“THE SCOREBOARD”
===========
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 66 TRINITY LUTHERAN 56
BELLMONT 49 HERITAGE 48
BEN DAVIS 96 INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN 50
BETHANY CHRISTIAN 36 ELKHART CHRISTIAN 35
BOWMAN ACADEMY 75 CALUMET 53
BREBEUF JESUIT 58 UNIVERSITY 45
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 52 BARR-REEVE 44
CASTLE 42 BOONVILLE 38
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 42 INDIANA DEAF 38
CHRISTEL HOUSE 75 INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY 49
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 55 KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY 50
CLARKSVILLE 63 EASTERN (PEKIN) 56
CLINTON CENTRAL 55 ATTICA 50 OT
COLUMBIA CITY 69 NORTHWOOD 47
COLUMBUS EAST 68 FRANKLIN 47
CRAWFORDSVILLE 58 NORTH VERMILLION 54
CROTHERSVILLE 88 LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 58
DEKALB 61 EASTSIDE 36
DELPHI 55 NORTH WHITE 25
EASTERN HANCOCK 81 DALEVILLE 32
ELKHART 35 LAPORTE 34
EVANSVILLE HARRISON 63 EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 57
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 68 NORTH POSEY 40
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 53 MANCHESTER 45 OT
FORT WAYNE SNIDER 53 NEW HAVEN 48
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 60 SOUTHPORT 46
GOSHEN 66 FAIRFIELD 63
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 67 SPEEDWAY 55
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 62 NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) 53
HAMILTON 56 SMITH ACADEMY 35
HOBART 42 BOONE GROVE 38
INDIAN CREEK 77 EDINBURGH 47
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD 54 BEECH GROVE 52
INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 60 IRVINGTON PREP 32
JASPER 56 EVANSVILLE REITZ 45
KIPP INDY LEGACY 56 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 52
LAFAYETTE JEFF 73 LOGANSPORT 40
LAKELAND 61 FORT WAYNE GUARD 36
LEO 42 WOODLAN 22
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 84 INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 62
LINTON 64 VINCENNES RIVET 46
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 67 WESTVILLE 30
MICHIGAN CITY 45 SOUTH BEND RILEY 44
MISHAWAKA MARIAN 68 CONCORD 49
MITCHELL 53 SALEM 43
MOORESVILLE CHRISTIAN 59 TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN 39
MOORESVILLE 78 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 72
NORTH MIAMI 50 NORTHFIELD 36
NORTH MONTGOMERY 57 COVINGTON 39
NORTHWESTERN 70 PERU 56
NORWELL 58 WABASH 39
PHALEN ACADEMY 90 INDIANAPOLIS ROOTED 36
PIKE 48 NOBLESVILLE 44 2OT
SETON CATHOLIC 67 UNION COUNTY 59
SOUTH ADAMS 53 CENTRAL NOBLE 29
SOUTH BEND ADAMS 83 EDWARDSBURG (MICH.) 53
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) 68 CULVER 35
SOUTH KNOX 86 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 7
SULLIVAN 69 NORTH KNOX 35
TF SOUTH (ILL.) 63 HIGHLAND 49
TAYLOR 69 MACONAQUAH 35
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 60 INDIANAPOLIS HOMESCHOOL 55
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 56 PLYMOUTH 54
TRINITY GREENLAWN 51 ARGOS 42
TRITON 42 LAVILLE 37 OT
WASHINGTON TWP. 58 MORGAN TWP. 37
WEST VIGO 57 RIVERTON PARKE 28
WESTERN 56 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 39
WESTVIEW 65 EAST NOBLE 41
WINAMAC 60 OREGON-DAVIS 23
GREENE COUNTY INVITATIONAL
SHAKAMAK 86 DUGGER UNION 51 R1
LOOGOOTEE 50 PLEASANT VIEW CHRISTIAN 32 R1
HENDRICKS COUNTY TOURNAMENT
AVON 70 CASCADE 49 R1
TRI-WEST 81 DANVILLE 61 R1
============
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ANDREAN AT CHESTERTON 8:00 PM
BORDEN AT NEW WASHINGTON 7:30 PM
CRAWFORD COUNTY AT SPRINGS VALLEY 7:30 PM
GARY LIGHTHOUSE AT GARY 21ST CENTURY 8:00 PM
INDIANA DEAF AT PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 7:30 PM
LANESVILLE AT SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) 7:30 PM
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT PARK TUDOR 7:30 PM
MISHAWAKA AT BUCHANAN (MICH.) 7:00 PM
MISSISSINEWA AT SOUTHWOOD 7:45 PM
OAK FARM MONTESSORI AT HAMILTON 7:30 PM
ROCK CREEK ACADEMY AT CORYDON CENTRAL 7:30 PM
WHITING AT BOWMAN ACADEMY 8:00 PM
GREENE COUNTY INVITATIONAL
PIKE CENTRAL AT WHITE RIVER VALLEY 6:00 PM R1
EVANSVILLE DAY VS. SHOALS 7:30 PM R1
RANDOLPH COUNTY TOURNAMENT
UNION (MODOC) VS. UNION CITY 6:00 PM R1
RIPLEY COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SOUTH RIPLEY VS. MILAN 6:00 PM R1
JAC-CEN-DEL AT BATESVILLE 7:30 PM R1
============
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
ALEXANDRIA 37 KOKOMO 35
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 45 MOORESVILLE 30
