALE 7:30 PM
WESTERN AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS 7:30 PM
WESTERN BOONE AT CRAWFORDSVILLE 7:30 PM
WHITE RIVER VALLEY AT ORLEANS 7:30 PM
WHITING AT HAMMOND CENTRAL 8:00 PM
WINAMAC AT TRITON 7:30 PM
ZIONSVILLE AT NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 7:30 PM
ACAC TOURNAMENT
WOODLAN AT JAY COUNTY 6:00 PM R1
BLUFFTON AT SOUTH ADAMS 6:00 PM R1
ADAMS CENTRAL AT HERITAGE 6:00 PM R1
DELAWARE COUNTY TOURNAMENT
WAPAHANI VS. COWAN 6:00 PM R1
DELTA AT YORKTOWN 7:30 PM R1
INDIANAPOLIS CITY TOURNAMENT
WINNER GAME 1 AT INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 7:30 PM QF
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 7:30 PM QF
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY AT PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 7:30 PM QF
COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD 7:30 PM QF
NECC TOURNAMENT
FREMONT AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 6:00 PM R1
CENTRAL NOBLE AT GARRETT 6:00 PM R1
CHURUBUSCO AT LAKELAND 6:00 PM R1
==========
INDIANA ICGSA BASKETBALL POLLS
CLASS 4A
1. PIKE (5) 16-1 85
2. WARSAW (4) 18-1 84
3. CENTER GROVE 16-0 71
4. HOMESTEAD 17-2 64
5. LAWRENCE CENTRAL 12-3 47
6. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 15-3 37
7. VALPARAISO 15-2 36
8. NORWELL 15-4 25
9. PENDLETON HEIGHTS 14-3 20
10. PLAINFIELD 14-5 13
11. FLOYD CENTRAL 16-2 9
12. PENN 16-3 2
13. EAST CENTRAL 16-2 1
NORTHRIDGE 14-5 1
==========
CLASS 3A
1. GREENSBURG (5) 13-5 93
2. SILVER CREEK (3) 12-4 87
3. BELLMONT (1) 15-1 70
4. CHARLESTOWN 14-3 60
5. WASHINGTON (1) 15-4 56
6. INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 15-3 51
7. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 12-4 41
JENNINGS COUNTY 13-4 41
9. EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 11-9 19
10. MADISON 11-4 13
11. CONNERSVILLE 11-6 4
COLUMBIA CITY 10-7 4
DELTA 11-5 4
14. PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 15-3 3
15. PRINCETON 11-5 2
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 14-3 2
=========
CLASS 2A
1. WHITKO (2) 14-1 74
2. RENSSELAER CENTRAL (5) 14-2 72
3. SOUTH KNOX (1) 14-3 66
4. NORTH KNOX 11-5 53
5. LAPEL 15-3 40
6. BREMEN 15-1 39
7. EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 14-4 19
8. TRITON CENTRAL 12-3 18
EASTSIDE 14-3 18
10. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 14-6 10
11. EASTERN HANCOCK 12-4 6
12. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 11-7 5
OAK HILL 15-2 5
AUSTIN 12-7 5
15. MONROVIA 14-4 3
SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) 12-4 3
ALEXANDRIA 16-3 3
18. BENTON CENTRAL 13-5 1
==========
CLASS 1A
1. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (4) 14-3 66
2. BORDEN (2) 13-3 65
3. FREMONT (1) 16-1 57
4. ELKHART CHRISTIAN 13-2 47
5. TRINITY LUTHERAN 14-3 34
6. ORLEANS 14-2 32
7. EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 13-4 30
8. OLDENBURG ACADEMY 14-2 20
9. SPRINGS VALLEY 12-5 13
10. KOUTS 13-3 12
11. ROSSVILLE 16-1 6
12. TRI 12-2 1
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL 15-2 1
LOOGOOTEE 10-5 1
==========
INDIANA WRESTLING
INDIANA STATE WRESTLING ASSOCIATION: https://www.iswa.com/
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WRESTLING COACHES ASSOCIATION: https://www.ihsgw.net/
INDIANA MAT: https://indianamat.com/
GIRLS STATE FINALS BRACKETS: https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2025-26%20GWR%20State%20Finals.pdf
============
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL 89 MORGAN STATE 78
LAMAR 64 HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 56
NEW ORLEANS 79 SE. LOUISIANA 76
STEPHEN F AUSTIN 56 INCARNATE WORD 46
AMERICAN 65 NAVY 51
SOUTHERN 77 BETHUNE COOKMAN 73
MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE 74 NORFOLK STATE 70
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 74 COPPIN STATE 72
PRAIRIE VIEW 73 ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF 61
ALABAMA STATE 81 ALCORN STATE 66
FLORIDA A&M 91 GRAMBLING STATE 84
HOWARD 84 DELAWARE STATE 58
TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI 61 E. TEXAS A&M 50
NORTHWESTERN STATE 64 TEXAS RIO GRANDE 63
MCNEESE STATE 94 NICHOLLS 68
TEXAS SOUTHERN 84 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 51
ALABAMA A&M 100 JACKSON STATE 91
===========
AP MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
- ARIZONA 16-0
- IOWA STATE 16-0
- UCONN 16-1
- MICHIGAN 14-1
- PURDUE 15-1
- DUKE 15-1
- HOUSTON 15-1
- NEBRASKA 16-0
- GONZAGA 17-1
- VANDERBILT 16-0
- BYU 15-1
- MICHIGAN STATE 14-2
- ILLINOIS 13-3
- NORTH CAROLINA 14-2
- TEXAS TECH 12-4
- VIRGINIA 14-2
- ARKANSAS 12-4
- ALABAMA 11-5
- FLORIDA 11-5
- LOUISVILLE 12-4
- GEORGIA 14-2
- CLEMSON 14-3
- UTAH STATE 14-1
- TENNESSEE 11-5
- SETON HALL 14-2
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
SAINT LOUIS 92, KANSAS 60, IOWA 58, MIAMI (OHIO) 49, VILLANOVA 40, WISCONSIN 37, MIAMI 30, TEXAS A&M 23, UCF 18, SAINT MARY’S 17, SMU 15, AUBURN 14, GEORGE MASON 8, NC STATE 3, SOUTHERN CAL 1, ST. JOHN’S 1.
==========
USA TODAY MEN’S TOP 25 POLL
THE USA TODAY SPORTS TOP 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL POLL, WITH TEAM’S RECORDS THROUGH SUNDAY IN PARENTHESES, TOTAL POINTS BASED ON 25 FOR FIRST PLACE THROUGH ONE POINT FOR 25TH, RANKING IN LAST WEEK’S POLL AND FIRST-PLACE VOTES RECEIVED.
RANK SCHOOL (RECORD) POINTS LAST WEEK’S RANK FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1 ARIZONA (16-0) 773 2 29
2 IOWA STATE (16-0) 729 3 1
3 MICHIGAN (14-1) 671 1 1
4 CONNECTICUT (16-1) 666 4 0
5 PURDUE (15-1) 634 5 0
6 DUKE (15-1) 606 6 0
7 HOUSTON (15-1) 579 7 0
8 VANDERBILT (16-0) 557 10 0
9 GONZAGA (17-1) 547 8 0
10 NEBRASKA (16-0) 534 11 0
11 BRIGHAM YOUNG (15-1) 510 9 0
12 MICHIGAN STATE (14-2) 433 13 0
13 ILLINOIS (13-3) 378 16 0
14 TEXAS TECH (12-4) 336 14 0
15 NORTH CAROLINA (14-2) 322 17 0
16 VIRGINIA (14-2) 272 23 0
17 ARKANSAS (12-4) 237 15 0
18 ALABAMA (11-5) 230 12 0
19 LOUISVILLE (12-4) 198 18 0
20 FLORIDA (11-5) 145 NR 0
21 CLEMSON (14-3) 122 NR 0
22 GEORGIA (14-2) 105 20 0
23 IOWA (12-4) 88 19 0
24 UTAH STATE (14-1) 78 NR 0
25 KANSAS (11-5) 57 21 0
DROPPED OUT: NO. 22 TENNESSEE (11-5); NO. 24 VILLANOVA (13-3); NO. 25 SMU (12-4).
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: TENNESSEE (11-5) 45; SAINT LOUIS (15-1) 39; SAINT MARY’S (16-2) 34; VILLANOVA (13-3) 34; SETON HALL (14-2) 29; ST. JOHN’S (11-5) 21; SMU (12-4) 15; MIAMI (FLA.) (14-2) 14; TEXAS A&M (13-3) 13; MIAMI (OHIO) (17-0) 8; CENTRAL FLORIDA (13-2) 6; OHIO STATE (11-5) 3; WISCONSIN (11-5) 5; INDIANA (12-4) 1; SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (13-3) 1.
===========
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
#21 ALABAMA 74 MISSOURI 63
==========
AP WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
- UCONN 17-0
- SOUTH CAROLINA 17-1
- UCLA 15-1
- TEXAS 18-1
- VANDERBILT 17-0
- LSU 16-2
- KENTUCKY 16-2
- MICHIGAN 14-2
- LOUISVILLE 16-3
- TCU 16-1
- IOWA 14-2
- MARYLAND 16-2
- OKLAHOMA 14-3
- OHIO STATE 15-2
- MICHIGAN STATE 16-1
- OLE MISS 16-3
- TEXAS TECH 18-0
- BAYLOR 15-3
- IOWA STATE 14-3
- TENNESSEE 12-3
- ALABAMA 16-1
- PRINCETON 14-1
- NOTRE DAME 12-4
- NEBRASKA 14-3
- ILLINOIS 14-3
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
WEST VIRGINIA 41, DUKE 41, NORTH CAROLINA 21, MINNESOTA 12, WASHINGTON 11, STANFORD 10, UTAH 8, SOUTHERN CAL 4, RODE ISLAND 4, GEORGIA 3, OREGON 2, NC STATE 2.
==========
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MONDAY, JAN. 19
7:30 P.M. | COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (MIAMI, FLA.) | ESPN
MIAMI VS. INDIANA
============
NFL
NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
JAN. 12
HOUSTON 30 PITTSBURGH 6
NFL PLAYOFF DIVISIONAL-ROUND SCHEDULE
JAN. 17
BUFFALO BILLS AT DENVER BRONCOS, 4:30 OR 8 PM. ET, NETWORK TBD
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 4:30 OR 8 P.M. ET, NETWORK TBD
JAN. 18
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 3 OR 6:30 P.M. ET, NETWORK TBD
HOUSTON TEXANS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 3 OR 6:30 P.M. ET, NETWORK TBD
NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCHEDULE
JAN. 25
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP, TBD
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP, TBD
SUPER BOWL 60 SCHEDULE
FEB. 8
AFC CHAMPION VS. NFC CHAMPION, NBC
==========
NBA
INDIANA 98 BOSTON 96
UTAH 123 CLEVELAND 112
PHILADELPHIA 115 TORONTO 102
DALLAS 113 BROOKLYN 105
SACRAMENTO 124 LA LAKERS 112
LA CLIPPERS 117 CHARLOTTE 109
===========
NHL
DETROIT 4 CAROLINA 3 OT
FLORIDA 4 BUFFALO 3
SEATTLE 4 NY RANGERS 2
TAMPA BAY 5 PHILADELPHIA 1
MONTRÉAL 6 VANCOUVER 3
NEW JERSEY 5 MINNESOTA 2
EDMONTON 4 CHICAGO 1
TORONTO 4 COLORADO 3 OT
DALLAS 3 LOS ANGELES 1
===========
NATIONAL RELEASES
NFL
DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS SEAL TEXANS’ VICTORY OVER STEELERS
Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble for a touchdown and Caden Bullock took an interception back for a score to help the Houston Texans notch a 30-6 victory over the host Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
Christian Kirk produced a career-best 144 receiving yards and a score on eight catches and Woody Marks rushed for 112 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries for the fifth-seeded Texans. C.J. Stroud passed for 250 yards and a touchdown and Will Anderson Jr. had the strip-sack on the play in which Rankins scored the pivotal fourth-quarter touchdown.
Houston, the fifth seed, will visit the second-seeded New England Patriots in an AFC divisional-round game on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers completed 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards, no touchdowns and one interception for the fourth-seeded Steelers, who lost their seventh consecutive postseason game. Pittsburgh’s last playoff win came against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017.
The Monday contest might have been the final game for the 42-year-old Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP. His last throw was Bullock’s interception.
The Texans allowed just 175 total yards and 13 first downs while controlling the Pittsburgh offense. Houston led the NFL in total defense and finished second in scoring defense and takeaway margin during the regular season.
Stroud connected on 21 of 32 passes and committed three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles), but the Steelers turned the takeaways into just three points.
Ka’imi Fairbairn booted a 51-yard field goal to give Houston a 10-6 lead with 13:07 left in the game.
On Pittsburgh’s ensuing possession, Anderson and Rankins converged on Rodgers with Anderson’s hit knocking the ball loose. Rankins reached into a pack of players near the ball and grabbed it and raced 33 yards to give the Texans a 17-6 advantage with 11:23 remaining.
Marks scored on a 13-yard run to push the margin to 18 with 3:38 left in the game. A short time later, Rodgers was picked off by Bullock, who returned it 50 yards to make it a blowout with 2:39 remaining.
Texans receiver Nico Collins (concussion) exited in the third quarter. He had three catches for 21 yards before departing.
Stroud tossed a 6-yard scoring pass to Kirk to help the Texans host a 7-6 halftime lead.
The Steelers struck on Chris Boswell’s 32-yard field goal with 6:02 left in the first quarter.
Houston drove 14 plays and 92 yards on the drive in which Kirk made the touchdown catch with 8:28 remaining in the half.
Keeanu Benton later sacked Stroud and forced a fumble that teammate T.J. Watt recovered at the Houston 21-yard line with 6:14 remaining in the second period. However, Pittsburgh settled for Boswell’s 35-yard field goal with 1:57 left until the break.
AARON RODGERS ‘NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY EMOTIONAL DECISIONS’ RE: RETIREMENT
In the end, the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t close to defeating the Houston Texans, and Aaron Rodgers wasn’t close to good enough at quarterback.
The future Hall of Famer might well have played his final NFL game, and if so, it was a forgettable one. Rodgers had no touchdowns and two turnovers leading directly to defensive touchdowns as the Texans dominated the fourth quarter of a 30-6 wild-card win over the host Steelers on Monday night.
Afterward, Rodgers wouldn’t commit to either another season or retirement.
“No, I’m not going to make any emotional decisions,” Rodgers said. “I’m disappointed, obviously. It was a fun year. A lot of adversity, but it was a great year.
“It’s disappointing to be sitting here with the season over.”
In the loss, Rodgers completed 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards with a 50.8 quarterback rating. His fumble early in the fourth quarter led to a Sheldon Rankins 33-yard fumble return touchdown and a 17-6 deficit. With just under three minutes left, he was intercepted by Calen Bullock, who returned the pick 50 yards for a touchdown.
As part of his decision-making process, Rodgers, 42, offered that he just needed to “get away and have the right conversations.”
Did he approach this game as his final one?
“I’ve answered this before, every game could be my final game.”
If Rodgers retires, he will finish his career as the highest-rated passer in NFL history, the most sacked and with the lowest interception percentage for a career. He would also retire a four-time MVP and a one-time Super Bowl champion.
The 21-year, 10-time Pro Bowl player has thrown for more than 66,000 yards with 527 touchdowns and 123 interceptions over 18 seasons in Green Bay, two seasons with the Jets and one season in Pittsburgh.
MATTHEW STAFFORD ENDS RECORD-TYING LONGEST WAIT FOR FIRST-TEAM AP NFL ALL-PRO HONOR
Matthew Stafford has spent a career accumulating staggering numbers with more than 64,000 yards passing, more than 400 TD passes and a Super Bowl title.
One accolade he hadn’t achieved until this season was being named a first-team AP NFL All-Pro. Stafford was picked for the team on Saturday, ending the longest wait ever for a quarterback to get that honor for the first time.
Stafford just completed his 17th season in the NFL since being drafted first overall by Detroit in 2009, eclipsing Fran Tarkenton’s 15-year wait for his first All-Pro honor in 1975.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other players had waited 15 years or more for their first All-Pro selection with Stafford tying kicker Gary Anderson for the longest wait. Anderson was also named All-Pro in his 17th season in 1998 when he made all 35 field goal tries and 59 extra points in the regular season before missing a potential game-sealing kick that helped cost Minnesota in the NFC title game.
The All-Pro selection could also boost Stafford’s Hall of Fame case. No modern quarterback has ever made the Hall without getting one of these honors: first-team All-Pro; AP NFL MVP; AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year or Super Bowl MVP.
Stafford now has one and could add another when the MVP is announced at NFL Honors on Feb. 5. From 2013-23, the first-team All-Pro quarterback also won the MVP but that streak was snapped last year when Josh Allen won the MVP after Lamar Jackson was picked as the All-Pro.
Stafford got 31 of the 50 first-place votes from the same panel that picks MVP with New England’s Drake Maye getting 18 and Allen one. Stafford was named on 49 ballots with 18 second-place votes, while Maye was on 47 ballots with 29 second-place votes.
The 37-year-old Stafford was the old man on an All-Pro team that had a strong youthful bent with 22-year-old slot cornerback Cooper DeJean the youngest on the squad. Twelve other of the 31 players to get first-team honors are 25 or younger, with 12 more others between ages 26 and 29.
The only other thirtysomething besides Stafford were edge rusher Myles Garrett, who turned 30 late last month; 32-year-old safety Kevin Byard; 33-year-old offensive linemen Garett Bolles and Joe Thuney; and 34-year-old fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Broncos lead the way
The AFC’s top-seeded Denver Broncos also had the most All-Pros.
Denver had a franchise record-tying four first-team selections — double the total of the next highest team — with offensive linemen Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz; defensive tackle Zach Allen and special teams standout Devon Key getting picked.
The only other seasons when the Broncos had four first-team selections were 1977 when the team made its first Super Bowl and 1996.
Among the other playoff teams with multiple first-teamers were the Rams with Stafford joined by prolific receiver Puka Nacua; San Francisco’ with its backfield of Christian McCaffrey (all purpose) and fullback Juszczyk; Houston led by defenders Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr.; and Chicago with left guard Joe Thuney and safety Kevin Byard.
The Eagles got second-year cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and second-year slot cornerback DeJean on the first team. It marked the seventh team that a team had its top two picks from a draft class earn first-team All-Pro honors within their first two NFL seasons, with Indianapolis the last to do it when Quenton Nelson and Shaquille Leonard made it as rookies in 2018.