BOONVILLE 77 TECUMSEH 49
BROWNSBURG 56 LAWRENCE NORTH 34
CENTER GROVE 33 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 30
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 71 NEW WASHINGTON 8
CLOVERDALE 39 EMINENCE 12
COLUMBUS NORTH 53 WHITELAND 25
COWAN 35 EASTERN (GREENTOWN) 21
CRAWFORDSVILLE 65 SOUTH VERMILLION 15
DELPHI 53 NORTH WHITE 38
DELTA 50 BLACKFORD 6
EAST CENTRAL 54 NEW CASTLE 33
EASTBROOK 36 WAPAHANI 31
EASTERN GREENE 51 SHOALS 20
EASTSIDE 59 DEKALB 32
ELKHART 62 LAPORTE 35
FAIRFIELD 64 GARRETT 41
FISHERS 53 INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE 23
FLOYD CENTRAL 68 NORTH HARRISON 29
FOREST PARK 57 NORTHEAST DUBOIS 28
FORT WAYNE LUERS 60 ADAMS CENTRAL 48
FREMONT 49 GOSHEN 7
GREENCASTLE 36 CLAY CITY 29
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL 55 PERRY MERIDIAN 24
GREENSBURG 68 EASTERN HANCOCK 40
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 59 SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) 19
GRIFFITH 54 WHITING 40
GUERIN CATHOLIC 46 PARK TUDOR 33
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 70 NORTH MIAMI 60
HAMILTON 47 FORT WAYNE NORTH 46
HAMMOND NOLL 33 ANDREAN 30
HAUSER 51 INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 40
HENRYVILLE 70 CROTHERSVILLE 26
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 53 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 31
HERITAGE HILLS 69 PIKE CENTRAL 36
HIGHLAND 56 LOWELL 55
INDIAN CREEK 58 GREENWOOD 51
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS 59 INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON 13
INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 36 IRVINGTON PREP 25
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI 63 BREBEUF JESUIT 41
JAY COUNTY 74 FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 45
JENNINGS COUNTY 55 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 37
KOUTS 62 HANOVER CENTRAL 56
LAKELAND 53 LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 32
LAPEL 54 SHERIDAN 37
LAWRENCE CENTRAL 67 BEN DAVIS 44
LAWRENCEVILLE (ILL.) 68 NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) 8
LEO 55 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 47
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 41 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 37
MADISON 49 BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 43
MICHIGAN CITY 45 NEW PRAIRIE 42
MONROVIA 58 SOUTHMONT 53
NORTH DAVIESS 50 MITCHELL 34
NORTH DECATUR 64 EDINBURGH 58 2OT
NORTHWOOD 29 JOHN GLENN 25
NORTHFIELD 49 SOUTH ADAMS 23
NORWELL 69 CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) 27
OAK HILL 39 LEWIS CASS 22
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 60 MORRISTOWN 21
ORLEANS 56 VINCENNES RIVET 33
PENN 54 MISHAWAKA 11
PERRY CENTRAL 55 PAOLI 26
PIKE 74 FRANKLIN 54
PROVIDENCE 51 CRAWFORD COUNTY 49
PURDUE ENGLEWOOD 54 INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY 24
RENSSELAER CENTRAL 73 MUNSTER 38
RUSHVILLE 58 FRANKLIN COUNTY 50
SALEM 45 LANESVILLE 33
SEYMOUR 70 SCOTTSBURG 31
SHAWE MEMORIAL 56 ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 20
SOUTH KNOX 88 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 4
SOUTH SPENCER 66 MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) 14
SOUTHERN WELLS 53 DALEVILLE 48
SPEEDWAY 54 NORTH PUTNAM 46
SPRINGS VALLEY 50 WEST WASHINGTON 19
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 59 INDIANAPOLIS HOMESCHOOL 10
TIPTON 43 MISSISSINEWA 40
TRI-CENTRAL 52 TAYLOR 17
TRI-COUNTY 39 CLINTON PRAIRIE 33
TRI-TOWNSHIP 65 RIVER FOREST 29
TRI 38 SOUTH DECATUR 28
TRINITY LUTHERAN 70 BROWN COUNTY 31
TWIN LAKES 55 FRONTIER 47
WARREN CENTRAL 53 RICHMOND 26
WASHINGTON 61 SOUTHRIDGE 20
WEST CENTRAL 54 HEBRON 14
WEST LAFAYETTE 55 FRANKFORT 12
WEST NOBLE 36 CONCORD 33
WESTERN 40 CASTON 37
WESTVILLE 65 WHEELER 49
WINAMAC 77 KNOX 51
WINCHESTER 47 ANDERSON PREP 42 OT
YORKTOWN 59 MUNCIE CENTRAL 29
HENDRICKS COUNTY TOURNAMENT
AVON 76 CASCADE 33 R1
DANVILLE 60 TRI-WEST 45 R1
RIPLEY COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SOUTH RIPLEY 64 MILAN 17 R1
BATESVILLE 55 JAC-CEN-DEL 39 R1
============
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EASTERN
ANGOLA AT EAST NOBLE 7:30 PM
BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY AT BEECH GROVE 7:30 PM
BLOOMFIELD AT OWEN VALLEY 6:00 PM
BLUE RIVER VALLEY AT EASTERN HANCOCK 7:30 PM
BOWMAN ACADEMY AT ANDREAN 8:00 PM
CHURUBUSCO AT MANCHESTER 7:30 PM
CONNERSVILLE AT UNION COUNTY 7:30 PM
EMAN AT INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE 6:00 PM
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE NORTH AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE 8:00 PM
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) AT ZIONSVILLE 7:30 PM
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN AT CALUMET 7:00 PM
INDIANA DEAF AT PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 6:00 PM
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA AT INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE 6:30 PM
JEFFERSONVILLE AT SILVER CREEK 7:30 PM
KIPP INDY LEGACY AT VICTORY PREP 5:30 PM
KOKOMO AT NORTHWESTERN 6:30 PM
LAKE STATION AT WASHINGTON TWP. 7:00 PM
MACONAQUAH AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY 7:30 PM
MADISON-GRANT AT TIPTON 7:30 PM
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC AT HAMMOND CENTRAL 8:00 PM
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) AT DECATUR CENTRAL 7:30 PM
NOBLESVILLE AT INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 7:30 PM
NORTH MONTGOMERY AT SOUTH PUTNAM 7:30 PM
PLYMOUTH AT ROCHESTER 6:00 PM
SOUTH BEND ADAMS AT NORTHRIDGE 7:45 PM
SOUTH NEWTON AT DONOVAN (ILL.) 6:30 PM
SOUTH VERMILLION AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH 7:30 PM
SOUTHPORT AT SHELBYVILLE 7:30 PM
SOUTHWOOD AT MARION 7:30 PM
TRITON AT OREGON-DAVIS 6:30 PM
VINCENNES LINCOLN AT PRINCETON 8:00 PM
WABASH AT WHITKO 7:45 PM
WEST VIGO AT EDGEWOOD 7:30 PM
WESTERN AT UNIVERSITY 7:00 PM
WESTFIELD AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD 7:30 PM
RIVERTOWN TOURNAMENT
SWITZERLAND COUNTY AT SOUTH DEARBORN 6:00 PM R1
RISING SUN VS. LAWRENCEBURG 7:30 PM R1
===========
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/
============
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
FLORIDA 92 #18 GEORGIA 77
#6 DUKE 84 #20 LOUISVILLE 73
#2 MICHIGAN 74 PENN STATE 72
MINNESOTA 70 #19 IOWA 67
OKLAHOMA STATE 87 #25 CENTRAL FLORIDA 76
#21 TENNESSEE 85 TEXAS 71
#22 KANSAS 104 TCU 100 OT
#7 HOUSTON 69 #14 TEXAS TECH 65
OHIO 86 UMASS 83
KENT STATE 96 BOWLING GREEN 93
MIAMI OHIO 87 WESTERN MICHIGAN 76
EASTERN MICHIGAN 74 ALLSTATE 52
SOUTH CAROLINA 78 LSU 68
SYRACUSE 82 GEORGIA TECH 72
AKRON 82 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 69
ST. JOHN’S 84 BUTLER 70
WEST VIRGINIA 62 CINCINNATI 60
TOLEDO 75 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 61
DEPAUL 56 GEORGETOWN 50
DAYTON 79 GEORGE WASHINGTON 72
TEXAS A&M 90 AUBURN 88
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 79 BOSTON COLLEGE 71
WISCONSIN 80 UCLA 72
UTAH STATE 99 AIR FORCE 62
NEW MEXICO 80 COLORADO STATE 70
WYOMING 98 UNLV 66
FRESNO STATE 70 SAN JOSE STATE 55
SAN DIEGO STATE 73 NEVADA 68
===========
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
OREGON 71 #21 USC 66
TEMPLE 70 WICHITA STATE 50
ARIZONA 75 BYU 72
TULSA 76 TULANE 73
SOUTH FLORIDA 70 ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM 65
NORTH TEXAS 87 E. CAROLINA 63
==========
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
7:30 P.M. | FIESTA BOWL (CFP SEMIFINAL) (GLENDALE, ARIZ.) | (13-1) OLE MISS VS. (12-2) MIAMI FL. ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 9
7:30 P.M. | PEACH BOWL (CFP SEMIFINAL) (ATLANTA, GA.) | (14-0) INDIANA VS. (13-1) OREGON ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 19
7:30 P.M. | COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (MIAMI, FLA.) | ESPN
===========
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-hq/transfer-portal-tracker
============
NFL
NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
JAN. 10
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, 4:30 P.M. ET, FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 8 P.M. ET, PRIME VIDEO
JAN. 11
BUFFALO BILLS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, 1 P.M. ET, CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, 4:30 P.M. ET, FOX
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 8 P.M. ET, NBC
JAN. 12
HOUSTON AT PITTSBURGH, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
==========
NBA
CLEVELAND 120 INDIANA 116
WASHINGTON 120 ORLANDO 112
MEMPHIS 106 SAN ANTONIO 105
MINNESOTA 122 MIAMI 94
LA LAKERS 111 NEW ORLEANS 103
DALLAS 100 SACRAMENTO 98
===========
NHL
BUFFALO 5 VANCOUVER 3
CAROLINA 6 DALLAS 3
TAMPA BAY 4 COLORADO 2
PHILADELPHIA 5 ANAHEIM 2
NY ISLANDERS 9 NEW JERSEY 0
TORONTO 4 FLORIDA 1
VEGAS 4 WINNIPEG 3 OT
EDMONTON 6 NASHVILLE 2
SAN JOSE 5 COLUMBUS 2
SEATTLE 7 BOSTON 4
===========
NATIONAL RELEASES
NFL
NFL PLAYOFFS PREVIEW
The NFL playoffs begin with Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon (Jan. 10-12), which for the fifth-consecutive year will conclude with a Monday night game.