Three of the nine teams with multiple first-team All-Pros came from teams that missed the playoffs, including three-win Tennessee getting defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and rookie punt returner Chimere Dike getting picked. Detroit had right tackle Penei Sewell and linebacker Jack Campbell; while Baltimore had safety Kyle Hamilton and punter Jordan Stout.
Five teams had no first or second-team selections with the Carolina Panthers the only playoff team without one after winning the NFC South with an 8-9 record. The other four also had losing records with Las Vegas, the New York Jets, Tampa Bay and Washington getting shut out.
Patriots shut out on first team
The New England Patriots finished tied for the best record in the NFL with Denver and Seattle but had no first-team All-Pros to show for it.
The Patriots became the first team since the AP began awarding All-Pro honors in 1940 to win at least 14 games in a season and have no first-team picks.
New England did have two second-team selections with Maye getting the spot at quarterback and Marcus Jones at punt returner.
The Patriots came close to an All-Pro shutout in 2016 after winning 14 games but Matthew Slater made it as the special teams player. That New England team went on to win the Super Bowl.
Rare rookie makes All-Pro
Dike was the only rookie to earn first-team All-Pro honors this season after averaging 17.3 yards per punt return with two touchdowns.
He became the fourth rookie since 2000 to earn All-Pro honors with the three others among the best in the league at their positions.
Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers pulled it off last season, with Sauce Gardner doing it in 2022 and Micah Parsons in 2021.
JALEN HURTS AVOIDS ENDORSING OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KEVIN PATULLO AFTER EAGLES’ PLAYOFF EXIT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — His season over after a failed Super Bowl repeat bid, Jalen Hurts sounded like a quarterback who’s ready for a fifth Eagles offensive coordinator in five seasons.
An endorsement of the beleaguered Kevin Patullo — whose house was egged earlier this season as he became the top target for Eagles fans’ frustrations — never came from Hurts a day after last season’s Super Bowl champions were knocked out of the playoffs in the wild-card round by San Francisco.
Hurts declined a chance to stump for Patullo and instead put the decision solely at the feet of Philadelphia’s brain trust of coach Nick Sirianni, general manager Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie.
Hurts was asked if he wanted Patullo back.
“It’s too soon to think about that,” Hurts said Monday as the Eagles cleaned out their lockers. “I put my trust in Howie. Howie, Nick and Mr. Lurie.”
Hurts talked instead of finding a “home base” for the offense next season, essentially an identity that never materialized. The Eagles usually had one solid half and another that was a total bust — such as in the loss to the 49ers, in which they blew a halftime lead and kicked only two field goals in the second half.
What kind of home base does Hurts envision?
“We’ve got time to figure it out,” Hurts said.
Hurts even had two games this season in which he failed to complete a pass in the second half. That should be almost impossible for any NFL quarterback, much less the Super Bowl MVP.
“It was a challenging year,” Hurts said.
Hurts couldn’t get on track against an injury-depleted 49ers defense, and he threw incomplete into double coverage on fourth down when the Eagles still had a chance to win, ending Philadelphia’s bid to follow up Kansas City’s repeat with another one.
Saquon Barkley rushed for 865 fewer yards than last season, when Kellen Moore was in charge of Philadelphia’s offense. Moore left the Eagles after the Super Bowl to become New Orleans’ head coach.
Barkley said he had “nothing but positive things to say about KP” and said the entire offense — starting with himself — shared the blame for the dip in production.
“I think (the media) has to point the finger at one person,” Barkley said. “That’s what you guys have to do in your job. Somebody’s got to catch the blame, especially when we had the season we had the year before. Do I think that’s fair? No. I don’t think that’s fair at all.”
The 27-year-old Hurts said he would give his input about potential offseason moves, if asked.
“My line is always open,” Hurts said.
Brown ‘always open’ but unavailable for comment
Hurts said Monday everything was good between him and disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown.
“A.J. and I will talk,” Hurts said. “We’re in a great place. Maybe you all can talk to him and ask.”
Brown did not give anyone that chance.
The “Always Open” sign still dangled over Brown’s locker even with the wideout nowhere to be found.
Brown was one of the few prominent Eagles to skip Monday’s media session, along with offensive lineman Lane Johnson and defensive end Brandon Graham. Brown also left the locker room without talking to reporters after Sunday’s loss, which left Sirianni to explain the circumstances of a sideline kerfuffle between the two.
“I love A.J. I think he knows how I feel about him. I have a special relationship with him,” Sirianni said.
But do the Eagles love Brown enough to bring him back and all the needless headaches, such as cryptic social media posts about his lessened role in the offense? Brown — who had 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns — carries a $43.5 million salary-cap hit if the Eagles trade him before June 1, which raises the question of whether they can afford to move on.
Brown perhaps left a parting gift with a signed No. 11 jersey in All-Pro cornerback’s Quinyon Mitchell’s locker.
“To Q. All-Pro Q. Love bro. Proud of u,” Brown wrote.
Barkley wants more
The Madden NFL 26 video game and its cover in Barkley’s locker seemed to sum up his season — still unwrapped and headed backward.
Barkley never cut loose and flashed the form that made him the most feared running back in the game last season.
The Barkley who rushed for 2,005 yards last season never materialized as he finished with 1,140 yards. He ran for 106 yards against the 49ers, his fourth 100-yard game of the season. He had two 200-yard games in 2024, when he was the AP Offensive Player of the Year.
“I’ll be the first one to say, did I play to the level that I played least year? I don’t think so,” Barkley said. “I let (Patullo) down, I let my teammates down.”
The Eagles averaged 116.9 yards rushing per game after they averaged 179 yards in the Super Bowl season.
“I don’t think the reason why we weren’t as successful running the ball had anything to do with more stacked or loaded boxes,” Barkley said. “I just feel like we as a collective didn’t do a really good job of figuring it out.”
Scenes from the locker room
Jordan Mailata walked through the locker room holding an oversized cardboard box on his head to clean out his locker 11 months after he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
All-Pro slot cornerback Cooper DeJean handed out boxes of his Coop’s Crunch cereal — teammate Jordan Davis asked for a signed box.
“For me, personally. I’m not going to sell it or nothing,” Davis cracked.
Davis and fellow defenseman Moro Ojomo made plans to smoke fine cigars. Mailata tried to organize one last team dinner. Joshua Uche took offseason dinner suggestions on the best places in Philly for pizza.
“I’ve got time now,” he said, laughing.
Next steps
The Eagles must find a new offensive coordinator or perhaps make a long-shot effort to try and salvage the relationship between Patullo and his players.
Hurts preached cohesiveness but then shrugged off any suggestion that yet another new coordinator would continue to set back the franchise.
“The changes have not prevented us from having an opportunity to go on championship runs,” Hurts said. “With all the changes, with all the things that have gone (on) over time, we’ve still found ourselves in the playoffs. We’ve still found ourselves in positions to be in the tournament and play in the tournament.”
VRABEL AND PATRIOTS BRING CONFIDENCE INTO DIVISIONAL ROUND AFTER STRONG DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE
FOXBOROUGH, Mass., (AP) — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel left his team’s 16-3 wild-card playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers with his face literally bloodied, but an unshaken confidence in his team.
He’s optimistic because although there were some shortcomings by an offense that has sustained his team this season, he believes the Patriots played with a physicality on defense that has arrived at the perfect time.
New England limited Chargers to 207 total yards, the ninth time this season it held an opponent to fewer than 300 yards. The Patriots’ six sacks tied for the second-most in franchise playoff history.
“Everybody played. Everybody contributed,” Vrabel said. “Guys went down. Other guys went in there and stepped up. We play a lot of guys on defense. I think they all appreciate that. I think they all have roles.”
Defensive tackle Milton Williams said the Patriots’ success is a function of them not making things too complicated.
“We have been doing this all our lives. Keep it simple. We do not need any superhero, superhuman effort from anybody,” Williams said. “Just go out there and do your job and be where you are supposed to be. The rest is going to take care of itself.”
Next up is the Patriots’ first trip to the divisional round since their run to the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl title in the 2018 season.
“There has been legacy here for a minute, and we are trying to get our own,” safety Marcus Jones said.
What’s working
After an uneven performance in the regular-season finale, a win over Miami, New England’s defense was playoff-ready, putting pressure on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert while keeping his wide receivers bottled up for most of the night. The Chargers, who led the NFL this season with 115 third-down conversions, went 1 of 10 on third down.
What needs help
New England’s offense was 4 of 11 on third down and 0 for 3 in the red zone against the Chargers. Those rates will need to improve if the Patriots want to advance to the AFC championship game.
Stock up
Williams. In his second game back from a five-game stint on injured reserve with an ankle injury, he played some of his best football of the season. His two sacks tied his career playoff high, which he set in last season’s Super Bowl win while playing for Philadelphia.
Stock down
LG Jared Wilson, who missed the last two games while in the concussion protocol, struggled in his first game back. He gave up two of the five sacks and four of the five hurries allowed by the Patriots.
Injuries
Vrabel said CB Christian Gonzalez was not allowed to reenter the game after leaving with a head injury and has since been placed in the concussion protocol.
“Wherever that goes, that goes,” Vrabel said. “Hopefully we’ll get him back.”
Key number
2 — With 38 playoff wins in their history, the Patriots have sole possession of second place on the NFL’s postseason victory list behind San Francisco with 39.
Next steps
The Patriots will play the winner of Monday night’s game between Houston and Pittsburgh. The Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers beat New England in Foxborough in Week 3. The Patriots haven’t played the Texans since losing to them last season.
PACKERS’ MICAH PARSONS SAYS HE CAN RECOVER FROM TORN ACL IN TIME TO PLAY EARLY NEXT SEASON
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay’s Micah Parsons calls his torn anterior cruciate ligament “the most challenging thing that I think I’ve ever faced as a human.”
But the All-Pro defensive end believes he can recover in time to play early next season.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since his Dec. 14 injury, Parsons said Monday that he hopes to be back for the start of the season, but added that a more realistic goal is “probably like Week 3, Week 4.”
“I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” Parsons said. “I don’t think people realize how much the knee is. It’s the most challenging thing that I think I’ve ever faced as a human. When you talk about pain, can’t sleep, can’t move around. … I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night. My body’s tired. My mind’s tired. I’m exhausted, man. But it’s going to be worth it once I’m going to be able to move and play again.”
Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft both discussed their recoveries from torn ACLs as the Packers packed up their lockers two days after blowing a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 31-27 wild-card playoff loss at Chicago.
Kraft, who tore his right ACL on Nov. 2, compared this injury to the torn pectoral muscle that caused him to spend part of the 2024 preseason on the physically unable to perform list. Kraft returned in time to play all 17 games that season.
“By the time Week 1 rolls around, I’ll be 10 months post-surgery and hopefully bulletproof by then,” Kraft said.
The Packers were leading the Denver Broncos in the second half when Parsons hurt his left knee, knocking him out for the rest of this season. They didn’t win again, losing their last five games.
It’s the first major injury of Parsons’ career. It ended his first season in Green Bay prematurely after the Packers acquired him in an August trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m not a very vulnerable person and during this period I’ve probably been the most vulnerable I’ve been in the last like, probably my whole life, Parsons said. “I’m telling people how much I need them and appreciate them being there for me.
“Because to be honest, man, you can’t go through this injury by yourself. … Like I can’t shower by myself. I can’t even get off the bed myself. So I couldn’t imagine being alone. So I’m so appreciative of my family being there for me.”
The injuries to Parsons and Kraft left the Packers without two of their best players.
Parsons had 12 ½ sacks this season to earn All-Pro honors despite missing the Packers’ final four games. Kraft had 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns despite playing only eight games.
“I was on the cusp of putting together one of the greatest seasons by a Packer tight end, and that was something I was looking forward to, just leaving my legacy on this game and playing as hard as I could every snap for the for this team, because the end of the day, the guys in this room, they mean so much to me,” Kraft said.
Although the Packers were winless after his injury, Parsons said “there was no point in the season where I felt like we weren’t a championship-caliber team.”
The Packers led by at least nine points after halftime in three of their five losses to end the season. Another loss came when the Packers rested their starters in the regular-season finale at Minnesota.
Parsons and Kraft both expressed support for Matt LaFleur as speculation swirled about their coach’s future.
“I think Matt’s an outstanding head coach,” Kraft said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll remain here as a Packer. I think a lot of that talk is pretty silly.”
Parsons said LaFleur’s presence was part of the reason he wanted to come to Green Bay. Parsons said he mentioned that to LaFleur after seeing questions about the coach’s job status.
“You can get spoiled with good coach and good people, and you don’t realize until they’re gone,” Parsons said. “I don’t want to be at that point where we realize like, ‘Damn, we let such a great coach go.’ “
Parsons said players must take accountability regarding the way the season ended.
“There’s a lot of reality checks that us as players need,” Parsons said. “Yeah, I think as fans and people I see the same things you see. People want to look at the play-calling and people want to look that, but I’m looking at the effort of the guys. I look at the how guys are playing. Are we blocking? Are we getting blocks? Are we attacking? Those are the things us players we can control. And I think more people need to realize that.”
BEARS COACH BEN JOHNSON OFFERS NO APOLOGIES FOR PROFANE POSTGAME SPEECH
The Chicago Bears were hooting and hollering in the locker room after rallying late to knock the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs on Saturday night.
Coach Ben Johnson made his feelings clear. He repeatedly yelled a profanity directed at the Packers to start his postgame pep talk.
While the Bears’ focus shifts toward a home game against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round on Sunday, Johnson’s comments about the Packers are still getting plenty of attention. On Monday, he wasn’t offering any apologies.
“There’s a rivalry that exists between these two teams, something that I fully recognize and I’m a part of. And, yeah, I just, I don’t like that team,” Johnson said.
Chicago and Green Bay have played each other more times than any other two NFL franchises have in a rivalry that dates to 1921.
Johnson embraced it from the moment the Bears hired him from Detroit’s staff last January. He needled Green Bay’s coach in his introductory news conference when he said, “I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
The Bears beat the Packers twice this year, rallying for a 31-27 wild-card victory after the teams split two tight regular-season games. They’ve won three of the past five meetings, counting the postseason, after being dominated for years by Green Bay.
The two coaches, meanwhile, seem to have an icy relationship. Their postgame handshake on Saturday went viral, with LaFleur extending his right hand and Johnson briefly touching it before running off.
“This is a rivalry and, city of Chicago, Green Bay, it needs to be a rivalry,” Johnson said.
Packers safety Xavier McKinney praised Johnson as a “hell of a coach” and called him a “troll.”
“He’s a troll,” he said. “So it’s cool. I’m just not a troll. So I don’t know, that’s just him. But he’s a hell of a coach, though.”
What’s working
Strong finishes. The Bears had a league-leading 103 points in the fourth quarter and overtime from Weeks 9 to 18 during the regular season. And it was more of the same against Green Bay.
Chicago outscored the Packers 25-6 in the fourth quarter on the way to its seventh comeback win. All have come after trailing in the final two minutes of regulation.
What needs help
Slow starts have been an issue for the Bears this season. And for the second week in a row, they struggled to get anything going before the final stretch.
They were shut out by Detroit through three quarters in a 19-16 loss to close the regular season. And the Green Bay game followed a similar pattern. The Bears trailed 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 going into the fourth.
Stock up
TE Colston Loveland. The first-round draft pick from Michigan had a terrific playoff debut. He caught eight passes for a career-high 137 yards after combining for 16 receptions and 185 yards in the previous two games against San Francisco and Detroit.
Loveland led the Bears in receptions (58) and yards (713) during the regular season. He also tied DJ Moore and Rome Odunze for the team lead with six touchdown catches.
The Bears pulled off a surprise when they drafted Loveland with the 10th pick. They had far more pressing needs for an offensive tackle or pass rusher.
“We got a home run with him, and that’s something Coach said the other day to me,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “We were sitting in his office and everybody goes back to draft night. Why did we get Colston Loveland and why did we do this and why did we do that? It’s Colston Loveland, you know what I mean?”
Stock down
RBs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Swift and Monangai emerged as one of the best running back tandems in the NFL, and Chicago finished third in rushing. But the Bears haven’t been able to get their run game going the past two weeks.
Chicago fell into an early hole against Green Bay and managed 93 yards rushing coming off a season-low 65-yard performance in a loss to Detroit. Swift had 54 yards and a touchdown on 13 runs in the win over the Packers, while Monangai finished with 27 yards on eight carries.
Injuries
The Bears lost LB T.J. Edwards (broken left fibula) and LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee) likely for the remainder of the season. Edwards was carted off the field in the second quarter, and Trapilo hopped to the sideline on Chicago’s go-ahead drive near the end of the game.
Key number
18 — The Bears rallied from 18 down, the biggest postseason comeback in franchise history. It was also the largest playoff comeback in the NFL since the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars rallied to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in a wild-card game after trailing 27-0.
Next steps
The Bears will try to beat the Rams for the second year in a row, after a 24-18 win at Soldier Field in Week 4 last season. The only playoff game between the franchises was in 1950, when the Rams won a divisional game at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
FALCONS INTERVIEW FORMER RAVENS COACH JOHN HARBAUGH AS THEY CONTINUE SEARCH TO REPLACE RAHEEM MORRIS
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons, who made immediate public disclosure of their interest in including John Harbaugh in their coach search, said Monday they have interviewed the former Baltimore coach.
Harbaugh is considered by many to be the top candidate for multiple teams following his 18-year tenure leading the Ravens. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Thursday he hoped Harbaugh would be interested in the Falcons.
“John has been one of the most successful coaches in the last 20 years and already has won at every level,” Blank said. “And so he would certainly be a candidate we would want to spend some time with. Whether or not he would have an interest in Atlanta, I don’t know.”
Now the Falcons have confirmed Harbaugh, who was fired Tuesday by Baltimore, does have interest in Atlanta.
The Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 finish, despite the team closing with four straight wins.
The Falcons began their search after hiring former longtime quarterback Matt Ryan as president of football. Ryan is leading the searches for coach and general manager and is scheduled to have his first news conference in his newly created role on Tuesday. The new coach and GM will report to Ryan.
In his final day on the job as NFL analyst with CBS on Sunday, Ryan said he hoped to end the Falcons’ eight-year streak of losing seasons by helping to lead the team back to the playoffs next season.
Ryan and the Falcons would love to have the success Harbaugh brought to Baltimore.
The Ravens were 193-124 including the postseason with Harbaugh. He led the 2012 Ravens to a Super Bowl title. This season was only the sixth time Baltimore missed the postseason with Harbaugh.
The Falcons interviewed former Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski, a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year, on Sunday.
The Falcons interviewed Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde on Saturday as they began their search to replace Morris.