| Saturday, January 10 | |||
| NFC | No. 5 L.A. Rams (12-5) at No. 4 Carolina (8-9) | 4:30 p.m. ET | FOX, FOX Deportes |
| NFC | No. 7 Green Bay (9-7-1) at No. 2 Chicago (11-6) | 8 p.m. ET | Prime Video |
| Sunday, January 11 | |||
| AFC | No. 6 Buffalo (12-5) at No. 3 Jacksonville (13-4) | 1 p.m. ET | CBS, Paramount+ |
| NFC | No. 6 San Francisco (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia (11-6) | 4:30 p.m. ET | FOX, FOX Deportes |
| AFC | No. 7 L.A. Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England (14-3) | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo |
| Monday, January 12 | |||
| AFC | No. 5 Houston (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-7) | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC/ESPN+/ ESPN Deportes; ManningCast-ESPN2/ESPN+ |
The Philadelphia Eagles, the No. 3 seed in the NFC, aims to become the 10th team to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
The Denver Broncos earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the first time since 2015 after tying a franchise record with 14 wins this season (also won 14 games in 1998, when they won Super Bowl XXXIII). The Broncos have advanced to the Super Bowl six of the previous eight times they were the No. 1 seed.
The Seattle Seahawks earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the fourth time in franchise history (2005, 2013 and 2014) after setting a franchise record with 14 wins in 2025. The Seahawks have advanced to the Super Bowl each of the three previous times they have been the No. 1 seed.
Six teams – Carolina, Chicago, Jacksonville, New England, San Francisco and Seattle – qualified for the postseason after missing the playoffs in 2024. Since 1990 – a streak of 36 consecutive seasons (1990-2025) – at least four teams every season have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before.
Carolina, Chicago and New England won division titles after finishing in last or tied for last in their divisions in 2024. In 20 of the past 23 seasons (2003-25), at least one team finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place.
Carolina, Chicago, New England and San Francisco clinched playoff berths after finishing in last or tied for last in their divisions in 2024. In 27 of the past 30 seasons (1996-2025), at least one team has made the playoffs the season after finishing in last or tied for last place.
There were seven new division winners – Carolina, Chicago, Denver, Jacksonville, New England, Pittsburgh and Seattle – tied with 2011 for the most in a season since 2002. There have been at least two new division winners in every season since 2003, a streak of 23 consecutive seasons, and since realignment in 2002, 31 of the 32 NFL teams have won a division title at least once.
How the 2025 playoff teams have fared in the 24 seasons since realignment in 2002 (2025 division winners in bold/italics):
| TEAM | DIVISION TITLES | PLAYOFF BERTHS |
| New England | 17 | 18 |
| Green Bay | 12 | 18 |
| Philadelphia | 11 | 16 |
| Pittsburgh | 10 | 16 |
| Seattle | 10 | 16 |
| Houston | 8 | 9 |
| Denver | 7 | 10 |
| San Francisco | 6 | 9 |
| Carolina | 6 | 8 |
| L.A. Chargers | 5 | 10 |
| L.A. Rams | 5 | 9 |
| Buffalo | 5 | 8 |
| Chicago | 5 | 6 |
| Jacksonville | 3 | 5 |
Seven of this season’s 14 playoff teams have won at least one Super Bowl since 2000, capturing 14 of the past 25 Vince Lombardi Trophies. Those teams are the Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII), Eagles (LII, LIX), Steelers (XL, XLIII), Broncos (50), Packers (XLV), Seahawks (XLVIII) and Rams (LVI).
| SUPER BOWL | SEASON | WINNER |
| XXXV | 2000 | Baltimore Ravens |
| XXXVI | 2001 | New England Patriots* |
| XXXVII | 2002 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| XXXVIII | 2003 | New England Patriots* |
| XXXIX | 2004 | New England Patriots* |
| XL | 2005 | Pittsburgh Steelers* |
| XLI | 2006 | Indianapolis Colts |
| XLII | 2007 | New York Giants |
| XLIII | 2008 | Pittsburgh Steelers* |
| XLIV | 2009 | New Orleans Saints |
| XLV | 2010 | Green Bay Packers* |
| XLVI | 2011 | New York Giants |
| XLVII | 2012 | Baltimore Ravens |
| XLVIII | 2013 | Seattle Seahawks* |
| XLIX | 2014 | New England Patriots* |
| 50 | 2015 | Denver Broncos* |
| LI | 2016 | New England Patriots* |
| LII | 2017 | Philadelphia Eagles* |
| LIII | 2018 | New England Patriots* |
| LIV | 2019 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| LV | 2020 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| LVI | 2021 | Los Angeles Rams* |
| LVII | 2022 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| LVIII | 2023 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| LIX | 2024 | Philadelphia Eagles* |
| *In 2025 postseason | ||
New England (37-22, .627), San Francisco (39-25, .609) and Green Bay (37-27, .578) have the most playoff wins and the three highest postseason winning percentages in NFL history.
The 14 playoff teams and their postseason records:
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. |
| New England Patriots | 37 | 22 | .627 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 39 | 25 | .609 |
| Green Bay Packers | 37 | 27 | .578 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 36 | 29 | .554 |
| Denver Broncos | 23 | 20 | .535 |
| Carolina Panthers | 9 | 8 | .529 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 29 | 26 | .527 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 8 | 8 | .500 |
| Buffalo Bills | 21 | 22 | .488 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 27 | 29 | .482 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 17 | 19 | .472 |
| Chicago Bears | 17 | 20 | .459 |
| Houston Texans | 6 | 8 | .429 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 12 | 20 | .375 |
Quarterback Breakdown: 12 of the 14 expected starting quarterbacks in the 2025 playoffs are under the age of 30, the most in a postseason all-time.
Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers (age 42), expected to make his 22nd career postseason start (all with Green Bay), ranks tied for the third all-time in postseason touchdown passes (45) and fourth in postseason passing yards (5,894). Rodgers earned Super Bowl MVP honors when he led the Packers to a Super Bowl XLV championship in 2010.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen (age 29) has 3,359 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes, 668 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns and one touchdown reception in his first 13 career playoff starts. Among quarterbacks with at least 10 playoff starts, Allen’s 309.8 combined passing and rushing yards per game is the highest in NFL history.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (age 37) will make his 11th career postseason start and led the Rams to the Super Bowl LVI title following the 2021 season. During the 2021 postseason, he recorded 1,188 passing yards in four starts, the second-most passing yards in a single postseason all-time. Stafford led the NFL with 46 touchdown passes during the regular season and can join Tom Brady (2007 and 2020) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2004 and 2013) as the only quarterbacks with at least 50 touchdown passes, including the postseason, in multiple career seasons.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (age 27) can make his 10th career playoff start and has led the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances (LVII and LIX) in the past three seasons. Last season, he was named Super Bowl LIX MVP and he is the only player in NFL history with 10 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns in the postseason.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy (age 26) has a 4-2 record in six career playoff starts with seven touchdowns (six passing, one rushing) and a 96.2 rating in his postseason career. Purdy led the 49ers to an SB LVIII appearance following the 2023 season. In nine starts this season, he totaled 23 touchdowns (20 passing, three rushing) with a 100.5 rating.
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud (age 24) is expected to make his fifth career postseason start on Wild Card weekend and can become the fourth quarterback ever to win a playoff game in each of his first three seasons, joining Joe Flacco, Pro Football Hall of Famer Otto Graham and Russell Wilson.
Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love (age 27) can make a postseason start for the third-consecutive year and has at least two touchdown passes in two of his first three career playoff starts. Love passed for 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns with a career-high 101.2 rating in 15 starts this season.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (age 27) can make his third career playoff start in the Wild Card round. He passed for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns and added a career-high 498 rushing yards in 16 starts this season.
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence (age 26) can make his third postseason appearance after setting career highs in touchdown passes (29), rushing touchdowns (nine) and rushing yards (359) in 17 starts during the regular season.
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold (age 28) will make his second-career postseason start in the Divisional playoffs after becoming the fifth quarterback all-time to record at least 13 wins in consecutive seasons and the first to do so with different teams. He passed for 245 yards and one touchdown in his postseason debut last season with Minnesota.
Denver quarterback Bo Nix (age 25) can make his second postseason start in the Divisional playoffs and has 24 regular season wins since entering the NFL in 2024, tied with Russell Wilson for the most regular season wins by a starting quarterback in his first two seasons in NFL history.
New England quarterback Drake Maye (age 23), Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams (age 24) and Carolina quarterback Bryce Young (age 24) can each make their first career postseason start after leading their respective teams to division titles this season. With Lawrence, Stafford, Williams and Young, the 2025 postseason will mark the fourth all-time to feature four quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall to start in the same playoffs.
Wild Card notes:
No. 5 L.A. Rams (12-5) at No. 4 Carolina (8-9) (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX Deportes): The Panthers defeated the Rams, 31-28, in Week 13 as quarterback Bryce Young recorded three touchdown passes and a career-high 147.1 rating in the win. Los Angeles led the NFL in scoring offense (30.5 points per game) and total offense (394.6 yards per game) this season as Matthew Stafford led the league in passing yards (4,707) and touchdown passes (career-high 46). In the only previous playoff meeting between the two clubs, Carolina defeated the St. Louis Rams, 29-23, in double overtime on Jan. 10, 2004, the sixth-longest postseason game in NFL history.
No. 7 Green Bay (9-7-1) at No. 2 Chicago (11-6) (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video): The Bears and Packers split the season series in 2025, with each team winning at home. Green Bay defeated Chicago, 28-21, in Week 14 while Chicago earned a 22-16 overtime win over Green Bay in Week 16. The Bears had the most takeaways (33) and fewest giveaways (11) in the NFL this season. The Packers and Bears have also split the two previous postseason meetings, both in Chicago.
No. 6 Buffalo (12-5) at No. 3 Jacksonville (13-4) (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+): The Jaguars enter the postseason on an eight-game winning streak while the Bills won five of their final six games this season. Buffalo’s Josh Allen (39) and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence (38) ranked second and third this season in combined passing and rushing touchdowns. The Bills led the NFL with 2,714 rushing yards (159.6 per game) and 30 rushing touchdowns while the Jaguars allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (85.6) this season.
No. 6 San Francisco (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia (11-6) (Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX Deportes): The Eagles have won five consecutive home playoff games, including a 31-7 win over the 49ers in the 2022 NFC Championship Game. Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley (765 scrimmage yards in six playoff games, 127.5 per game) and San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey (836 scrimmage yards in seven playoff games, 119.4 per game) have the second and fourth-highest scrimmage yard averages in NFL postseason history among players with at least five playoff games played.
No. 7 L.A. Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England (14-3) (Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/Telemundo/Universo): The Patriots, set to host their first playoff game since the 2019 Wild Card round, have won each of the three playoff meetings against the Chargers in the Super Bowl era. New England led the AFC in scoring offense (28.8 points per game) and total offense (379.4 yards per game) as quarterback Drake Maye led all qualified passers in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72.0). The Chargers, along with the Jaguars, were the only two teams to allow 20-or-fewer points in each of the final six weeks of the regular season.