==========
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
DYLAN RAIOLA ANNOUNCES HE’S TRANSFERRING FROM NEBRASKA TO OREGON
Quarterback Dylan Raiola announced Monday on social media he intends to transfer from Nebraska to Oregon.
Raiola was the highest-ranked recruit to sign with Nebraska and started 22 games over two seasons. He broke his leg against Southern California on Nov. 1 and missed the Cornhuskers’ last four games.
Oregon’s quarterback room for 2026 remains unsettled even with the addition of Raiola as Dante Moore decides whether he will enter the NFL draft.
Moore said Friday after a 56-22 loss to No. 1 Indiana in a College Football Playoff semifinal that he was uncertain on declaring for the draft or returning to Oregon for a final season. Moore went 24-of-39 for 285 yards with an interception and two fumbles against the Hoosiers.
He completed nearly 73% of his throws for 3,280 yards, with 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Two of Moore’s backups, Austin Novosad and Luke Moga, have entered the transfer portal. Should Moore remain at Oregon, Raiola could redshirt next season before taking over as starter in 2027.
Raiola completed 72.4% of his passes for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine games this season. In his freshman year in 2024, he threw for 2,819 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
REPORTS: MIAMI THROWS $6.5M OFFER AT DRAFT-BOUND QB TY SIMPSON
Multiple programs are attempting to entice Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with top-dollar offers to delay his decision to enter the NFL draft, according to multiple reports.
The Tuscaloosa News reported Simpson, who declared for the 2026 NFL Draft last week, has not yet filed his paperwork to officially enter the draft but did accept an invitation to the Senior Bowl. As of Monday afternoon, Simpson had not entered the college football transfer portal.
Multiple reports claim Simpson has a $6.5 million offer on the table from Miami, and both Ole Miss and Tennessee put up $4 million offers for the 2026 season. USA Today reported Simpson was offered $4 million by Miami but “within minutes” the Hurricanes increased the payout.
Miami signed transfer Carson Beck to lead the Hurricanes in 2025. With an appearance in the national championship game on deck, the Hurricanes don’t have a 2026 starter locked in but will make $20 million for their playoff showing.
Beck reportedly made $4 million in NIL and approximately $10 million total — through agreements with brands such as Beats by Dre, Chipotle, Airstar Charter — since leaving Georgia.
A projected 2026 first-round pick, Simpson led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in his first season as a starter in 2025. The redshirt junior took over after three years in a backup role when Jalen Milroe decided to head for the NFL because it was time to “chase my dreams.”
Field Level Media rates Simpson as a top three quarterback along with Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. All three would likely be in the mix in the top 20 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
If Simpson is drafted 20th overall, for example, he would be in line for a four-year contract worth $18 million-$21 million fully guaranteed. As the No. 10 pick, Simpson would make a projected $26 million-$29 million guaranteed with a signing bonus of $16 million.
Simpson passed for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games in 2025.
REPORTS: TOP TRANSFER QB SAM LEAVITT EXPECTED TO SIGN WITH LSU
Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt is expected to sign with Lane Kiffin and LSU after a contested portal recruitment, according to multiple media reports.
Leavitt, the No. 1 player in this year’s portal class according to 247Sports, led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff in 2024 before his 2025 season came to an end after seven games due to a foot injury.
Leavitt’s first transfer visit was to LSU before he also made stops at Kentucky, Miami and Tennessee.
Leavitt threw for 4,652 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and rushed for 816 yards and 10 scores over 24 games at Michigan State (2023) and Arizona State (2024-25). He will arrive in Baton Rouge with two years of eligibility remaining but is likely to be considered a top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Leavitt’s addition is the most impactful of what has been a busy few weeks for Kiffin since he left Ole Miss to take the LSU job Nov. 30.
LSU also landed a commitment from Elon transfer QB Landen Clark on Sunday after the Tigers had no scholarship quarterbacks left on their roster due to graduation and transfer departures.
The Tigers, who have not made the CFP since their last national championship in 2019, have added 23 transfers, including eight wide receivers, per 247Sports.
===========
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
ARIZONA STRENGTHENS HOLD ON NO. 1 IN AP TOP 25; VANDERBILT CRACKS TOP 10
Arizona tightened its hold on the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll on Monday while Vanderbilt’s unbeaten season has landed the Commodores in the top 10.
A week ago, Arizona led then-No. 2 Michigan by a single point for the top spot to barely avoid what would have been only the second-ever tie at No. 1 in the poll’s 78-year history. But with Wisconsin handing the Wolverines their first loss, the Wildcats (16-0) became the easy choice at the top by earning 60 of 61 first-place votes in the latest poll.
Iowa State got the other first-place vote and moved up one spot to No. 2, followed by UConn. Michigan fell two spots to No. 4, though the metrics analysts still prefer Michigan. The Wolverines held the top spot in a 1-2 pairing with the Wildcats in analytics rankings by KenPom, Bart Torvik and Evan Miyakawa on Monday afternoon.
The top tier
No. 5 Purdue, No. 6 Duke and No. 7 Houston held their spots from last week, followed by the latest highlights for surprise unbeatens Nebraska and Vanderbilt.
Nebraska (16-0) spent a second straight week in the top 10 and continued its season-long climb by moving up two spots to No. 8, matching that program’s all-time highest ranking set in February 1966. Gonzaga was ninth, followed by the Commodores to round out the top 10.
Vanderbilt (16-0) has not been in the top 10 since the 2011-12 preseason poll.
Rising
Virginia (14-2) continued its successful first run under Ryan Odom by making the week’s biggest rise, jumping seven spots to No. 16 after home wins against California and Stanford in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
No. 13 Illinois and No. 14 North Carolina each climbed three spots, while a total of seven teams moved up from last week’s position.
Falling
Alabama (11-5) had the week’s biggest fall, tumbling five spots to No. 18 after a loss at Vanderbilt followed by a home stumble against Texas.
No. 21 Georgia and No. 24 Tennessee each slid three spots. In all, eight Top 25 teams dropped from last week’s poll.
Welcome to the poll
Defending national champion Florida is back in the poll at No. 19, coming after the preseason No. 3-ranked team spent one week out of the rankings. The Gators joined three other new additions to the poll in No. 22 Clemson, No. 23 Utah State and No. 25 Seton Hall.
Clemson and Utah State are in the poll for the first time this season after each cracked the AP Top 25 last year. It is Seton Hall’s first AP Top 25 appearance since it was No. 20 in January 2022.
Farewell (for now)
Kansas fell out of the poll for a second time this season. The Jayhawks were ranked No. 19 in the preseason and were unranked for one week in November, then fell out again from No. 22 after a weekend loss at West Virginia.
Iowa (No. 19), SMU (No. 24) and UCF (No. 25) were the other three teams to fall out of the poll.
Conference watch
The Southeastern Conference had a national-best six ranked teams, with five ranked 17th or lower. The Big 12, Big Ten and ACC each had five ranked teams, with the Big 12 and Big Ten each having all their teams inside the top 15.
The Big East was next with two ranked teams, following by one each for the West Coast and Mountain West conferences.
===========
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
UCONN UNANIMOUS NO. 1 AS SOUTH CAROLINA CLIMBS TO NO. 2 IN AP TOP 25 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POLL
South Carolina climbed to No. 2, LSU and TCU jumped into the top 10 and The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 got a big shuffle Monday after another week that saw four of the top 10 teams lose.
UConn was the unanimous No. 1 choice for the first time this season, receiving all 32 first-place votes. The Huskies continue to cruise through Big East play, winning by an average of nearly 47 points per game. They were the only team in the top 10 to stay in the same place as the week before.
South Carolina moved up to second, followed by UCLA and Texas, which dropped two spots after LSU handed the Longhorns their first loss of the season. No. 5 Vanderbilt, one of three unbeaten teams along with UConn and No. 17 Texas Tech, has its highest ranking since the final poll of 2002 when the Commodores were fourth.
LSU jumped six spots to No. 6. The Tigers, who beat Texas 70-65, were in the top 10 most of the season before losing their first two SEC games.
Kentucky, Michigan, Louisville and TCU rounded out the top 10.
In and out
Maryland and Oklahoma both lost last week and fell out of the top 10 for the first time this season, dropping to 12th and 13th, respectively.
Alabama (21st), Notre Dame (23rd) and Illinois (25th) all entered the poll this week. The Crimson Tide, who beat Kentucky last week, have just one loss (South Carolina).
Washington, Southern Cal and North Carolina all lost at least one game last week and fell out of the poll. The Trojans had been ranked in 51 consecutive polls and the Tar Heels in 30 straight.
Falling Cyclones
After winning its first 14 games this season, Iowa State has dropped three straight and fell nine spots in the poll to 20th this week. The Cyclones are on the road at Colorado and Oklahaoma State this week.
Conference supremecy
The SEC has nine teams in the Top 25, including five of the first seven. Only the Big Ten has also had nine teams ranked in a single week this season; it has eight ranked teams this week. The BIg 12 has four ranked teams, the ACC two. The Big East and Ivy League each have one.
Game of the week
No. 4 Texas at No. 3 South Carolina, Thursday. The Longhorns look to rebound from their first loss when they face the Gamecocks for the second time this season. The two teams played in a tournament over Thanksgiving and Texas came away with a two-point win.
KARLY WEATHERS, NO. 21 ALABAMA DEFEAT MISSOURI, MOVE TO 17-1
Karly Weathers stepped up to score a career-high 23 points as No. 21 Alabama fended off Missouri 74-63 on Monday in Columbia, Mo.
Weathers shot 9 of 13 overall and scored 16 points in the second half, which alone was enough to surpass her previous season high of 15 points against Troy. Jessica Timmons added 16 points, Ta’Mia Scott had 15 and Weathers, Timmons and Scott each finished with seven boards for Alabama.
The Crimson Tide (17-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) entered the AP Top 25 poll earlier in the day for the first time this season.
Grace Slaughter carried Missouri (12-7, 0-4) with 23 points and nine rebounds, both game highs. Abbey Schreacke and Shannon Dowell added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
The Tide ended the first quarter on a 15-2 spree, but Missouri responded by finishing the second period on a 16-2 surge, cutting Alabama’s lead to 32-29. Weathers scored seven of the first 10 total points in the fourth quarter to help Alabama restore a double-digit lead it would not squander.
===========
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
COLLEGE WATCHDOG GROUP REJECTED 500-PLUS NIL DEALS WORTH NEARLY $15 MILLION, BUT CLEARED MANY MORE
The College Sports Commission has rejected nearly $15 million in name, image, likeness agreements since it started evaluating them over the summer, representing more than 10% of the value of all the deals it has analyzed and closed.
The CSC released its latest statistics Monday, saying it did not clear 524 deals worth $14.94 million, while clearing 17,321 worth $127.21 million. All the data was current as of Jan. 1.
The numbers came against the backdrop of a “reminder” memo the commission sent to athletic directors last week, citing “serious concerns” about contracts being offered to athletes before they had been cleared through the commission’s NIL Go platform.
The CSC is in charge of evaluating all deals worth more than $600 that are offered by third-party businesses that are often affiliated with the schools recruiting the players.
“Without prejudging any particular deal, the CSC has serious concerns about some of the deal terms being contemplated and the consequences of those deals for the parties involved,” the Friday night memo said.
The CSC said primary reasons for deals not being cleared were that they lacked a valid business purpose; they didn’t directly activate a player’s NIL rights, instead “warehousing” them for future use; and that players were being paid at levels that weren’t “commensurate with similarly situated individuals.”
The memo reminded ADs that signing players to deals that hadn’t been cleared by the CSC left the players “vulnerable to deals not being cleared, promises not being able to be kept, and eligibility being placed at risk.”
Other statistics from the latest report:
—There were 10 deals in arbitration as of Dec. 31, eight of which have since been withdrawn. All involved a resolved administrative issue at one school not named by the CSC.
—52% of deals submitted to NIL Go were resolved within 24 hours.
===========
NBA
NBA ROUNDUP: PASCAL SIAKAM, PACERS SINK JAYLEN BROWN-LESS CELTICS
Pascal Siakam scored a go-ahead basket with 6.8 seconds left on Monday night, propelling the Indiana Pacers to a 98-96 victory over the Boston Celtics in Indianapolis.
After Siakam’s clutch floater off the glass, Boston’s Derrick White missed a 3-point attempt as time expired.
Siakam produced 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Jay Huff scored 20 points for the Pacers, who have won a season-high three straight games.
Payton Pritchard put up 23 points, White scored 18 and Anfernee Simons contributed 16 for the Celtics, who have dropped three of their last four games. Leading scorer Jaylen Brown (29.5 points per game) sat out due to lower back spams.
Jazz 123, Cavaliers 112
Keyonte George collected 32 points and nine assists and Lauri Markkanen had 28 points and 12 rebounds as visiting Utah rallied past Cleveland, bouncing back from a 55-point loss in its previous game.
George, who made all 12 of his free-throw attempts, poured in 16 points in the third quarter and scored nine in the fourth for the Jazz, who trailed by 10 early in the second half. Utah was manhandled 150-95 by the Charlotte Hornets at home two days earlier.
Darius Garland had 23 points and eight assists and Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points for the Cavaliers, but they combined to make just 14 of 35 shots from the field.
76ers 115, Raptors 102
Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points and visiting Philadelphia defeated Toronto to gain a split of a two-game set.
The 76ers were a different team, playing stronger defense with the return of Joel Embiid and Paul George, who did not suit up when Toronto won 116-115 in overtime on Sunday. Embiid had 27 points and eight rebounds while George scored 15 points. VJ Edgecombe added 15 points and eight assists to help Philadelphia split the four-game season series.
Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points for the Raptors and Brandon Ingram added 17. Scottie Barnes had 15 points.
Mavericks 113, Nets 105
Cooper Flagg scored 27 points as Dallas defeated visiting Brooklyn.
Naji Marshall paired 22 points with nine assists, while Klay Thompson had 18 points on 6-of-9 3-point shooting as the Mavericks snapped a two-game skid and extended Brooklyn’s losing streak to four.
Michael Porter Jr. returned for the Nets after being rested in Memphis on Sunday and posted 28 points and nine rebounds. Day’Ron Sharpe logged 14 points and 12 boards off the bench.
Kings 124, Lakers 112
DeMar DeRozan registered 32 points and six assists and reserve Malik Monk produced season bests of 26 points and eight assists, leading Sacramento to a solid victory over visiting Los Angeles.
Russell Westbrook added 22 points and seven assists for the Kings, who won for the second straight night following a seven-game losing streak. Monk shot a season-best 7 of 9 from 3-point range as the Kings sank a blistering 65.4% (17 of 26) from long distance.
Luka Doncic recorded 42 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals for the Lakers, who lost their third straight game and fell for the seventh time in 11 contests.
Clippers 117, Hornets 109
Kawhi Leonard scored 19 of his 35 points in the third quarter and James Harden added 32 points and 10 assists as Los Angeles continued its hot streak with a victory over Charlotte in Inglewood, Calif.
Jordan Miller put up 14 points as the Clippers improved to 10-2 since opening the season with a 6-21 record. Harden passed Shaquille O’Neal for ninth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
LaMelo Ball produced 25 points and rookie Kon Knueppel added 18 for the Hornets. Moussa Diabate amassed 13 points and 15 rebounds as the Hornets took their sixth loss in nine games.
===========
NHL
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS FIRE COACH DEAN EVASON, HIRE RICK BOWNESS TO REPLACE HIM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets fired coach Dean Evason and named hockey-lifer Rick Bowness as his replacement on Monday.
Evason is the first NHL coach fired this season. General manager Don Waddell announced the abrupt change with his team sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference 45 games into the season with a record of 19-19-7.
“This season has been a frustrating one for all of us and the bottom line is we are not performing at a level that meets our expectations,” Waddell said. “We all share in that responsibility, me included, and while this was not a decision that was made lightly, it is one that needed to be made at this time. Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances, and I thank him for that.”
Assistant Steve McCarthy, who had been with the organization for nearly a decade, was also fired.
Bowness is back in the league after he retired in the spring of 2024, ending a stint with the Winnipeg Jets. Bowness, who coached Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2020 pandemic bubble, turns 71 on Jan. 25, and at 70 becomes the oldest head coach in the NHL.
“Rick Bowness is a tremendous coach with invaluable experience and knowledge, and he will bring a steadiness to our team at an important juncture in our season,” Waddell said. “He is a good communicator whose teams play with structure, are sound defensively and we believe he is the right person to bring out the best in our group.”
Bowness during his lengthy career has been head coach for seven different teams, dating to the original Jets in 1988. He did some broadcasting with TNT since stepping away from his most recent job in Winnipeg.
Evason was just past the midway point of his second season in charge of the Blue Jackets. Waddell’s first order of business upon becoming GM was to fire then-coach Pascal Vincent and put Evason behind the bench.
NHL ROUNDUP: LIGHTNING ROUT FLYERS AS WIN STREAK HITS 10
Nikita Kucherov registered multiple points for the ninth straight game and the Tampa Bay Lightning extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 5-1 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.
It was a successful trip to the City of Brotherly Love for the Lightning, who posted a 7-2 win in Philadelphia on Saturday before coasting to another comfortable victory. On a team loaded with stars, the headliner continues to be Kucherov, who extended his point streak to 10 games with a second-period assist before tacking on an empty-net goal in the third.
Brandon Hagel scored for the fourth straight game, while Pontus Holmberg, Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point also tallied for Tampa Bay. Jonas Johansson finished with 20 saves for the visitors, helping coach Jon Cooper record his 600th career victory.
Dan Vladar made 21 saves and Christian Dvorak scored the lone goal for Philadelphia, which will certainly be glad to conclude its season series with Tampa Bay. The Flyers lost the three matchups with the Lightning by a combined score of 15-3.
Red Wings 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT)
Andrew Copp scored with 1:33 remaining in overtime as host Detroit pulled out a victory over Carolina in a battle of Eastern Conference division leaders.
Copp took a feed from Alex DeBrincat and pushed the puck past goalie Frederik Andersen as Detroit avenged a 5-2 loss to Carolina last month. DeBrincat scored his team-high 24th goal and had two assists as the Red Wings won their fourth straight.
James van Riemsdyk and Albert Johansson also scored for Detroit. John Gibson made 31 saves. Shayne Gostisbehere, Jackson Blake and Seth Jarvis scored for Carolina, which erased a 3-0 deficit in the third but had a four-game winning streak snapped. Andersen made 14 saves.
Devils 5, Wild 2
Jesper Bratt and Ondrej Palat scored two goals apiece to lead New Jersey to a win in Saint Paul, Minn.