No. 5 Houston (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-7) (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ ESPN+/ ESPN Deportes/ManningCast-ESPN2/ESPN+): The Texans enter the 2025 playoffs having won nine consecutive games, the longest winning streak by a team entering the playoffs since San Francisco in 2022 (10 game winning streak). Houston led the NFL in total defense (277.2 yards per game allowed) and ranked second in scoring defense (17.4 points per game against) this season. The Steelers, winners of the AFC North for the first time since 2020, look for their first home playoff win since the 2016 Wild Card round (Jan. 8, 2017, vs. Miami).
BEST NFL PLAYOFF PERFORMANCES
(Single postseason)
| PASSING YARDS | ||||||
| PLAYER, TEAM | SEASON | COMP. | ATT. | YARDS | TD | INT |
| Eli Manning, New York Giants | 2011 | 106 | 163 | 1,219 | 9 | 1 |
| Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams | 2021 | 98 | 140 | 1,188 | 9 | 3 |
| Kurt WarnerHOF, Arizona | 2008 | 92 | 135 | 1,147 | 11 | 3 |
| Joe Flacco, Baltimore | 2012 | 73 | 126 | 1,140 | 11 | 0 |
| Tom Brady, New England | 2016 | 93 | 142 | 1,137 | 7 | 3 |
| RUSHING YARDS | ||||
| PLAYER, TEAM | SEASON | ATT. | YARDS | TD |
| John RigginsHOF, Washington | 1982 | 136 | 610 | 4 |
| Terrell DavisHOF, Denver | 1997 | 112 | 581 | 8 |
| Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia | 2024 | 91 | 499 | 5 |
| Terrell DavisHOF, Denver | 1998 | 78 | 468 | 3 |
| Marcus AllenHOF, Los Angeles Raiders | 1983 | 58 | 466 | 4 |
| RECEIVING YARDS | ||||
| PLAYER, TEAM | SEASON | REC. | YARDS | TD |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona | 2008 | 30 | 546 | 7 |
| Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams | 2021 | 33 | 478 | 6 |
| Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants | 2011 | 28 | 444 | 4 |
| Jerry RiceHOF, San Francisco | 1988 | 21 | 409 | 6 |
| Steve Smith, Carolina | 2003 | 18 | 404 | 3 |
| RECEPTIONS | ||||
| PLAYER, TEAM | SEASON | REC. | YARDS | TD |
| Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams | 2021 | 33 | 478 | 6 |
| Travis Kelce, Kansas City | 2023 | 32 | 355 | 3 |
| Travis Kelce, Kansas City | 2020 | 31 | 360 | 3 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona | 2008 | 30 | 546 | 7 |
| Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants | 2011 | 28 | 444 | 4 |
| Demaryius Thomas, Denver | 2013 | 28 | 306 | 3 |
| SCRIMMAGE TOUCHDOWNS | ||||
| PLAYER, TEAM | SEASON | TOTAL TD | RUSH TD | REC. TD |
| Terrell DavisHOF, Denver | 1997 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona | 2008 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Larry CsonkaHOF, Miami | 1973 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Franco HarrisHOF, Pittsburgh | 1974 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams | 2021 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Sony Michel, New England | 2018 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Jerry RiceHOF, San Francisco | 1988 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| John RigginsHOF, Washington | 1983 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Gerald Riggs, Washington | 1991 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Emmitt SmithHOF, Dallas | 1995 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Ricky Watters, San Francisco | 1993 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Damien Williams, Kansas City | 2019 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
RAVENS FIRE COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
The Baltimore Ravens fired one-time Super Bowl-winning coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday.
The move came two days after Baltimore’s season-ending 26-24 loss at Pittsburgh to hand the Steelers the AFC North title and final playoff berth.
Following initial reports that the sides had split, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti released a statement saying he decided to “make a change at head coach” despite “the tremendous 18 years we have spent together.”
“Our goal has always been and will always be to win Championships,” Bisciotti wrote. “We strive to consistently perform at the highest level on the field and be a team and organization our fans take pride in.
“I will always be grateful for the extraordinary hard work and dedication displayed by John and his staff throughout the many successful years. …
“We fully understand the expectations of our fans and everyone in the Ravens organization. Finding another strong leader and partner who will reflect these high standards is paramount.”
Harbaugh spent 18 years leading Baltimore, making him the second-longest tenured head coach in the league behind only Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin.
The move means Baltimore is one of seven head-coaching vacancies in the NFL, joining Arizona, Atlanta, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Tennessee and the New York Giants.
It also has the potential to shake up the coaching carousel, as a veteran head coach with 180 wins and a Super Bowl ring is now on the market.
“Well, I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today,” Harbaugh wrote in a statement released by the Ravens. “It comes with disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION.
“Gratitude to the owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with Special Teams success. A difficult thing to do … and Appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity.
“I hope a legacy built on Faith, always Fighting, always Believing.”
Harbaugh wrote in the statement about building lasting values into the organization through the team, cherishing meaningful and impactful relationships with players and about the loyal partnerships and friendships that developed.
Harbaugh, 63, became the Ravens’ head coach in 2008 after a stint as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. In his fifth season on the job, Baltimore beat Peyton Manning’s Colts and Tom Brady’s Patriots to get to Super Bowl XLVII, where the Joe Flacco-led Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in a classic.
It was a matchup between brothers, as John’s brother Jim Harbaugh was the head coach of the Niners.
In 18 seasons under John Harbaugh, Baltimore finished with fewer than eight wins only once. The Ravens made the postseason 12 times, but they have not been back to the Super Bowl since the February 2013 game.