Dawson Mercer added a goal and an assist for the Devils, who snapped a four-game losing streak during which they were outscored 20-5. Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton finished with two assists apiece, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 20 of 22 shots.
Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno each scored for the Wild, who are 1-2-2 in their past five. Quinn Hughes led the Wild with five shots on goal but fell short in a game against his brothers, Devils teammates Jack and Luke Hughes. Jesper Wallstedt allowed five goals on 29 shots.
Kraken 4, Rangers 2
Berkly Catton scored the tiebreaking goal during a scramble in the crease with 7:58 remaining in the third period as visiting Seattle rallied from a two-goal deficit for a victory over New York.
The Kraken trailed 2-0 after the first period before pulling off their third comeback from a multi-goal deficit this season and improving to 9-1-2 in their past 12 games. Eeli Tolvanen and Jordan Eberle scored in the opening 4:27 of the second before Catton snapped the tie. Jared McCann added an empty-net goal for Seattle, which got 20 saves from Phillip Grubauer.
Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick scored in the opening 5:31, but the Rangers did little offensively after that and fell to 5-12-4 at home. New York lost its fourth straight and dropped to 2-6-2 in its past 10. Jonathan Quick (25 saves) dropped to 0-8-2 in his past 10 games.
Panthers 4, Sabres 3
Anton Lundell netted the tiebreaking goal just past the midway point of the third period and A.J. Greer scored twice as visiting Florida cooled off surging Buffalo.
Carter Verhaeghe recorded three assists, Sam Bennett added two and Sam Reinhart also scored for the Panthers, who have won two straight for the first time since a four-game win streak Dec. 13-19. Colten Ellis made 28 saves for the win.
Jacob Bryson, Zach Benson and Alex Tuch tallied for the Sabres, who lost for just the second time in the past 15 games. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 20 shots.
Oilers 4, Blackhawks 1
Evan Bouchard logged two goals and assist and Zach Hyman had a goal and assist to back a 29-save effort from Connor Ingram as visiting Edmonton defeated Chicago.
Leon Draisaitl also scored to help the Oilers win for the third time in four games (3-0-1). Connor McDavid earned two assists to extend his point streak to 19 games, extending the best run of his career in a single season.
The Blackhawks lost for the second time in three games on the heels of four straight victories. Tyler Bertuzzi scored and Spencer Knight recorded 33 saves for Chicago, which was without top scorer Connor Bedard (illness).
Canadiens 6, Canucks 3
Mike Matheson and Juraj Slafkovsky scored goals 38 seconds apart to break a third-period tie and send host Montreal to a victory over slumping Vancouver.
Alexandre Carrier tallied twice while Noah Dobson and Oliver Kapanen added a goal apiece for the Canadiens, who have won four of their past five outings. Ivan Demidov collected three assists while Nick Suzuki and Alexandre Texier each posted a pair of helpers. Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes made 20 saves.
Elias Pettersson, Evander Kane and Max Sasson replied for the Canucks, who have lost seven consecutive games (0-5-2) and sit at the bottom of the league standings.
==========
NASCAR
NASCAR’S ‘CHASE’ RETURNS: WHAT FANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2026 FORMAT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR’s nearly two-year study into an overhaul of its championship-deciding format concluded Monday with the reveal that in 2026 the stock car series will return to a 10-race version closely resembling the very first iteration introduced 22 years ago.
The system will return to a 10-race format consisting of the top 16 drivers in the regular-season standings. There will be no driver eliminations every three races, winning will be incentivized and its name will return to “The Chase.” The driver with the most points at the Nov. 8 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be the champion.
“As NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,” NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell said. “At the same time, we want to honor NASCAR’s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special.
“Our fans are at the heart of everything we do, and this format is designed to honor their passion every single race weekend.”
The changes come amidst fan complaints to periodic tweaks over changes to the system that was largely unchanged from its 2004 introduction to 2013, when Jimmie Johnson won six of his record-tying seven championships.
Changes slowly followed, with eliminations, an expanded field, a win-and-in guarantee and finally a winner-take-all season finale.
Fans had grown weary of the changes. Regular-season victories guaranteed a slot in the 10-race playoffs, a win in any of the first three three-race rounds advanced a driver into the next round, while the bottom three drivers at the end of each round were eliminated.
Finally, the winner was simply the highest-finishing driver among four remaining title contenders in the season finale.
The tipping point
That system reached its breaking point in November when Denny Hamlin dominated the race until a late caution changed the final sequence and Kyle Larson won his second title by simply finishing ahead of Hamlin despite Larson not leading a single lap at Phoenix Raceway while mired in a 25-race losing streak.
Hamlin had won two playoff races — a Cup Series high six victories on the season — and led 208 of the 319 laps at Phoenix. He was the leader with three to go when a late caution changed the outcome and sent the race into overtime; Larson finished third, two spots ahead of Hamlin, to automatically claim the championship.
It wasn’t the only race on the final weekend of 2025 that didn’t finish as expected.
Corey Heim had 11 victories at the start of the Truck Series finale at Phoenix but needed to dip his truck low in an outrageous seven-wide scramble in overtime to secure the title. He did pull out the win and NASCAR dodged the controversy of the most consistent driver being denied a championship because of a gimmicky format.
NASCAR wasn’t so fortunate the next night in the Xfinity Series when 10-race winner Connor Zilisch lost the championship because Jesse Love won the race. Love opened the season with a win at Daytona and closed it with a win at Phoenix — his only two victories of the season but good enough in that format for a championship.
Fan discourse — which had been building for several years and intensified after Joey Logano won two titles in three years including in 2024 when he advanced on another’s driver elimination — exploded after Hamlin.
The changes announced Monday were already in the works and came after an extensive review that included collaboration between owners, drivers, automobile manufacturers, tracks, broadcast partners, and fans.
“Going into Phoenix was a hold your breath moment,” O’Donnell said. “We recognize someone winning the championship, absolutely they won it by the rules. But was it the best format that we could go with? The tide had turned in the garage.”
The new format is designed to bolster the importance of each race and reward consistency while maintaining the importance of winning. It will be known as its original name, ‘The Chase,’ with an also accepted use of ‘postseason,’ NASCAR is eliminating the vernacular ’playoffs’ and ‘regular-season champion.’
NASCAR’s new format
Moving forward, the driver with the most points after the postseason finale will be champion in all three NASCAR national series. The Chase will comprise of the final 10 races for the Cup Series.
NASCAR has eliminated the automatic berth into the playoff field earned by winning during the regular season, a move designed to increase the importance of every event on the schedule and emphasize consistency throughout the regular season.
A race victory win will now earn the winning driver 55 points, up from 40 points, to reward drivers who battle for wins instead of settling for a solid points days. NASCAR hopes it encourages aggressive racing and strong team performance.
Points for all other positions, including stage points, remain the same.
The points leader after the regular season will receive a 25-point cushion over the second seed as the points will be reset for the 16 Chase drivers. A win in a playoff race no longer earns the automatic advancement into the next round — a move NASCAR says prevents teams from using the remainder of that particular round as preparation time for the finale.
===========
BASEBALL
FORMER PITTSBURGH PIRATES RELIEVER DAVE GIUSTI, WHO HELPED WIN THE 1971 WORLD SERIES, DIES AT 86
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dave Giusti, a reliable reliever who spent 15 years in the majors and helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1971 World Series title, has died. He was 86.
The club, citing Giusti’s family, said he died on Sunday.
The right-hander went 100-93 with a 3.60 ERA in 668 career appearances for five clubs from 1962-77. He began his career as a starter in Houston but had his greatest success with the Pirates, who acquired him from St. Louis in October 1969 and then moved him to the bullpen full-time.
Giusti led the National League with 30 saves in 1971, then added 10 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs as the Pirates beat the Giants in the NLCS and then the Baltimore Orioles in seven games in the World Series.
Giusti made his lone All-Star appearance in 1973. He played seven seasons for Pittsburgh, registering 133 saves, which ranks third in franchise history. He split time between Oakland and the Chicago Cubs in 1977 before retiring.
A native of Seneca Falls, New York, Giusti played collegiately at Syracuse before being signed by Houston, then an expansion team known as the Colt .45s, as an amateur free agent. He appeared in 22 games as a rookie in 1962, spent all of 1963 in the minors before returning to the majors for good after being called up during the 1964 season.
Giusti is survived by his wife, two daughters and four grandchildren.
==========
INDIANA RELEASES
INDIANA PACERS
GAME REWIND: PACERS 98, CELTICS 96
The Pacers are suddenly rolling. After losing 13 straight from Dec. 8 – Jan. 6, Indiana (9-31) won its third straight game on Monday night, defeating the Boston Celtics (24-15) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 98-96.
All-Star forward Pascal Siakam scored 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including the game-winning basket in the final seconds to lift the Blue & Gold to victory.
The Pacers led 91-90 with under four minutes to play before Andrew Nembhard’s 3-pointer gave the hosts a little cushion. After Neemias Queta made one of two free throws for the Celtics, Siakam tipped in a Ben Sheppard miss to put Indiana up five.
Payton Pritchard drilled a three with 2:16 remaining to cut Indiana’s lead to 96-94. That remained the score when Boston called timeout with 33.2 seconds to play after rebounding a Nembhard miss.
The Celtics advanced the ball and Derrick White attacked the rim, converting a one-handed runner over Aaron Nesmith to tie the game with 28.6 seconds remaining.
Indiana then used a timeout of its own to set up a play. Nembhard got the ball to Siakam, who spun around White into the lane and banked in the go-ahead bucket with 6.1 seconds left.
Boston once again advanced the ball. White hoisted a deep three that didn’t fall and the Pacers survived to secure their third straight victory.
Siakam tallied eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals to go along with his 21 points.
“It’s so fitting that Pascal has the ball on our last possession, hits what ends up being the game-winning shot,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He just played one of his better games. The stats weren’t spectacular, but his level of discipline, patience, and everything…He goes 10-for-15 in a game that was really a possession game.
“Really big time. Congratulations to him. This further makes the case for the All-Star team.”
Jay Huff added 20 points for the Pacers, going 8-for-12 from the field and 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
A back-and-forth first quarter featured eight lead changes and three ties, but the Celtics used an 8-0 run late in the frame to surge in front and take a 24-19 lead into the second quarter.
The visitors stretched the margin as high as nine points in the ensuing frame, before the Pacers caught fire from 3-point range. The Blue & Gold made six threes in a 3:22 span — two by Huff and one apiece by Micah Potter, Nesmith, Quenton Jackson, and Jarace Walker — to claw back and tie the game.
They surged ahead shortly thereafter on Siakam’s three-point play and added to their lead with Huff’s acrobatic dunk while driving down the lane.
But once again, the Celtics closed the quarter strong. White and Pritchard combined for eight straight points for the visitors and Boston took a 56-53 lead into the intermission.
The Pacers came out firing to start the second half. Huff knocked down two more treys and Nembhard added a layup while the Celtics missed their first seven shots and didn’t score for the first 4:28 of the third quarter.
Neemias Queta’s bucket ended Boston’s drought, but the Pacers countered with seven straight points (five from Nembhard) to push their lead to double digits.
The Pacers led by as many as 13 points, but Pritchard helped the Celtics make another late-quarter charge. Pritchard scored 11 of 13 Boston points and then dished out two assists that cut Indiana’s lead to 79-77 entering the fourth quarter.
T.J. McConnell and Jackson scored five points apiece early in the final frame to help the Pacers extend their lead to 89-81.
The Celtics slowly clawed back, pulling within one after White’s 3-pointer made it 91-90 with 4:52 remaining, setting the stage for a fantastic finish.
Nembhard finished with 13 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and three steals for Indiana. Walker added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
“We’ve got to keep chasing that feeling,” Siakam said after the Pacers’ third win in a row. “This feels good. Going home, knowing that you won the game, it makes everyone’s day better…We’ve got to remember those feelings and chase that.”
Pritchard scored a game-high 23 points and eight assists for the Celtics, who were without All-Star guard Jaylen Brown. The NBA’s sixth-leading scorer sat out Monday’s contest due to lower back spasms.
White added 18 points, Anfernee Simons scored 16 off the bench, and Queta tallied 15 points and eight boards for Boston.
The Pacers are now 2-0 on a four-game homestead that continues Wednesday against Toronto and wraps up Friday against New Orleans. They will then embark on a five-game road trip that opens on Saturday in Detroit.
“Happy for the guys,” Carlisle said. “Been a good five or six days now. We’ll look forward to practice tomorrow and then Wednesday.”
Inside the Numbers
The Pacers outscored the Celtics by 21 points from 3-point range. Indiana was 16-for-37 (43.2 percent) from beyond the arc, while Boston went just 9-for-35 (25.7 percent).
Siakam recorded his 30th 20-point game this season.
Huff matched his season high with 20 points. He has scored 20 three times this season, including Nov. 19 against Charlotte and Jan. 6 against Cleveland. The Pacers were +20 when Huff was on the floor on Monday, the best plus/minus of any player in Monday’s game.
Boston outscored Indiana 54-38 in points in the paint.
The Pacers won despite failing to score 20 points in two quarters. They were outscored 24-19 in the first quarter and tied Boston 19-19 in the fourth quarter.
You Can Quote Me On That
“Just trying to get an open shot…Trying to just have vision on everything that’s happening on the floor and trying to take the best shot possible.” -Siakam on what he was looking for on the last shot
“I thought the defense was terrific. A 19-point fourth quarter is really concentrating. They only shot nine free throws, so our level of discipline was really good. And they only made nine threes, which was also really good attention to detail.” -Carlisle on the defense
“We had to learn a lot from those games, learn how to win the close ones. I think winning that Charlotte game was big for us from those moments.” -Huff on finally winning some games in crunch time
“That helps us get a lot of momentum. When we’ve made some of our biggest runs, I feel like when everybody’s involved, everybody touches the ball.” -Huff on the ball movement
“We were getting everybody out of the way and it was him and Drew. And it was make a play. Figure out the right play and go make it. It wasn’t an easy shot. It took great footwork and his ability to do things at awkward angles. But he’s the kind of guy that makes shots like that look routine.” -Carlisle on Siakam’s game-winning shot
“He’s always playing as hard as he can. I feel like a whole lot of the wins this year we’ve said that’s a big shot at the end, Pascal. He’s been doing great, leading well, mainly with how hard he plays on the floor.” -Huff on Pascal Siakam
“He epitomizes versatility at that position. For a power forward or a four man or however you want to label that position, it’s not just scoring, rebounding, defense — it’s also ball-handling and playmaking…A great deal of responsibility falls on him. He’s just been so graceful with everything he’s accepted.” -Carlisle on Siakam’s all-around game
“Another young guy that’s showing some real growth. Growth as an individual player in a different system, a new system.” -Carlisle on Jay Huff’s 20-point night
“I got in the gym a little more over the past week or two. Just trying to get a rhythm back. I think some of it was just being out of rhythm, needing to see a few more go down…It’s been good to see a few more go down recently.” -Huff on shooting the ball better recently
“More than anything, I just like the way he’s been playing with pace, taking the open shots, mixing the rolls with the pops. He’s going to be open. The way we move the ball, the way we play…he’s going to get open. He just can’t rush it. You’ve got to let the game come to you.” -Siakam on what Huff adds to the offense
“We have guys that are growing into real roles. How much more can you say about Jarace Walker the last couple games? He’s been tremendous. 24 minutes tonight, hit huge shots in situations where they’re coming back at us hard. He’s showing a lot of poise and a lot of growth.” -Carlisle on Jarace Walker
“I love his poise and just how patient he is with what we do, getting guys involved but also finding ways to be aggressive within that…I think he’s playing well. He’s finding his rhythm.” -Siakam on Nembhard’s point guard play
“The other guy that really played a pivotal role in this game was Quenton Jackson. He came in at really a pivotal time…You need those extra guys that can step in and be ready. He hit a three, he hit a difficult two, he was on the floor making defensive plays…You can’t ask a depth player to go into any more of a challenging situation than that. He went in there and he was fearless. Hats off to him.” -Carlisle on Quenton Jackson’s contributions
Stat of the Night
The Pacers set a new franchise record for fewest fouls in a game on Monday, committing just seven fouls all night. The previous record was eight, which they did four times — originally in 1984 at New Jersey and again in 2012, 2013, and 2017.
In addition, neither team was whistled for a foul in the third quarter. That is the first time in any Pacers game in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97) that no fouls were called for an entire quarter.
Noteworthy
The Celtics lead the season series with Indiana 2-1, with one final game scheduled for Jan. 21 in Boston.
The Pacers have won three straight games for the first time this season. It is their first win streak of three or more games in the regular season since they won six straight from March 31 – April 10 last season.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was courtside for Monday’s game.
===========
INDY FUEL
FUEL FACE FORT WAYNE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT
FORT WAYNE- The Fuel will take on the Fort Wayne Komets on Wednesday night to kick off their long stretch of divisional opponents this month. Indy heads into this game 1-1-1-0 against Fort Wayne so far this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was on December 19, 2025 when the Fuel visited Fort Wayne and claimed a 2-1 overtime victory. Each team scored a power play goal in regulation before Owen Robinson scored the game winner for Indy just 1:13 into the overtime period.
GOOD GRAVY
Recently, defenseman Matt Petgrave has moved into first place in scoring for the Fuel. With fifteen assists and six goals, he leads the team in assists and points while leading defensemen in goals. Approaching the halfway point of the season, he is on pace to set a franchise record of most assists and points by a defenseman.
==========
NOBLESVILLE BOOM
BOOM ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE UPDATE FOR JANUARY 19 GAME
The Noblesville Boom, the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, announced today that its upcoming MLK Day matchup against the Delaware Blue Coats on Monday, Jan. 19 has been rescheduled.
The game, originally set for 7:00 p.m. ET, will now tip off at 3:00 p.m. ET at The Arena at Innovation Mile. Doors will open at 2:00 p.m.
For single-game tickets, click here.
===========
INDIANA FOOTBALL
NO. 1 INDIANA, NO. 10 MIAMI SHOULD BE NEAR FULL STRENGTH FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 10 Miami needs everything at its disposal to slow down top-seeded Indiana’s high-scoring offense in next week’s College Football Playoff championship.
The good news is that the Hurricanes’ defense should be at, or near, full strength.
Coach Mario Cristobal told reporters Monday he expects defensive linemen Ahkeem Mesidor and Ahmad Moten, as well as cornerback OJ Frederique, to be ready to play in next week’s title game.
Mesidor and Moten were both injured during last week’s dramatic 31-27 victory, but later returned. Frederique was injured during Miami’s surprising 24-14 Cotton Bowl victory over No. 2 Ohio State and did not play in the Fiesta Bowl. Now, it appears all three will be there to try and help derail the Hoosiers attempt to become the first 16-0 college team since the 1890s.