Harbaugh has come under scrutiny for failing to get Baltimore far in the playoffs while the team has two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson at quarterback and a perennially strong defense. The Ravens added star running back Derrick Henry in 2024, and in 2025 they had the No. 2 rushing offense in the NFL (156.6 yards per game) and the No. 11 scoring offense (24.9 ppg) but still finished 8-9.
The Ravens lined up for a 44-yard field goal attempt to beat the Steelers on Sunday night, but Tyler Loop’s kick missed wide right. Harbaugh was questioned for burning the preceding play with a kneeldown rather than trying to gain better field position to take stress off his rookie kicker.
“I don’t think it was a bad decision,” Harbaugh said afterward.
Harbaugh leaves Baltimore with a 180-113 record in the regular season and a 13-11 mark in the playoffs. His eight road playoff wins as a head coach are an NFL record.
LIONS FIRE OC JOHN MORTON AFTER ONE SEASON
John Morton, who was relieved of his play-calling duties eight games into his first season as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was fired on Tuesday.
The Lions announced they had “parted ways” with Morton, 56, after finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs in a season with championship expectations.
Morton replaced Ben Johnson, who left to be the Chicago Bears’ head coach after guiding the Lions to spectacular offensive numbers in 2024.
Under Johnson, Detroit boasted the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense (33.2 points per game) and finished second in total offense (409.5 yards per game) in 2024. Detroit’s points (564) and regular-season wins (15) that year were franchise records.
Head coach Dan Campbell took over as offensive play-caller for the Lions this season after a 27-24 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 2 dropped the team to 5-3. Detroit beat the host Washington Commanders 44-22 on Nov. 9.
At the end of the 2025 regular season, the Lions ranked fifth in the league in total offense (373.2 yards per game), third in passing (253.1) and 14th in rushing (120.1). Detroit was tied for fourth with the Buffalo Bills at 28.3 points per game.
Morton returned to the organization after a two-year stint as the pass game coordinator in Denver, where in 2024 the Broncos finished 20th in the NFL in pass offense (212.4) and averaged 25.0 points per game.
He spent the 2022 season with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant before joining the Broncos in 2023. The Michigan native previously worked with Detroit quarterback Jared Goff during Johnson’s first season as offensive coordinator.
KLIFF KINGSBURY AND JOE WHITT JR. ARE GONE FROM THE COMMANDERS AFTER A 5-12 SEASON, AP SOURCE SAYS
Coordinators Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. are both gone from head coach Dan Quinn’s staff with the Washington Commanders after a 5-12 season, a team official with knowledge of the moves told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the staff changes had not yet been announced.
Kingsbury, the offensive coordinator, and Whitt, who had been in charge of the defense until being stripped of play-calling duties during the season, both arrived in Washington with Quinn before the 2024 season.
According to the person who described Tuesday’s decisions to the AP, Quinn and Kingsbury met in the morning to talk about the future of the team’s offense, which stars quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Quinn and Kingsbury then mutually agreed to part ways, the official said.
Whitt was dismissed, which was not surprising given his earlier demotion and just how bad Washington’s defense was this season. One data point: No team in the NFL allowed opponents to gain more yards.
These switches come two days after the Commanders’ disappointing campaign ended, a far cry from a year ago, when Quinn’s first season in Washington included a 12-5 regular-season record, a run all the way to the NFC championship game and AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for No. 2 overall draft pick Daniels.
But Daniels kept getting hurt this season, managing to start only seven games and getting shut down in December after a series of injuries to his left knee, right hamstring and left elbow.
“I love working with Kliff. Me and him have a special relationship. We’ve built that over the past two years,” Daniels said Monday, when players cleared out their lockers at the team facility in Ashburn, Virginia. “I wish I was out there more to play for him this past year.”
At their end-of-season joint news conference Monday, Quinn and general manager Adam Peters did not provide answers about possible changes to the coaching staff.
But Peters did make clear whose choices those would be.
“I’m not involved in whatever decision it is,” Peters said. “It’s always DQ’s call and I have his back on whatever he wants to do.”
COWBOYS FIRE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT EBERFLUS AFTER ONE SEASON FILLED WITH POOR SHOWINGS
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys fired first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Tuesday after they allowed the most points and intercepted the fewest passes in franchise history.
It’s the second consecutive season in which Eberflus has been fired. He was let go midseason in 2024, his third year as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Eberflus made it to the end of the season in his return to Dallas, where he had been an assistant from 2011-17 before going to Indianapolis as defensive coordinator. But the 55-year-old’s fate appeared sealed before Sunday’s finale, a 34-17 loss at the New York Giants that set a club record as the ninth game of allowing at least 30 points.
“Having known Matt Eberflus for decades now, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for him as a coach and a person,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “After reviewing and discussing the results of our defensive performance this season, though, it was clear that change is needed. This is the first step in that process, and we will continue that review as it applies to reaching our much higher expectations.”
The departure of Eberflus means the Cowboys will have their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons, following Dan Quinn in 2023, Mike Zimmer last year and Eberflus. Dallas’ past five defensive coordinators have been former NFL head coaches.
The Cowboys (7-9-1) finished last in the NFL in scoring defense and passing defense and 30th overall, wasting one of quarterback Dak Prescott’s best seasons for the league’s No. 2 offense.
Dallas gave up 500 points for the first time in club history, allowing 511 for an average of 30.1. The only higher average was the 30.8 points per game given up by the franchise’s winless expansion team in 1960.