“I believe we’re coming out a lot like we went into the last game,” Christobal said. “I know a couple guys came out of the game. Mesidor is in great condition. He hurt his elbow for a second and he’s already full throttle. Ahmad Moten was full throttle today. I know O.J. came out. (Tight end Elija) Lofton will be the one that’s in question. But aside from that, I feel really good about the rest. I would say OJ is good to go and (cornerback Damari) Brown is probably day by day.”
The Hurricanes (13-2, No. 10 CFP) may need every one of them against an Indiana team that is averaging 47.0 points in two blowout playoff wins.
Defensively, the Hoosiers (15-0, No. 1) have been equally efficient, holding their last three opponents — Ohio State, No. 9 Alabama and No. 5 Oregon — to a combined total of just 35 points.
And coach Curt Cignetti acknowledged that aside from losing key defensive lineman Stephen Daley to a right leg injury suffered in the postgame celebration following Indiana’s Big Ten championship game victory over the Buckeyes, he expects to have all of his key players on the field next week.
“We came out really good, and everybody that played in the last game will play in this game,” Cignetti said.
Similar coaches
Cignetti enters the championship game with a head coaching resume any colleague would want. He’s posted 14 straight winning seasons, never had a losing season, celebrated conference championships and deep playoff runs. But there’s one line still missing — the same line Christobal happens to be missing.
Each is one win away from capturing their first national championship.
Naturally, though, neither wants their players pressing as they take college football’s biggest stage.
“We’ve got to prepare for this game no different than we prepared for Ohio State, Alabama,” Cignetti said as the Hoosiers play for their first national title. “The biggest mistake our guys can make, and I’ll talk to them tonight in the team meeting about this, is making the game bigger than it is. Going down that road would be detrimental to our preparation and performance. This week is no different than any other week, we have to be on point.”
Christobal echoed those sentiments, though the Hurricanes face one additional pressure point — they’ll be the first CFP to play the title game in their home stadium.
“The only thing that changes is that classes have started, and we have 28, 29 of the 30 new members of our team here practicing with us, which is great for us,” he said. “Aside from that, nothing changes.”
Familiar face
With Corey Hetherman’s first season as Miami defensive coordinator nears its end, the Hurricanes seem to be playing some of their best football. They allowed 20 or fewer points in the last seven games prior to the Ole Miss game.
Cignetti isn’t surprised.
Hetherman served as his defensive coordinator from 2019-21 at James Madison. When Hetherman departed, Cignetti promoted Bryant Haines to defensive coordinator, and he has served in that capacity each of the past four seasons for Cignetti.
So Cignetti has some notion of what to expect next Monday.
“We’ve evolved offensively, the terminology has changed. We do things differently, but his scheme has (changed), too,” Cignetti. “Philosophically, in terms, of what we think is important, him and I, that hasn’t changed. He’s going to create havoc up front, stop the run, tackles for losses, sacks. They’ve got 47 sacks on the year, and he’s going to attack.”
Change of plans
Cignetti used the transfer portal to fuel Indiana’s success in 2024 and again in 2025 with the additions of players such as Daley, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and starting center Pat Coogan — each of whom has played a key role in this season’s success.
But Cignetti said he wants to become less reliant on the transfer portal in the years ahead. In fact, he insists that transition has already started.
“I knew we had to flip the roster (last year),” Cignetti said. “And every year as your high school recruiting builds up, you kind of start to wean down a little bit from the portal. You’ll never be at a point where you don’t engage with the portal, but this year we’ll take a few less than we took last year and last year we took a few less than we did the year before.”
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: HOW INDIANA AND MIAMI STACK UP GOING INTO CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza originally planned on going to Yale, which pulled out all the stops during his recruiting visit five years ago.
Among the ploys the Bulldogs used that day: a nod to their history, including how Larry Kelly and Clint Frank won the Heisman Trophy for Yale in 1936 and 1937, respectively. Mendoza won the Heisman this season.
Mendoza and Yale’s history are now colliding again.
Yale is the only major college football team to finish a season 16-0, pulling that off in 1894. Indiana can do the same if it wins the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 19 against Miami — Mendoza’s hometown team.
Other teams have gone 16-0, albeit not at the highest level of college football.
North Dakota State did it on the way to the FCS national championship in 2019, and Ferris State did it this season to win the Division II national title. Montana State had a shot at 16-0 last season at the FCS level — but lost the national championship game to North Dakota State.
Inside the numbers
A look at some key stats surrounding Indiana and Miami:
1 and 3 — The number of fumbles lost by these teams; one for Indiana, three for Miami. Indiana is one of only two teams with one lost fumble this season (UConn is the other) and the Hurricanes are tied for seventh best nationally.
237 and 236 — An odd coincidence. Indiana has outscored teams by 237 points in the first half of games this season (second best nationally behind Texas Tech’s 256). The Hoosiers have outscored teams by 236 points in the second half; that’s No. 1 nationally.
47 and 45 — Miami leads the nation with 47 quarterback sacks this season. Indiana is tied with Oklahoma for second with 45.
25 — Miami has averaged 33:42 of time of possession this season. Indiana is a mere 25 seconds less, 33:17. Both teams rank in the top six nationally.
8 would be enough
No team has ever finished a season 8-0 against AP-ranked opponents. Miami has a chance to change that.
The Hurricanes have beaten seven ranked teams this season (rankings at time of game): No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24, No. 18 South Florida 49-12, No. 18 Florida State 28-22, No. 24 Pitt 38-7, No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3, No. 3 Ohio State 24-14 and No. 6 Mississippi 31-27.
Indiana enters the title game ranked No. 1.
Thanks to the advent of a playoff, the season is longer now than what the norm was in college football for decades, so there are more opportunities to play games — and at this time of year, games against ranked teams.
But only three teams have finished with at least eight wins in a season over AP-ranked teams: Alabama went 9-1 in 2016, Alabama went 8-1 in 2015 and LSU went 8-1 in 2011.
Miami could be the third team to beat six top-10 teams in a season: LSU went 7-0 against teams ranked 10th or higher in 2019 and Ohio State went 6-1 in such games last season.
And Miami also has a chance for a 10th win all-time over a No. 1 team. The Hurricanes are 9-10 in such games; only Alabama (12-7) has more wins all-time over an AP No. 1.
More on Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza has played 15 games at Indiana. He already is up to sixth on the Hoosiers’ career passing touchdown list.
Mendoza has thrown for 41 TDs this season, one behind Antwaan Randle El and Peyton Ramsey — tied for fourth with 42 in their years as Hoosiers. Ben Chappell is third with 45, Kellen Lewis second with 48 and Nate Sudfeld the all-time Indiana leader with 61.
The most by any Indiana quarterback in a single season, before now, was 29 by Kurtis Rourke last year.
Among the Indiana quarterbacks with more than 300 passing attempts, Mendoza is the all-time leader in completion percentage at 73.0%. He’d have to misfire on his first 19 passes against Miami to see that percentage fall below Rourke’s 69.4% clip.
Toney is 1 away
Miami’s Malachi Toney is one catch away from being the first Hurricanes receiver to reach 100 grabs in a season. The previous school single-season mark was 85 by Xavier Restrepo in 2023.
A reminder: Toney was 17 when this season started and should be in his senior year of high school.
Toney is fourth nationally in catches this season, behind California’s Jacob De Jesus (108), Florida Atlantic’s Easton Messer (104) and UConn’s Skyler Bell (101).
Reaching the top
The winner of the Indiana-Miami game likely will finish the season No. 1 in the final AP Top 25.
The Hoosiers were No. 1 in the most recent poll, taken at the start of the postseason. That is their only appearance at No. 1 in the AP rankings.
Miami has been No. 1 in 68 different AP polls but hasn’t been there since the final poll of the 2002 regular season.
It’s likely no surprise that there is a major discrepancy in the history of the two programs, including:
— Miami has been ranked 551 times to Indiana’s 95.
— Miami has been in the top 5 on 213 occasions to Indiana’s 18.
— The Hoosiers’ current run of 28 consecutive poll appearances is, by far, the longest in Indiana history; there was an 11-poll run overlapping the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Miami’s current run of 33 consecutive poll appearances is the third-longest stretch for the Hurricanes, behind streaks of 162 polls in a row (1985 through 1995) and 107 straight (1999 through 2006).
More on the poll
Miami was 10th in the AP preseason poll, while Indiana was ranked No. 20 to start the season.
It’s been more than a decade since a team started 10th or lower and won the national title. Florida State was 11th to open the 2013 season and Auburn was 22nd to open the 2010 season.
For the 20th time in the last 21 seasons, the preseason No. 1 won’t win the national title. Alabama did it in 2017, the only exception in that span.
Miami has come from relatively far back in the pack to win national championships before. The Hurricanes weren’t ranked until the fifth poll of the 1983 season (it was a top 20 then) and were 10th to start the 1987 season.
THE HOOSIERS’ DOMINANT CFP RUN COULD PUT THEM IN THE MIX FOR BEST OF ALL TIME… PENDING A TITLE
ATLANTA (AP) — Undefeated Indiana did more than just justify its place as the top seed in the College Football Playoff with its lopsided 56-22 rout of Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal.
The Hoosiers also made a statement about their bid to be considered as one of the top teams in college football history if they can complete their perfect season in the national championship game against No. 10 Miami.
Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) was led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s five touchdown passes in Friday night’s overwhelming win. The balance shown by the Hoosiers, with championship-level play on offense, defense and special teams, was just as impressive.
Clearly, Indiana boasts more than just a star quarterback. The defense ranked second in the nation in points, yards and rushing yards allowed. The Hoosiers ranked 10th in rushing before Kaelon Black ran for 63 yards and two touchdowns against the Ducks. The defense forced three turnovers, each setting up a touchdown.
“I think when you have good people and they buy in and they prepare the right way, we have a lot of those kind of guys,” said Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who credited defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
“They’re high-character, smart guys that can play and coach Haines puts them in position to make plays and put the offense in conflict and attacks. And on the other side of the ball, too, in special teams as well, we’ve been very consistent in all three phases.”
Mendoza will return to his hometown of Miami for the national championship game against Miami on Jan. 19. It will be the first national title game in Indiana history. It also will be an opportunity to complete one of the most impressive seasons for any team in history.
The runaway win over Oregon followed a similarly crushing 38-3 win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal. Indiana outgained Alabama 407-193, a stunning margin against the proud Crimson Tide.
Based on the demonstration of balance, power, defense and big plays in the CFP, it is not too soon to compare Indiana with the 2019 LSU and 2020 Alabama teams when considering the greatest teams in recent history.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning sounded convinced after his Ducks were overwhelmed in the Peach Bowl. The semifinal ranked as one of the biggest blowouts in CFP history, behind only Georgia’s 65-7 demolition of TCU in the national championship game following the 2022 season.
“You see a really complete team,” Lanning said. “And I think they obviously have a great chance to keep it going and have unbelievable success.”
The Hoosiers are favored by 7 1/2 points against Miami, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Indiana will bring momentum and confidence to the national championship game. Mendoza, who was almost perfect against Oregon while completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards, says the Hoosiers just need to remain on track.
“I think it’s really just playing our brand of football, playing the Indiana Hoosiers football, that even though it is the national championship, we don’t have to do anything that is out of character,” Mendoza said. “We just gotta play our brand of football, and that’s what has led us to this point in 15 wins this season.”
IT’S INDIANA AND MIAMI IN A COLLEGE-FOOTBALL TITLE MATCHUP THAT ONCE SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE
It looked improbable two months ago.
Two years ago — impossible.
But against the odds, Miami and Indiana have a date in the College Football Playoff final — a first-of-its-kind matchup on Jan. 19 in the second national title game of the expanded-playoff era.
The Hoosiers (15-0), the top-seeded favorite in the 12-team tournament, stomped Oregon 56-22 on Friday night to reach the final. The Hurricanes (13-2), seeded 10th and the last at-large team to make the field, beat Mississippi 31-27 the night before.
Indiana opened as a 7 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook.
The game is set for Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida — the long-ago-chosen venue for a game that happens to be the home of the Hurricanes. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is a Miami native who grew up less than a mile from the campus in Coral Gables.
“It means a little bit more to me,” Mendoza said of the title game doubling as a homecoming.
He’ll be going against the program known as “The U.” Miami won five titles between 1983 and 2001 and earned the reputation as college football’s brashest renegade.
A quarter century later, they are one side in a tale of two resurgences.
Miami’s was sparked by coach Mario Cristobal, a local boy and former ‘Cane himself who came back home four years ago to lead his alma mater to a place it hasn’t been in decades.
Among his biggest wins was luring quarterback Carson Beck to spend his final year of eligibility with the ‘Canes.
Beck, steadily rounding back to form after an elbow injury that ended his season at Georgia last year, is getting better every week. He has thrown for 15 TDs and two interceptions over a seven-game winning streak dating to Nov. 8.
“He’s hungry, he’s driven, he’s a great human being, and all he wants to do is to see his teammates have success,” Cristobal said after Beck threw for 268 yards and ran for the winning touchdown against Ole Miss.
It was the latest step in a long climb from No. 18 in the season’s first CFP rankings on Nov. 4 — barely within shouting distance of the bubble — after their second loss of the season.
The Hurricanes haven’t lost since.
Hoosiers rise from nowhere to the edge of a title
Indiana’s climb to the top is an even longer haul. This is the program that had a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years heading into the 2024 season. Since then, only two.
The turnaround is thanks to coach Curt Cignetti, who arrived from James Madison and declared: “It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me,” while explaining his confident tone at a signing day news conference in December 2023 when he landed the core of the class that has taken Indiana from obscurity to the edge of a title.
But Indiana’s biggest catch came about a year ago from the transfer portal — the oxygen that drives the current game.
Mendoza, who went to the same high school as Cristobal in Miami, chose Indiana as the place to finish his career. So far, he has won the Heisman Trophy and is all but assured to be a top-five pick in the NFL draft.
“Can’t say enough about him,” Cignetti said.
One more win and he’ll bring a national title and an undefeated season to Indiana, an even 50 years after the Hoosiers’ 1975-76 basketball team, led by coach Bob Knight, did the same.
Lots of people could see that one coming. Hard to say the same about this.
CFP selection committee almost kept this game from happening
It might seem like ancient history, but Miami almost didn’t make the playoffs.
In its first ranking of the season, back in November, the CFP selection committee ranked the Hurricanes eight spots behind a Notre Dame team they beat to start the season.
The history of Miami’s slow crawl up the standings, then its leapfrogging past the Irish for the last spot, has been well-documented. If Miami’s trip to the final proved anything, it’s how off-base the committee was when it started the ’Canes at 18, even if they were coming off a loss at SMU, its second of the season.
Though these programs haven’t met since the 1960s, there is familiarity.
One of the best games of 2024 was Miami’s comeback from 25 points down to beat Cal. The quarterback for the Bears: Mendoza, who threw for 285 yards but got edged out by Cam Ward in a 39-38 loss.
With Ward headed for the NFL, the Hurricanes were a consideration for Mendoza as he sought a new spot to finish out his college career. But he picked Indiana, Beck moved to Miami, and now, they meet.
Miami cashes in big
The College Football Playoff will distribute $20 million to the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conferences for placing their teams in the finals — that’s $4 million for making it, $4 million for getting to the quarters, then $6 million each for the semis and finals.
While the Big Ten divvies up that money evenly between its 18 members, Miami keeps it all for itself — part of a “success initiatives program” the ACC started last season that allows schools to keep all the postseason money they make in football and basketball.
===========
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 17 AT NO. 12/12 MICHIGAN STATE
Opening Tip
• Indiana University heads to East Lansing for a Big Ten Conference clash against No. 12/12 Michigan State on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Breslin Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Peacock with Brandon Gaudin (PxP), Robbie Hummel (Analyst), and Caroline Pineda (Sideline) on the call.
• Michigan State (14-2, 4-1 B1G) is under the direction of Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo. The 31-year veteran coach has won a Big Ten-record 751 games with the Spartans.
• MSU is led by 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per night from Jaxon Kohler. He has shot 56.3% (85-of-151) from the floor, 53.3% (32-of-60) from the 3-point line, and 86.7% (26-of-30) from the 3-point line.
• The Spartans also get double figure averages from Jeremy Fears Jr. (12.1 points, 8.8 assists), Coen Carr (11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds), and Carson Cooper (10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds).
• Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten in total rebounds per game (42.7) and offensive rebounds per night (13.7). The Spartans rebounding margin (+13.6) is the third-best figure nationally.
Game Information
Jan. 13, 2026 • 7 PM ET
Breslin Center (14,759) • East Lansing, Mich.
TV: NBC Sports Network/Peacock (Brandon Gaudin, Robbie Hummel, Caroline Pineda)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 74-59
Last Meeting: IU 71, MSU 67 on Feb. 11, 2025, in East Lansing
Series History
• The Hoosiers lead the all-time series between the two long-time Big Ten stalwarts by a tally of 74-59. Indiana has won two straight games in the series and three of the last four outings.
• IU upset MSU the last time the two squared off by a score of 71-67 on Feb. 11, 2025, in East Lansing. The Hoosiers made 9-of-10 free throws in the final 30 seconds of the game to seal the victory.
Last Time Out
• Indiana (12-4, 3-2 B1G) fell late to No. 10/11 Nebraska by a score of 83-77 on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers led by as many as 16 points with nearly 18 minutes to play.
• Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson posted his fifth-straight 20-point game with a game-high 32 points, four rebounds, and four assists He is the first Hoosier since Trayce Jackson-Davis (6 games; Feb. 28-March 19, 2023) to score at least 20 points in five straight games.
• Redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries added 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Senior forward Reed Bailey put up 10 points and a game-best nine rebounds.
Big Ten Brilliance
• Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson has averaged a league-best 27.4 points per night in Big Ten Conference play this season. He has shot 50.0% (45-of-90) from the floor, 46.9% (23-of-49) from the 3-point line, and 92.3% (15-of-17) from the free throw line in league play.
• In the last 30 seasons of Indiana men’s basketball, no player has scored more total points (137) than Wilkerson in the first five Big Ten Conference games of a season. Romeo Langford (110) held the previous high-water mark before being drafted No. 14 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
• His scoring output is fifth nationally in conference play and second among major conference players (Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State).
• The Sam Houston State transfer has scored 15-plus points in all five conference games, has scored at least 20 points four times, added a 32-point night against No. 10 Nebraska (Jan. 10), and went for a career-best 44 points against Penn State (Dec. 9).
• Wilkerson leads all Big Ten players in total points (137), points per game (27.2), made 3-pointers (23), and 3-point shooting percentage (46.9%) in league play.
==========
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SMITH NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After leading the Boilermakers to a 2-0 week, Purdue guard Braden Smith was named co-Big Ten Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
Smith averaged 24.5 points, 10.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in wins over Washington and Penn State. He shot 21-of-33 (.636) from the field, 5-of-10 (.500) from 3-point range and 2-of-3 (.667) from the free throw line.
In the win over Washington last Wednesday, Smith scored 23 points with seven assists and three steals, while going 10-of-15 from the field, in just 28 minutes.
Then in Saturday’s win over Penn State, Smith tallied 26 points with 14 assists and two steals, while going 11-of-18 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point range. He became the first Big Ten player in at least 20 years to have at least 26 points and 14 assists in the same game. He had just one turnover in 39 minutes.
It marks his third Big Ten Player of the Week honor of the season and fourth in his career. He is the only player to win multiple Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season.
For the year, Smith is averaging 14.1 points, 9.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range.
In five conference games, Smith is averaging 18.8 points, 10.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals while shooting 57.8 percent form the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range.
Smith recently became the Big Ten’s career leader in assists (914) and needs just 163 assists to set the NCAA career record for assists.
Smith and the No. 5-ranked Boilermakers will host Iowa on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET, in Mackey Arena.
==========
PURDUE VOLLEYBALL
SHONDELL ERA CONTINUES FOR 4 MORE YEARS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue volleyball will continue to see Art and Connie Euler women’s volleyball head coach Dave Shondell as the leader of the program through the 2029 season.
“We are proud to have Coach Dave Shondell continue to lead our volleyball program into the future,” said Executive Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Bobinski. “Dave’s ability to adapt and evolve as a coach was never more evident than during this past season and we’re excited to see that continue during the term of his contract extension. We look forward to great success for Purdue Volleyball in the years to come.”
“It was very satisfying to sign a contract extension that will provide me the amazing opportunity to coach Purdue Volleyball for four more years,” Shondell said. “I am thankful to Mike Bobinski and Calvin Williams for their confidence, our coaching and support staffs for their amazing contributions to our success, and remain Ever Grateful to the players who have sacrificed so much to create an elite program at Purdue while maintaining the Boilermaker’s relevance on the national stage for over twenty years.”
The contract extension comes after capping off the 2025 season with a Regional Final berth, a third-place Big Ten finish (27-7, 15-5 Big Ten record) and three All-America honorees –improvements in all areas from a season ago, despite preseason projections. Meanwhile, numerous program records were also set, including 10 wins against ranked opponents, five All-Big Ten honorees, three reverse sweeps and three NCAA tournament All-Region honorees, not to mention the second-highest hitting percentage in Purdue single-season history (.290).
“The 2025 team is a shining example of why I love this job,” Shondell remarked. “Boilermakers rise to the occasion. This squad displayed that definition over and over. Thanks to our loyal fan base that grows every season. I will never forget the people who believed a high school coach from Muncie could represent Purdue in the Big Ten. I believe there are many good days ahead for this program.”
Following the storybook season, Shondell is tied with men’s basketball legend Gene Keady as the winningest head coach in Purdue Athletics history with 512 wins, having reached the history-making threshold with the team’s comeback in the Regional Semifinals vs. No. 2 seed SMU.
During his tenure, Shondell has guided the Boilermakers to 100 wins against ranked opponents, has picked up at least one top-25 victory every year of his career and led the Boilermakers to 143 consecutive weeks ranked in the AVCA poll—the longest active streak among Purdue teams. Meanwhile, over the last five years alone, Purdue has accumulated a 124-41 record, leading to four Regional Semifinal and two Regional Final appearances during the span.
Since the season concluded, Purdue was slated at No. 8 in the AVCA final poll, the highest finish since 2021. Meanwhile, Shondell’s associate head coach – recruiting coordinator Kathy Jewell was named AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year. Furthermore, he promoted John Klanac to assistant head coach and Carrie Gurnell to director of volleyball operations. Additionally, he signed Georgia Tech transfer Lameen Mambu, who led the Yellow Jackets’ offense as a freshman.
==========
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
POLICE: VIDEO EXONERATES MARCUS FREEMAN OF ALLEGED BATTERY AT WRESTLING MEET
Investigators went to the video and exonerated Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman of shoving a coach during a wrestling meet on Jan. 3.
The St. Joseph’s County Prosecutor’s Office said video of the alleged incident during the high school wrestling meet told a different story than the alleged turn of events New Prairie High School assistant wrestling coach Chris Fleeger described to police. Fleeger claimed Freeman gave him a “two-hand shove” while coming to the aid of his son, Vinny, during the competition.
“A review of the video evidence does not support those assertions,” according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office on Monday.
Fleeger said Marcus Freeman made contact with him after Vinny Freeman, a high school senior, lost his match and was being escorted from the mat out of the gym by his dad and Penn High School coach Brad Harper.
Notre Dame officials refuted the claims as unfounded. Fleeger also pointed a finger at Freeman’s wife, Joanna, alleging she was shouting at him from the hallway before police responded and separated the parties.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame said in a statement issued Sunday. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are totally unfounded.”
Fleeger filed a police report while at the event.
Mishawaka Police Department on Monday said it had completed its investigation with the help of video of the meet and interviews with witnesses.
“Mr. Freeman turned toward the complainant and paused for approximately one second. Mr. Freeman then left the auditorium at a walk,” the prosecutor’s report said. “Based on a review of all evidence, the State would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred. While the evidence suggests that a touching may have occurred, an inadvertent touching is not sufficient.”
===========
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
HIDALGO EARNS ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Hannah Hidalgo has been named the ACC Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, more than any other player in the league.
The junior has now earned the award 10 times in her career, becoming just the third player in ACC history to reach double digits in honors.
Hidalgo filled up the stat sheet in the win over No. 22 UNC on Sunday, scoring 31 points while adding 8 rebounds, 7 steals, 6 assists and a block. The junior was just one of two players in the country this week with 30+ points against a ranked team and the only to accomplish the feat in the ACC.
The guard also became just the second player this season at the D-I level to post 30 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals in a game and the only to do it against a ranked opponent. Hidalgo now has as many 30-point performances (5) as all other ACC players combined this season.
In Thursday’s win over Boston College Hidalgo scored 16 points and posted 6 steals, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. The junior now has nine games this season with five or more steals and leads the country in steals per game with an average of 5.9.
The Fighting Irish cap off the three-game homestand by welcoming No. 10 Louisville to Purcell Pavilion for a midweek matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 15 and the game will air on ACCN.
===========
NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL
IRISH LOOK TO WEATHER STORM VS. HURRICANES
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame men’s basketball is looking for a bounce back win after dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season. They’ll get a boost from its home crowd and the return of Notre Dame students when Miami rolls into town for a Tuesday night showdown. Tip is scheduled for 7:01 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Miami arrives in South Bend with a 14-2 overall record and a perfect 3-0 mark in ACC play. They have previously defeated Pitt, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech. Their only two losses were against ranked opposition, No. 10 Florida and No. 9 BYU.
Via Haslam Metrics – Miami will routinely look to penetrate, pound the ball inside, and score from as short a distance as possible. The Hurricanes are third in the NCAA in ratio of near-proximity attempts to total field goal attempts. Two players in particular have thrived during ACC play – Tre Donaldson (22.3 ppg) and Malik Reneau (21.3 ppg).
Notre Dame trails the all-time series 15-16 as they look to end a four-game losing streak against the Hurricanes. Braeden Shrewsberry, in his last two times vs Miami, has recorded a combined 24 points behind six made threes.
A win on Tuesday night would mean a Quad 2 victory for the Fighting Irish. Miami’s NET sits at 33 compared to Notre Dame’s 74.
WHO’S HOT?
With Markus Burton on the mend, the ball has been put in the hands of Jalen Haralson, and he has delivered. The freshman is averaging 16.0 ppg in ACC play – shooting 47.1% from the field.
Haralson, who went his first 13 games without a three, has since gone 5-7 from beyond the arc over the last two games.
Logan Imes has achieved career highs in each of the last two games. He set personal bests in rebounds (8) and assists (6) at Cal, then scored a career high 13 points vs. Clemson. His 3.7 assist-to-turnover ratio currently ranks second in the ACC.
Carson Towt has recorded double-digit rebounds in four straight games, amassing 45 boards in that span.
HOT HAND TO START
Jalen Haralson has posted back-to-back scorching hot starts to games. When looking specifically at the first 10 minutes of both Cal and Clemson – a combined 8-9 from the field for 21 points.
– Clemson on Jan. 10 – scored 11 of the team’s first 17 points. Finished with a team-high 18 points.
– Cal on Jan. 2 – scored the team’s first 10 points. Finished with 17 points.
MORE ON JALEN
Jalen is currently averaging 14.9 ppg, which ranks fifth amongst ACC freshmen. He’s riding a 14-game double-digit scoring streak, which includes games against Kansas, Houston, Missouri, TCU, Stanford, Cal and Clemson.
One of those big-time performances was the TCU overtime victory and it was Jalen himself who hit the buzzer beater in regulation. Down two with three seconds remaining, Haralson hit a step-back fadeaway jumper to tie it at 76-all. Haralson finished the night with 20 points & a career high 9 assists. Other ND greats over the last three decades to match Jalen’s stat line of 20 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 1 block: Jerian Grant in 2015 / Chris Thomas 3x (twice in 2002 and once in 2005).
Jalen is converting 66.2 percent from within 4.5 feet. He’s shooting 50.7 percent overall from 2-point range.
SHREWSBERRY FROM DEEP
Braeden Shrewsberry is converting 44.9 percent from three on the season – that number ranks 1st in the ACC and 21st in the nation. For comparison, Braeden shot 37.1 percent from three as a freshman and 36.9 percent as a sophomore. He’s also averaging 3.0 made threes per game, which ranks third in the conference.
A big-time performance came against Evansville when Shrewsberry scored a career-high 26 points, thanks to a career-high eight three-pointers, shooting 80% from three (8-10). His eight made triples tied for the 7th most in a game all-time in program history.
Fast forward to Tuesday night vs. Miami and Braeden could surpass the 200 career made three-pointer milestone. He would be just the 14th Irish player all-time to do so.
MORE THAN JUST REBOUNDING
Carson Towt is 29-39 (.744) from the floor over the past seven games. He’s averaging a near double-double in that span at 9.3 points & 10.7 rebounds.
Over three ACC games, Towt is 10-13 from the field, averaging 8.3 points and 11.7 rebounds.
Coach Shrewsberry has often praised Towt for his vision and passing ability. He currently ranks third on the team in assists, averaging 1.9 per game.
BY THE NUMBERS WITH TOWT
10.4 rpg ranks 13th nationally, 3rd in the ACC
3.8 offensive rpg – 1st in ACC/15th in country
6.7 defensive rpg – 4th in ACC/19th in country
167 total boards – 11th nationally, 2nd in the ACC
1,245 career rebounds – leads all active players
NOTRE NOTABLES
The Irish are 12 wins away from 2,000 all-time. They would become the eighth program to achieve this feat.
Braeden Shrewsberry is shooting 50 percent from corner threes.
Logan Imes has led the Irish in assists in five games this season.
Cole Certa is 5-10 from three over the last two games.
Sir Mohammed dropped a career-high 21 points on 8-12 shooting from the floor in the win over Evansville.
Brady Koehler is shooting 48.1 percent from two.
Certa started the season 27-27 from the FT line, as the streak ended at Cal on Jan. 2. He’s now 94.4% (34-36) on the season.
NET is at 60 — 2-5 in Quad 1 // 0-0 in Quad 2// 2-0 in Quad 3 / 6-1 in Quad 4.
ND’s Kenpom is now at 68.
==========
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
AFTER WEEK OFF, BUTLER TRAVELS TO XAVIER FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT TIP
Butler Bulldogs (10-6, 1-4 BIG EAST) at Xavier (10-7, 2-4)
Wednesday, Jan. 14 • 6:30PM
Cintas Center • Cincinnati, Ohio
Follow Along
TV/Stream: FS1 • Connor Onion & LaPhonso Ellis
Radio/Audio: Fuego 92.7FM, Butler Sports App, SiriusXM 380, Sirius XM App, TuneIn Radio App & ButlerSports.com • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
Reading to Distract You from Contemplating if Chili and Spaghetti are Interchangeable
• After a weekend off from competition, the Bulldogs return to action Wednesday night in Cincinnati against Xavier.
• Butler lost to St. John’s, 84-70, in the team’s most recent outing Jan. 6.
• Butler shot 50 percent against the Red Storm — the team’s sixth game this season making at least half their attempts from the field.
• The Bulldogs were done in by 21 turnovers against the Red Storm. Butler entered the game having committed 10 or fewer turnovers in six of the last eight games.
• Butler will face head coaches from the Pitino family in back-to-back games as Rick coaches St. John’s and his son, Richard, is in his first season leading the Xavier program.
• Thad Matta served as the head coach at Xavier for three seasons (2001-04) following his initial season as the head coach at Butler.
• Butler assistant coach Mike Pegues was on Chris Mack’s Xavier staff for six seasons (2012-18).
• Finley Bizjack scored a game-high 21 points against St. John’s, his best output since scoring 26 in the Dec. 13 win over Providence. Bizjack is second in the BIG EAST in scoring at 16.3 points per game and ranks third in the conference with 2.38 made three-pointers per game.
• Michael Ajayi narrowly missed another double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds against St. John’s. His 12 double-doubles are second nationally.
• Ajayi also ranks second nationally in rebounding, averaging 12.1 caroms per game.
• Drayton Jones has made 19 consecutive free throws dating back to the Dec. 13 win against Providence. On the season, Jones is shooting 80 percent at the line.
• Evan Haywood has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games. Haywood’s average of 2.19 made three-pointers per game is sixth in the BIG EAST.
• Butler has out-rebounded 14 of its 16 opponents this season. The Bulldogs rank 25th nationally at 41.4 rebounds per game and have a +7.9 rebounding margin (33rd nationally).
• Butler ranks 18th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage according to KenPom, collecting 38.2 percent of their misses.
• Butler has out-rebounded their opponent by at least 10 in seven games this season (after having only six games of +10 or greater rebounding margin all of last season).
• Over the last seven games, Butler is shooting 77.4 percent at the free throw line. The Bulldogs opened the season by shooting only 65.6 percent at the line over the first nine games, shooting 70 percent or better only twice in that stretch.
• On the season, the Bulldogs average 25.6 free throw attempts per game, a mark that is 34th nationally.
• In addition to leading the league in rebounding, Ajayi ranks third in the BIG EAST at 16.1 points per game. His is also among the conference Top 15 in field goal percentage (third), minutes played (fourth), blocked shots (eighth), and assists (13th).
• Including most recently at Creighton Dec. 30, Butler has scored 85 or more points in eight games this season; the Bulldogs average 84.1 points per game, which is 62nd nationally.
• Thad Matta enters Wednesday’s game with 496 career wins as a head coach.
• Eight different Bulldogs have at least four double-figure scoring games this season.
More on the Musketeers
• Xavier is 10-7 overall and 2-4 in BIG EAST play with wins at Georgetown and at home against Providence Saturday.
• Tre Carroll leads four Musketeers averaging double figures at 15.9 points per game.
• Xavier’s assist/turnover ratio of 1.91 is fifth nationally. The Musketeers make 9.8 three-pointers per game, which is second in the BIG EAST.
Previously with Xavier
• The first meeting between Butler and Xavier came in 1937; of current BIG EAST teams, only Butler’s series with Creighton dates back earlier (1933).
• The two programs have been rivals in three different conferences: the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, the Atlantic 10 for a single season in 2012-13, and in the BIG EAST since the 2013-14 campaign when both programs (and Creighton) joined the league.
The Series: Xavier leads, 50-27
Streak: Xavier, W3
In Cincinnati: Xavier leads, 28-5
First Meeting: Jan. 16, 1937; Xavier, 28-26 (at XU)
Last Meeting: March 5, 2025; Xavier, 91-78 (at BU)
Up Next
Butler continues a week on the road with a Saturday noon tip at Seton Hall. The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Tuesday (Jan. 20), hosting DePaul.
===========
BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL REMAINS ON THE ROAD FOR TUESDAY NIGHT GAME AT AKRON
The Ball State men’s basketball team remains on the road to face Akron at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night in northeast Ohio.
The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+, while Mick Tidrow and David Eha handle the radio call on WMUN 92.5 FM / 1340 AM and on the WMUN app. Links to both broadcasts and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page.
Ball State (4-12, 0-4 Mid-American Conference) led with under 14 minutes to play but fell 79-71 at UMass on Saturday afternoon in its most recent contest.
Akron (12-4, 3-1 MAC) has won two games in a row including a 77-67 decision on Friday night at Bowling Green. The Zips enter Tuesday’s battle undefeated this season (8-0) at James A. Rhodes Arena (overall 24-game winning streak at home).
John Groce is in his ninth season as the head coach at Akron, who is the two-time defending MAC Tournament champion.
The Zips pace the league in assists per game (20.6, No. 4 in NCAA Division I), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.88, No. 8) and scoring offense (93.4 points per game, No. 7) while also ranking in the Top 10 nationally in field goal percentage (52.2, No. 5) and effective field goal percentage (60.1, No. 7).
Senior guard Tavari Johnson leads MAC in scoring (19.6 points per game) and field goals made (119, No. 18 nationally) and ranks third in the league in assists per game (5.4). Fellow senior Evan Mahaffey paces the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.33) while ranking third in steals per game (2.0).
Ball State next returns home to host Ohio at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.
CLOSE CLASHES WITH THE ZIPS: Ball State and Akron’s last five meetings have resulted in no more than an eight-point margin of victory, including three games that were within five points.
Akron took the most recent matchup 87-82 in Muncie last Feb. 25. The string of close contests dates back to a 70-63 win for the Cardinals on Jan. 6, 2023.
HILL GETS HOT: Guard Davion Hill led the Cardinals in scoring (22 points) and rebounding (seven) on Saturday at UMass, with 18 of those points coming in the second half.
The redshirt sophomore hit three 3-pointers in the last four minutes of the contest and leads Ball State in average points both overall (11.6 per game) and in MAC play (14.3) while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and from distance against conference opponents.
EFFICIENT ELMORE: Senior guard Elmore James IV scored in double figures in four straight games including 13 points on Jan. 6 against Eastern Michigan.
Ball State’s most experienced Mid-American Conference veteran has stepped up his production in MAC play as he is averaging 12.3 points per game on 42.5 percent (17-40) shooting from the field and has made each of his eight free throw attempts.
FINE FROM THE LINE: Ball State hit north of 80 percent of its free throw attempts in two straight games recently, going 13-for-15 (86.7 percent) from the line on Jan. 6 vs Eastern Michigan a game after making 82.6 percent (19-23) of its free throw attempts the previous Saturday at Buffalo.
The most recent time the Cardinals shot that well from the foul line was March 4, 2025 against Central Michigan with a 91.7 percent (11-12) mark. Ball State’s last game shooting over 80 percent from the line on at least 20 attempts before the game with Buffalo was Feb. 11, 2025 in an overtime win against Eastern Michigan (89.3 percent, 25-for-28).
Ball State has picked up its shooting at the charity stripe in conference play, going 79.7 percent in four games against MAC foes as opposed to 64.8 percent in 12 games with nonconference opponents.
TV GAME AT WORTHEN ARENA: The game against Ohio originally scheduled for Jan. 17 in Muncie has been moved to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 due to it being aired on CBS Sports Network.
Ball State’s most recent home MAC game on a Friday was back on March 3, 2023 against Toledo in a game that was also broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
MAC-SBC MATCHUP ANNOUNCED: Ball State will face Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Feb. 7 in the second leg of the MAC-Sun Belt Conference.
The Cardinals faced the other Sun Belt team from the Bayou State in the season opener, as they beat the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 75-64 on Nov. 3 in Muncie.
HISTORIC NIGHT: Ball State held an opponent to 30 points or fewer for the first time in almost 80 years in the 93-30 win over Earlham on Dec. 29.
The last time the Cardinals limited a team to that low of a scoring output was in a Jan. 14, 1946 win at Wabash (37-30). Ball State’s most recent home game preventing a team from surpassing the 30-point threshold was on Jan. 20, 1945 in a 47-24 decision against Anderson.
Ball State’s 63-point margin of victory over the Quakers was the highest since a 70-point decision on Nov. 7, 2022 against Earlham as well (109-39).
YOUNG GUYS WITH CAREER HIGHS: A trio of underclassmen set career highs in the Dec. 29 win against Earlham.
Freshman Preston Copeland went for 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the field, while sophomore Kody Clancy posted collegiate bests in points (11) and assists (five). Freshman forward Easton Foster tallied six points and four rebounds in a career-high 12 minutes of playing time.
BENCH SCORING IN BUNCHES: Ball State’s bench scored a season-high 48 points against Miami on Dec. 20, surpassing the 40-point mark in bench scoring for the second time this season (44 vs Le Moyne). The Cardinals’ bench did this a third time when it produced 44 points vs Earlham.
James IV (20 points) scored nearly half of those against Miami followed by Kayden Fish (10), Armoni Zeigler (7), Juwan Maxey (7) and Jai Anthoni Bearden (4).
DOUBLE DIGIT STEALS: Ball State collected 10 steals on Saturday at UMass, making it the fifth time this season the Cardinals have had 10+ steals in a game.
Ball State also had double figures in that category against Mansfield (11) and Little Rock (10) in November and Evansville and South Dakota State in December. This is the first time since the 2019-20 season that the Cardinals have had four non-conference games with 10+ steals.
CARDINALS CLAMPING DOWN ON DEFENSE: Ball State is first in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense (69.8 points per game), second in fewest fouls committed per game (15.9) and third in steals per game (7.9) and turnovers forced per game (13.8) through the season’s first 16 contests.
WELCOME TO THE MAC: Ball State played league newcomer UMass on Saturday for the first of two games in the first season in the league for the Minutemen.
UMass makes the return trip to Worthen Arena for a game on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The two teams had faced off only once prior to this year, in an 89-86 Ball State win on Nov. 21, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
===========
EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYS HOST TO BRADLEY ON TUESDAY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Meeting for the second time in a span of just 15 days, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team plays host to Bradley on Tuesday at 7 p.m. inside the Ford Center. ESPN+ and Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Last Time Out
– UE picked up its first MVC win of the season on Saturday at Indiana State by a final score of 72-69
– Leif Moeller and AJ Casey led UE with 17 points apiece while Josh Hughes had 14 and Alex Hemenway scored 12
– Moeller matched his career highs with 8 boards and 8 assists in the victory
– The win marked the second consecutive road win over the Sycamores marking the first time UE has done so since 2006-07
Another Reset
– For the second time in four games, AJ Casey reset his career scoring high with 24 points against the Racers
– Casey hit 10 of his 13 field goal tries to eclipse he previous scoring high of 21, which came at Bradley on Dec. 29
– Over his last six games, Casey is shooting 68.4% from the field
– Casey is averaging a team-high 15.9 PPG in MVC games while shooting 62.9%; for the season, Casey has posted 10.9 PPG
– Casey now has 10 double digit games on the season including 6 of the last 7 games
A Game of Firsts
– While Evansville’s win at Indiana State was the first MVC victory of the season, it reversed multiple trends for the season
– Trailing 38-35 at halftime, UE outscored the Sycamores by a 37-31 margin in the second half to pick up its first win after trailing at the half (UE was 0-12 entering the game)
– Saturday marked the first win for UE when the opposition held the rebounding advantage; the Aces were outrebounded by a 41-31 tally (UE was 0-10 entering the game)
Making his Mark
– Alex Hemenway scored 12 points at Indiana State for his first double digit game since posting 11 against Drake
– He connected on three triples for the third time in the last six games
– Over his last 11 games, Hemenway is averaging 7.5 PPG while his last five games have seen him go 11-for-29 from outside
Back on Track
– Josh Hughes has scored 14 points in three of the last five games including the road win at Indiana State
– He is averaging 9.8 PPG over the last five contests after recording 5.6 PPG in the seven games prior to his current streak
– Hughes has posted 14 points in the last two games while shooting 50% (11-22)
Scouting the Opponent
– Bradley comes into Tuesday’s game with a 12-6 overall record and stand at 5-2 in the MVC
– In the meeting just 15 days ago, the Braves took a 76-68 victory in Peoria overcoming an early 13-0 deficit to the Aces
– Three Bradley players average double figures led by Jaquan Johnson’s 16.9 points per game
– Johnson also paces the team with 61 assists and 57 steals
– Alex Huibregtse is averaging 11.7 points while Demarion Burch checks in with 11.0
==========
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
============
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
On January 13 in …
1905 – Team Ottawa Silver Seven plays team Dawson City (Yukon) for the Stanley Cup in the National Hockey Association. Ottawa wins 23-2, with Frank McGee scoring 14 goals.
1908 – Montréal Wanderers sweep Ottawa Victorias in two for the Stanley Cup of ice hockey.
1911 – South Africa’s first cricket win over Australia, at Adelaide.
1922 – Former Chicago White Sox player Buck Weaver, involved in Black Sox scandal, applies unsuccessfully for reinstatement.
1957 – Mickey Wright wins Sea Island Golf Open.
1957 – NFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 19-10.
1962 – Wilt Chamberlain of Philadelphia Warriors scores NBA-record 73 points versus Chicago Bulls.
1963 – AFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 21-14.
1963 – NFL Pro Bowl: East beats West 30-20.
1968 – Minnesota North Stars’ center Bill Masterton fatally injured (dies on 15th).
1972 – Former umpire, now housewife Bernice Gera wins her suit against baseball, initiated on March 15, 1971 to be allowed to umpire.
1973 – Efskind skates world record 1000m (1:17.6).
1974 – Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins beat Minnesota Vikings, 24-7 in Houston, Texas; Most Valuable Player: Larry Csonka, running back.
1981 – New York Islanders’ Mike Bossy’s 15th career hat trick-4 goals.
1982 – Both Henry Aaron and Frank Robinson are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
1983 – Quebec Nordiques play 251st NHL game without being shut out.
1983 – American Medical Association urges ban on boxing, cites Muhammad Ali’s deteriorating condition.
1985 – 23rd Tennis Federation Cup: Czechoslovakia beats USA in Nagoya, Japan (2-1).
1985 – 99-year-old Otto Bucher scores a hole-in-one at Spanish golf course.
1985 – Chicago Blackhawks’ Doug Wilson fails on 12th penalty shot against New York Islanders.
1988 – Los Angeles Dodgers’/San Diego Padres’ Steve Garvey retires.
1991 – Phil Mickelson wins PGA Northern Telecom Golf Open.
1991 – A fight and stampede at a pre-season exhibition match between South African football teams Chiefs and Pirates in the town of Orkney near Johannesburg, South Africa leaves 42 dead.
1992 – Excavation of new ballpark at Gateway (Jacobs Field) Chicago begins.
1994 – Tonya Harding’s bodyguard Shawn Eric Eckardt, and Derrick Brian Smith are arrested and charged with conspiracy in attack of skater Nancy Kerrigan.
1995 – 26 NHL teams unanimously ratify agreement to end NHL strike.
1998 – CBS pays US$4 billion to televise AFC games for eight years.
1999 – After 13 years of playing NBA basketball, superstar Michael Jordan announces his second retirement from basketball.
2002 – In the AFC Divisional Playoffs the New England Patriots defeat the Oakland Raiders 16-13 in overtime at their home finale Foxboro Stadium.
2005 – American Major League Baseball and the Players Association agree in principle on a stricter steroid-testing policy. The new program will randomly test players year-round.
2005 – Milwaukee Brewers owners unanimously approve the US$223 million sale of the baseball franchise to Los Angeles investor Mark Attanasio.
2006 – Johnny Estrada agrees to a US$2 million, one-year contract to catch for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
2022 – At SAP Center in San Jose, California, USA, NHL regular season game: New York Rangers beats San Jose Sharks by score 3-0.
2022 – At crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Los Angeles Kings beats Pittsburgh Penguins by score 6-2.
2022 – At Scotiabank Saddledrome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, NHL regular season game: Ottawa Senators beats Calgary Flames by score 4-1.
2022 – At United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, NHL regular season game: Chicago Blackhawks beats Montreal Canadiens by score 3-2.
2022 – At Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, NHL regular season game: Buffalo Sabres beats Nashville Predators by score 4-1.
2022 – At Enterprise Center in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, NHL regular season game: Saint Louis Blues beats Seattle Kraken by score 2-1.
2022 – At UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, USA, NHL regular season game: New York Islanders beats New Jersey Devils by score 3-2.
2022 – At Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, USA, NHL regular season game: Winnipeg Jets beats Detroit Red Wings by score 3-0.
2022 – At PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, NHL regular season game: Columbus Blue Jackets beats Carolina Hurricanes by score 6-0.
2022 – At Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Tampa Bay Lightning beats Vancouver Canucks by score 4-2.
2022 – At TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, NHL regular season game: Boston Bruins beats Philadelphia Flyers by score 3-2.
Births of sports figures on January 13
1892 – Birth of Paul Smart; US yachtsman (Olympics-gold-1948).
1941 – Birth of Meinhard Nehmer in Germany; two man bobsledder (Olympics-gold-1976).
1947 – Birth of Peter Sundelin in Sweden; yachtsman (Olympics-gold-1968).
1948 – Birth of Kenia Jayantilal; cricket player (5 at Kingston 71 his only innings for India).
1957 – Birth of Christina Seufert in Sacramento, California, USA; diver (Olympics-bronze-1984).
1957 – Birth of Mark Francis O’Meara in Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA; PGA golfer (1984 Greater Milwaukee).
1961 – Birth of Kelly Hrudey in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; NHL goalie (Los Angeles Kings).
1961 – Birth of Kent Hull; NFL center (Buffalo Bills).
1962 – Birth of Brett Maxie; NFL safety (Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers).
1962 – Birth of Kevin Mitchell; US baseball outfielder (New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds).
1963 – Birth of Dirk Tazelaar; cricket player (Queensland and Surrey left-arm pace bowler).
1963 – Birth of Felita Carr in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; dance skater (and Komarov-1995 Pacific Champion).
1966 – Birth of Joseph Harper in Ventura, California, USA; canoe (alternate-Olympics-1996).
1966 – Birth of Marcus Turner; NFL cornerback/safety (New York Jets).
1968 – Birth of Kelly Boucher in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; basketball forward (Olympics-1996).
1969 – Birth of Andre Cason; US runner (world record 50 indoor).
1969 – Birth of Dan Footman; NFL defensive end (Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts).
1969 – Birth of John Flannery; guard/corner (Dallas Cowboys).
1969 – Birth of Katarzyna Nowak in Lodz, Poland; tennis star (1994 Futures France).
1969 – Birth of Kevin Foster; US baseball pitcher (Chicago Cubs).
1969 – Birth of Orlando Miller in Changionola, Panamá; infielder (Houston Astros).
1969 – Birth of Robert Wilson; NFL running back (Miami Dolphins).
1970 – Birth of Frank Kooiman; soccer player (Sparta).
1970 – Birth of Nachi Abe; WLAF tight end (Scotland Claymores).
1971 – Birth of Elmer Dessens in Hermosillo, Mexico; pitcher (Pittsburgh Pirates).
1972 – Birth of Byron “Bam” Morris; NFL running back (Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers).
1972 – Birth of Richard Woodley; NFL cornerback (Detroit Lions).
1973 – Birth of Nikolai Khabibulin in Sverdlovsk, Russia; NHL goalie (Winnipeg Jets).
1974 – Birth of Matt Lepsis; NFL tackle (Denver Broncos-Super Bowl XXXII).
1974 – Birth of Sergei Brylin in Moscow, Russia; NHL center (New Jersey Devils).
1975 – Birth of Angela Holbeck; Australian rower (Olympics-1996).
1976 – Birth of Gary Brent; cricket player (Zimbabwe ODI pace bowler 1996).
1976 – Birth of Vaclav Batlik in Costa Mesa, California; canoe (alternate-Olympics-1996).
Deaths of sports figures on January 13
1937 – Walter Brearley, cricket player (17 wickets in four Tests for England 1905-12), dies.
1939 – Jacob Ruppert, CEO (New York Yankees, 1915-39), dies.
1969 – Fred Price, cricket wicket-keep (England, versus Australia Headingley 1938), dies.
1978 – Joseph V McCarthy, baseball manager (New York Yankees), dies at age 90 (born 1887).
On January 14 in …
1908 – Roger Hartigan scores century on cricket Test debut versus England in Adelaide (116).
1919 – John McGraw, Charles A Stoneham, and Judge McQuade buy the New York Giants.
1940 – Commissioner Kenesaw Landis gives free agency to 91 Detroit Tigers.
1940 – NFL Pro Bowl: Green Bay Packers beat NFL All-Stars 16-7.
1943 – Alex Smart (Montreal Canadiens) is first NHL player to score hat trick in his first game.
1951 – NFL Pro Bowl: first since 1942, Americans beat Nationals 28-27.
1961 – Chicago Bears’ Willard Dewveall becomes first NFL player to join the AFL.
1962 – NFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 31-30.
1964 – 14th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 111-107 at Boston, Massachusetts.
1964 – Bapu Nadkarni 32-27-5-0 versus England, 21 maiden overs in a row.
1968 – Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers beat Oakland Raiders, 33-14 in Miami, Florida; Most Valuable Player: Bart Starr, quarterback.
1971 – John Snow takes 7-40 for England to beat Australia by 299 runs.
1973 – Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins beat Washington Redskins, 14-7 in Los Angeles, California; Most Valuable Player: Jake Scott, Safety.
1974 – World Football League founded.
1975 – Anita Wold (Norway) sets women’s ski jump distance record-98 metres.
1976 – Ted Turner becomes CEO of Atlanta Braves.
1985 – Martina Navratilova is third to win 100 tennis tournaments (Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert).
1987 – Catfish Hunter and Billy Williams are elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.
1994 – Inna Lassovskaya triple-jumps ladies world record (14.61 metres).
1996 – Liselotte Neumann wins Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Golf Champions.
2002 – Barry Bonds agrees to a five-year, $90 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.
2007 – The Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman Lyle Overbay agree to a four-year contract worth $24 million to stay in Toronto.
2008 – The Board of Control for Cricket in India sells broadcasting rights to the Indian Premier league for US$1 billion.
2022 – At Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, USA, NHL regular season game: Colorado Avalanche beats Arizona Coyotes by score 4-3.
2022 – At Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, NHL regular season game: Minnesota Wild beats Anaheim Ducks by score 7-3.
2022 – At FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Florida Panthers beats Dallas Stars by score 7-1.
Births of sports figures on January 14
1920 – Birth of Bertus de Harder; Dutch soccer star (Bordeaux).
1920 – Birth of Donald Beard; cricket player (New Zealand pace bowler in the 1950s).
1927 – Birth of Ivan Kalita in USSR; equestrian dressage (Olympics-silver-1968).
1936 – Birth of John Paul Cain in Sweetwater, Texas, USA; PGA golfer (1989 Greater Grand Rapids).
1936 – Birth of Ludmila Pinayevain USSR; 500m kayak (Olympics-gold-1964, 1968, 1972).
1936 – Birth of Reiner Klimke in Germany; equestrian dressage (Olympics-gold-1984).
1937 – Birth of Ken Higgs; cricket player (effective England pace-bowler in 15 Tests 1965-68).
1941 – Birth of C L “Gibby” Gilbert Junior in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA; PGA golfer (1976 Danny Thomas).
1944 – Birth of Graham Vivian Marsh in Kalgoorlie, Australia; PGA golfer (1977 Heritage).
1951 – Birth of Gil Pak Jong in Korea; judo (Olympics-1976).
1959 – Birth of Paul Terry; cricket player (in Germany Two Tests England vs West Indies 1984).
1964 – Birth of Sergei Nemchinov in Moscow, Russia; NHL center (New York Islanders, Olympics-Silver-1998).
1965 – Birth of Dave Lowry in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; NHL left wing (Florida Panthers).
1966 – Birth of Matt Brock; NFL defensive end/tackle (New York Jets).
1967 – Birth of Terry Wooden; NFL linebacker (Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs).
1968 – Birth of Fred[ric] Honebein in San Francisco, California, USA; rower (Olympics-5th-1996).
1969 – Birth of David Webb; WLAF linebacker (Frankfurt Galaxy).
1969 – Birth of Martin Bicknell; cricket player (England pace bowler 1993).
1969 – Birth of Rico Smith; NFL wide receiver (Cleveland Browns).
1970 – Birth of Eric Charron in Verdun, Quebec, Canada; NHL defenseman (Washington Capitals).
1970 – Birth of Steve Cooke in Kanai, Hawaii; pitcher (Pittsburgh Pirates).
1970 – Birth of Tyrone Hughes; NFL cornerback (New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears).
1972 – Birth of Kyle Brady; NFL tight end (New York Jets).
1972 – Birth of Michael Davis; NFL cornerback (Cleveland Browns).
1973 – Birth of Ed Howard; NFL wide receiver (Atlanta Falcons).
1973 – Birth of Lethon Flowers; NFL defensive back (Pittsburgh Steelers).
1973 – Birth of Rod Myers in Conroe, Texas, USA; outfielder (Kansas City Royals).
1974 – Birth of Hugues Legault in Montréal, Québec, Canada; 50m swimmer (Olympics-1996).
1974 – Birth of Kevin Jefferson; NFL linebacker (Cincinnati Bengals).
1974 – Birth of Michael Dritlein; WLAF wide receiver (Rhein Fire).
1974 – Birth of Nancy Napolski in Hinsdale, Idaho, USA; air rifle (Olympics-1996).
1975 – Birth of Marcel Koning; soccer player (FC The Hague/NEC).
1977 – Birth of Terry Ryan in Saint Johns; NHL left wing (Montreal Canadiens).
1980 – Birth of Ossama Haidar; Lebanese soccer player.
1980 – Birth of Cory Gibbs; American soccer player.
Deaths of sports figures on January 14
1970 – John J “Johnny” Murphy, American baseball pitcher (New York Yankees) and general manager (New York Mets), dies at age 61 of a heart attack.
1984 – Ray Kroc, founder of MacDonalds/owner San Diego Padres, dies at age 82 (born 1902).
On January 15 in …
1857 – First first-class cricket game in Sydney: New South Wales versus Victoria at The Domain.
1892 – James Naismith publishes the rules of basketball, in Triangle Magazine, Massachusetts.
1895 – Albert Trott takes record 8-43 on cricket Test debut.
1905 – Coen de Koning becomes world champion all-round skater.
1908 – C Hill and R J Hartigan make 8th wicket partnership 243 for Australia.
1930 – George Headley scores cricket century on debut versus England (made 176).
1934 – Babe Ruth signs a 1934 baseball contract for $35,000 ($17,000 cut).
1936 – Horace Stoneham elected president of New York Giants.
1939 – First NFL pro bowl, New York Giants beat All Stars 13-10 in Wrigley Field.
1942 – Chicago Cubs drop plans to install lights at Wrigley Field due to World War II.
1942 – US President Franklin Roosevelt asks commissioner to continue baseball during war.
1956 – Bauer Marlene wins LPGA Sea Island Golf Open.
1956 – NFL Pro Bowl: East beats West 31-30.
1957 – Brooklyn Dodgers sign a new three-year lease for Ebbets Field.
1958 – New York Yankees sign million dollar plus deal to show 140 games on WPIX TV.
1961 – NFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 35-31.
1961 – Suggs wins LPGA Sea Island Women’s Golf Invitational Open.
1962 – 50th Australian Mens Tennis: Rod Laver beats R Emerson (8-6, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4).
1964 – Baseball agrees to hold a free-agent draft in New York City, New York.
1966 – AFL Pro Bowl: All-Stars beats Buffalo 30-19.
1966 – NFL Pro Bowl: East beats West 36-7.
1967 – At the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the first-ever world championship game (later called the Super Bowl) of American football. A crowd of 61,946 people is on hand. For their win, each member of the Packers collect $15,000: this is the largest single-game share in the history of team sports.
1970 – Milwaukee Brewers make their first trade (with Oakland Athletics).
1972 – Heavyweight Joe Frazier knocks out Terry Daniels.
1974 – 24th NBA All-Star Game: West beats East 134-123 at Seattle, Washington.
1977 – Jane Blalock wins LPGA Colgate Triple Crown Golf Tournament.
1978 – Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys beat Denver Broncos, 27-10 in New Orleans, Louisiana; Most Valuable Players: defensive end Harvey Martin, and defensive tackle Randy White.
1981 – Bob Gibson elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1983 – Hartford Whalers’ smallest crowd 4,812 (beat New Jersey Devils) during blizzard.
1983 – Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar make 451 stand versus India.
1984 – Hana Mandlikova ends Martina Navratilova’s 54-match tennis winning streak.
1984 – Schönbrun skates world record 5 km (7:39.44).
1985 – Mike Gatting and Graeme Fowler both score 200’s versus India.
1988 – Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder makes racist remarks about black athletes.
1988 – Kiran More stumps five West Indian batsman at Madras, world Test record.
1988 – Narendra Hirwani takes 16-136 (8-61 and 8-75) versus West Indies on Test debut.
1989 – Betsy King wins LPGA Jamaica Golf Classic.
1990 – 42-year-old George Foreman knocks out George Cooney in two rounds.
1990 – Toronto Blue Jays’ player Cecil Fielder signs with Detroit Tigers as a free agent.
1990 – New York Knicks’ Trent Tucker scores with 1/10 second remaining, beats Chicago Bulls, 109-106.
1991 – Australia beats New Zealand 2-0 to win the World Series Cup.
1991 – Birth of Rubab Raza, Pakistan swimmer.
1995 – Dawn Coe-Jones wins LPGA Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Golf Champion.
1995 – San Diego Chargers beat Pittsburgh Steelers 17-13 for AFC championship.
1995 – San Francisco 49ers beat Dallas Cowboys for NFC championship.
1997 – Chicago Bulls’ player Dennis Rodman kicks cameraman, Eugene Amos, in the groin.
2022 – At SAP Center in San Jose, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Pittsburgh Penguins beats San Jose Sharks by score 2-1.
2022 – At Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, NHL regular season game: Ottawa Senators beats Edmonton Oilers by score 6-4.
2022 – At Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, USA, NHL regular season game: Los Ageles Kings beats Seattle Kraken by score 3-1.
2022 – At Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, USA, NHL regular season game: Colorado Avalanche beats Arizona Coyotes by score 5-0.
2022 – At United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, NHL regular season game: Chicago Blackhawks beats Anaheim Ducks by score 3-0.
2022 – At Enterprise Center in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, NHL regular season game: Toronto Maple Leafs beats Saint Louis Blues by score 6-5.
2022 – At Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, NHL regular season game: New York Rangers beats Philadelphia Flyers by score 3-2.
2022 – At Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Tampa Bay Lightning beats Dallas Stars by score 3-1.
2022 – At Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, USA, NHL regular season game: Detroit Red Wings beats Buffalo Sabres by score 4-0.
2022 – At FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Florida Panthers beats Columbus Blue Jackets by score 9-2.
2022 – At UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, USA, NHL regular season game: Washington Capitals beats New York Islanders by score 2-0.
2022 – At PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, NHL regular season game: Carolina Hurricanes beats Vancouver Canucks by score 4-1.
2022 – At TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, NHL regular season game: Boston Bruins beats Nashville Predators by score 4-3.
Births of sports figures on January 15
1932 – Birth of Dean Smith; American actor/relay runner (Olympics-gold-1952).
1932 – Birth of Louis Woodard Jones in New Rochelle, New York, USA; 4X400m relayer (Olympics-gold-1956).
1943 – Birth of Mike Marshall; Major League Baseball pitcher (1974 Cy Young Award).
1949 – Birth of Howard Allen Twitty in Phoenix, Arizona, USA; PGA golfer (1979 BC Open).
1953 – Birth of Randy White; NFL tackle (Dallas Cowboys).
1956 – Birth of Paul Parker; cricket player (one Test England versus Australia 1981).
1956 – Birth of Vera Sosulya in the USSR; toboggan (Olympics-gold-1980).
1960 – Birth of Tim Curtis; cricket player (England righty batsman in five Tests 1988-89).
1963 – Birth of Lijuan Geng in Hebei, China; Canadian tennis player (Olympics-1996).
1963 – Birth of Richard Nasheim; hockey forward (Team Austria 1998).
1963 – Birth of Yaro Dachniwsky in Chicago, Illinois, USA; team handball goalie (Olympics-1996).
1964 – Birth of Cees van der de Linden; soccer player.
1964 – Birth of Paula Schnurr in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada; 1500m runner (Olympics-8-1992, 1996).
1965 – Birth of Michael Clemons; Canadian Football League running back (Toronto Argonauts).
1967 – Birth of Richard Blakey; cricket player (England wicket-keeper in India 1993).
1967 – Birth of Ted N Tryba in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA; PGA golfer (1995 Anheuser-Busch Golf).
1968 – Birth of Bob Dahl; NFL guard (Washington Redskins).
1968 – Birth of Felton Spencer; NBA center (San Francisco Warriors).
1968 – Birth of Laurie Fellner in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA; team handball goalie (Olympics-1992, 1996).
1968 – Birth of Steve McConaghy; Australian soling yachter (Olympics-1996).
1969 – Birth of Adam Burt in Detroit, Michigan, USA; NHL defenseman (Hartford Whalers).
1969 – Birth of Delino DeShields in Seaford, Delaware, USA; infielder (Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers).
1969 – Birth of Leonard Wheeler; NFL safety/cornerback (Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings).
1969 – Birth of Marsha Miller in Rochester, New York, USA; WPVA volleyball player (National-17th-1995).
1969 – Birth of Rob van Dijk; Dutch soccer player (Feyenoord).
1969 – Birth of Rod de Highden; Australian 5k/10k/marathon runner (Olympics-1996).
1969 – Birth of Siupeli Malamala; NFL guard/tackle (New York Jets).
1970 – Birth of Dan Landry in San Diego, California, USA; volleyball opposite hitter (Olympics-1996).
1970 – Birth of Elroy Kromheer; soccer player (FC Volendam).
1970 – Birth of Michele Granger in Anaheim, California, USA; softball pitcher (Olympics-gold-1996).
1971 – Birth of LeShon Johnson; running back (Arizona Cardinals).
1973 – Birth of Daniel Nijhof; Dutch soccer player (FC Twente).
1973 – Birth of Randy Srochenski; Canadian Football League linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders).
1974 – Birth of Mike Minter; safety (Carolina Panthers).
1975 – Birth of Greg Loveridge; cricket player (New Zealand leg-spinner, did not bowl versus Zimbabwe 1996).
1975 – Birth of Mary Pierce in Montréal, Québec, Canada; tennis star (1995 Australian Open).
1984 – Birth of Megan Quann, American swimmer.
Deaths of sports figures on January 15
1936 – Henry Forster, cricket player (Hants and Oxford University), Governor-General of Australia, dies.
1942 – Melvin Winfield Sheppard, runner (Olympics-gold-1908, 1912), dies at age 58.
1966 – Betsy Mitchell, US 100m backstroke swimmer, dies at age 25.
1968 – Bill Masterson, first NHL player fatally injured during game (January 13), dies.
1986 – James H “Jim” Crowley, US football player (Notre Dame), dies at age 83.
1989 – Wilf Slack, cricket player (whilst bat in Gambia England player 1986), dies.
1993 – Henry Iba, basketball coach, dies at age 88.
2017 – Death of Jimmy Snuka, Fijian-born American professional wrestler (born 1943).
===========
TV SPORTS
Tuesday, 1/13/26
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Phoenix Suns vs Miami Heat | 7:30pm | AFSN FanDuel Sports Sun |
| Chicago Bulls vs Houston Rockets | 8:00pm | CHSN SCHN |
| Denver Nuggets vs New Orleans Pelicans | 8:00pm | ALT GCSN |
| Minnesota Timberwolves vs Milwaukee Bucks | 8:00pm | FanDuel Sports North FanDuel Sports MIL |
| San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder | 8:00pm | NBC Peacock |
| Atlanta Hawks vs Los Angeles Lakers | 10:30pm | FanDuel Sports ATL Spectrum |
| Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors | 11:00pm | NBC Peacock |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Vancouver Canucks vs Ottawa Senators | 7:00pm | SN TSN |
| Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals | 7:00pm | MNMT RDS |
| Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins | 7:00pm | ATTSN-PIT FanDuel Sports Sun |
| Calgary Flames vs Columbus Blue Jackets | 7:00pm | SN FanDuel Sports Ohio |
| Detroit Red Wings vs Boston Bruins | 7:30pm | TNT MAX |
| Carolina Hurricanes vs St. Louis Blues | 7:30pm | ESPN+ Hulu |
| New York Islanders vs Winnipeg Jets | 8:00pm | MSGSN TSN |
| Edmonton Oilers vs Nashville Predators | 8:00pm | SN FanDuel Sports NSH |
| Dallas Stars vs Anaheim Ducks | 10:00pm | TNT MAX |
| Toronto Maple Leafs vs Utah Mammoth | 10:00pm | ESPN+ Hulu |
| MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Villanova at Providence | 6:30pm | FS1 |
| Marquette vs. St. John’s | 6:30pm | Peacock |
| Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Kent State at Buffalo | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Virginia at Louisville | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Miami (FL) at Notre Dame | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| Wisconsin at Minnesota | 7:00pm | BTN |
| Texas A&M at Tennessee | 7:00pm | SECN |
| Boston College at Clemson | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| George Mason at Loyola Chicago | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| UIC at UNI | 7:00pm | MVC TV |
| Dayton at Duquesne | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ball State at Akron | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UMass at Western Michigan | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ohio at Toledo | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Michigan at Miami (OH) | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Valparaiso at Belmont | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UConn at Seton Hall | 8:00pm | truTV |
| Indiana at Michigan State | 8:00pm | Peacock |
| Bradley at Evansville | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| West Virginia at Houston | 8:30pm | FS1 |
| Western Illinois at Eastern Illinois | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Florida at Oklahoma | 9:00pm | ESPN/2 |
| Iowa State at Kansas | 9:00pm | ESPN/2 |
| Oregon at Nebraska | 9:00pm | BTN |
| Alabama at Mississippi State | 9:00pm | SECN |
| Florida State at Syracuse | 9:00pm | ACCN |
| Baylor at Oklahoma State | 9:00pm | CBSSN |
| Grand Canyon at New Mexico | 9:00pm | ALT2 |
| Colorado State at Fresno State | 9:00pm | MWN |
| Georgetown at Creighton | 9:00pm | Peacock |
| Air Force at San Jose State | 10:00pm | NBCS-CA |
| Maryland at USC | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| Saint Mary’s at San Francisco | 11:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Boise State at UNLV | 11:00pm | CBSSN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Bundesliga: Stuttgart vs Eintracht Frankfurt | 12:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen | 2:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Bundesliga: Hamburger SV vs Bayer Leverkusen | 2:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Bundesliga: Mainz 05 vs Heidenheim | 2:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Coppa Italia: Roma vs Torino | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| League Cup: Newcastle United vs Manchester City | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Liga MX: Puebla vs Mazatlán | 6:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Necaxa vs Monterrey | 8:00pm | VIX |
Wednesday, 1/14/26
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Toronto Raptors vs Indiana Pacers | 7:00pm | SN FanDuel Sports IND |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers | 7:00pm | ESPN NBCS-PHI FanDuel Sports Ohio |
| Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls | 8:00pm | CHSN KJZZ |
| Brooklyn Nets vs New Orleans Pelicans | 8:00pm | GCSN YES |
| Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks | 9:30pm | ESPN ALT KFAA |
| New York Knicks vs Sacramento Kings | 10:00pm | NBCS-CA MSG2 |
| Washington Wizards vs Los Angeles Clippers | 10:00pm | MNMT FanDuel Sports SoCal |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Seattle Kraken vs New Jersey Devils | 7:00pm | KONG ESPN+ |
| Philadelphia Flyers vs Buffalo Sabres | 7:30pm | TNT MAX |
| Ottawa Senators vs New York Rangers | 7:30pm | MSG RDS |
| Vegas Golden Knights vs Los Angeles Kings | 10:00pm | TNT MAX |
| MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| VCU at Rhode Island | 6:00pm | CBSSN |
| ETSU at Western Carolina | 6:00pm | Nexstar |
| Chattanooga at Wofford | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Army West Point at Holy Cross | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Lehigh at Boston University | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Butler at Xavier | 6:30pm | FS1 |
| Iowa at Purdue | 6:30pm | BTN |
| High Point at Winthrop | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Auburn at Missouri | 7:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| Ole Miss at Georgia | 7:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| Kentucky at LSU | 7:00pm | SECN |
| Pitt at Georgia Tech | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| La Salle at Richmond | 7:00pm | MNMT |
| Davidson at George Washington | 7:00pm | MNMT2 |
| Iona at Rider | 7:00pm | SNY |
| Colorado at Cincinnati | 7:00pm | Peacock |
| UNC Asheville at Presbyterian | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| East Carolina at South Florida | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Miss at Troy | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Furman at Samford | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sacred Heart at Siena | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Coastal Carolina at Marshall | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Illinois State at Indiana State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Colgate at Loyola Maryland | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tulsa at Charlotte | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| FIU at Kennesaw State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Saint Peter’s at Quinnipiac | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Manhattan at Fairfield | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| St. Bonaventure at Saint Joseph’s | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sam Houston at Jacksonville State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| USC Upstate at Charleston Southern | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Radford at Gardner-Webb | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Niagara at Canisius | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Missouri State at WKU | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Middle Tennessee at Louisiana Tech | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UAB at Tulane | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Lafayette at Bucknell | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| San Diego State at Wyoming | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
| Fordham at Saint Louis | 8:00pm | FanDuel Sports MW |
| South Dakota State at North Dakota State | 8:00pm | WDAY-DT3 |
| UCF at Kansas State | 8:00pm | Peacock |
| Rice at UTSA | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Drake at Southern Illinois | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Temple at Memphis | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Louisiana at Texas State | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UCLA at Penn State | 8:30pm | FS1 |
| Illinois at Northwestern | 8:30pm | BTN |
| Virginia Tech at SMU | 9:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| Vanderbilt at Texas | 9:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| South Carolina at Arkansas | 9:00pm | SECN |
| North Carolina at Stanford | 9:00pm | ACCN |
| Oral Roberts at Denver | 9:00pm | ALT2 |
| Utah at Texas Tech | 9:00pm | Peacock |
| Portland at Pepperdine | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Nevada at Utah State | 10:00pm | CBSSN |
| Pacific at Santa Clara | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Loyola Marymount at Oregon State | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Arizona State at Arizona | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| Michigan at Washington | 10:30pm | BTN |
| TCU at BYU | 11:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Duke at California | 11:00pm | ACCN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Serie A: Napoli vs Parma | 12:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs St. Pauli | 12:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Bundesliga: Hoffenheim vs Borussia M’gladbach | 2:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Bundesliga: Köln vs Bayern München | 2:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs Freiburg | 2:30pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Serie A: Internazionale vs Lecce | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Scottish Premiership: Falkirk vs Celtic | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Parma vs Internazionale | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Torino vs Udinese | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| League Cup: Chelsea vs Arsenal | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Liga MX: América vs Atlético San Luis | 8:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Querétaro vs Tijuana | 8:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Toluca vs Santos Laguna | 10:00pm | VIX |
============