The defense’s six interceptions fell one short of the previous franchise low, and the 12 takeaways were the second fewest in club history. The Cowboys finished tied for 29th in the NFL with a minus-9 turnover margin.
Jones didn’t do Eberflus any favors by trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons a week before the season started.
One of the two first-round picks acquired from Green Bay in that deal led to a trade for standout defensive tackle Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets, a move that sparked a three-game winning streak under first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Jones has said the most surprising moment of the season was the 44-30 loss at Detroit that ended the winning streak and sent the Cowboys tumbling to a 1-4 finish. Trailing most of the game, Dallas couldn’t get a fourth-quarter stop after trimming the deficit to three with 10 minutes remaining.
Dallas has consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the last of three in a row in 2002. The Cowboys had three straight 12-win playoff seasons from 2021-23 but just one postseason victory.
Schottenheimer replaced Mike McCarthy after a 7-10 finish in 2024, and the Cowboys went with a coach they knew to complement Schottenheimer, who calls the plays on offense.
The zone-heavy scheme under Eberflus never seemed to fit with personnel that was more familiar with man-to-man coverage, leading to blown assignments and plenty of open space in the secondary. Plus, the pass rush struggled without Parsons.
Eberflus moved to the coaching booth from the sideline with three games remaining, but the results didn’t change much.
“I don’t really think about it that way,” Eberflus said when asked before the season finale what he might have done differently. “I think about being in the moment and just keep adjusting and learning and growing and getting better. I don’t think I’d do anything differently.”
NFL MVP DEBATE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL A WINNER IS ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH
The NFL regular season has ended and the MVP debate continues.
It could be another close race with no clear front-runner. Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye have the best odds, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Playoff results won’t matter because it’s a regular-season award. Winners of the AP NFL awards will be revealed at “NFL Honors” on Feb. 5.
Stafford had an outstanding season for the Los Angeles Rams, leading them to a 12-5 record and the NFC’s No. 5 seed. Maye led the New England Patriots (14-3) to a 10-win turnaround and the AFC’s No. 2 seed in just his second season.
Stafford was first in the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. His passer rating of 109.2 was second only to Maye, who finished at 113.5. Maye had 4,394 yards passing and 31 TDs. Both quarterbacks threw eight interceptions. Maye had the higher completion percentage, 72% to 65%.
Christian McCaffrey also belongs in the conversation after an outstanding do-it-all season in which he helped the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers (12-5) overcome losing several key players and going long stretches without QB Brock Purdy. The Niners even reached Week 18 with a chance at the No. 1 seed before Seattle’s defense shut them down in a 13-3 win.
A running back hasn’t won the MVP award since Adrian Peterson in 2012.
Micah Parsons is worthy of consideration. Parsons tore his ACL during Green Bay’s loss to Denver in Week 15. The Packers were 9-3-1 in games he finished; 0-4 in the others, including last week when they rested starters.
Quarterbacks have won the MVP award 12 straight seasons. Those QBs have played for a No. 1 seed nine times in that span and a No. 2 seed the other three.
Only three quarterbacks have ever won MVP on a team that didn’t win its division. Peyton Manning did it in 2008, Steve McNair as a co-MVP in 2003 and Johnny Unitas in 1967, when the Colts went 11-1-2 but missed the playoffs.
Last year, Josh Allen edged Lamar Jackson for MVP. However, Jackson was the first-team All-Pro. It was the first time a first-team All-Pro didn’t win the NFL MVP award since 1987, when John Elway was the MVP and Joe Montana received All-Pro honors.
The MVP award is given to a player who had the most valuable season while All-Pro is a statistical recognition. All-Pro rosters will be announced this week and the debate will still continue until next month.
Playoff seeding
The Detroit Lions proposed last season that playoff seeding should be based on winning percentage instead of automatically placing division winners in the top four spots.
NFL owners voted against it in May because a majority value the importance of teams winning their own division.
“I’m a division purist,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
The league will likely revisit this idea after a second straight season in which three teams with better records will play on the road during wild-card weekend.
The 49ers (12-5) play at the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6). The Rams (12-5) play at the Carolina Panthers (8-9). The Houston Texans (12-5) play at the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7).
Last year, the teams with the better records went 1-2.
The Rams-Panthers matchup will be the ninth time a road team in the playoffs has at least four wins more than its opponent. The teams with the better records are just 2-6 in those games.
Defense needs help
Two of the teams with the NFL’s top four defenses didn’t even make the playoffs.
The Vikings (9-8) were third, allowing 282.6 yards per game. The Browns (5-12) finished fourth, giving up 283.6.
Both teams had quarterback issues. Minnesota lost starter J.J. McCarthy for seven games and backup Carson Wentz started five games, playing the final 2 1/2 games with a shoulder that required season-ending surgery.
The Browns started veteran Joe Flacco for four games, rookie Dillon Gabriel for six and rookie Shedeur Sanders the last seven.
Houston and Denver finished 1-2. The Broncos earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Texans got the No. 5 seed.
JETS GM DARREN MOUGEY IS CONFIDENT THE TEAM CAN HAVE A QUICK TURNAROUND AFTER A DISMAL 3-14 SEASON
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Darren Mougey showed no hesitation when asked how quickly the New York Jets can rebound from one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
“I believe we can be competitive and respectable right away, next year,” the general manager said Tuesday, two days after the Jets finished 3-14 and left their frustrated fanbase wondering if they’ll be rooting for a winning team anytime soon.
Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn met with reporters in their season wrapup news conference, looking to improve on shortcomings and learn from mistakes in their first year on the job.
“I’m excited about the offseason as we go into it,” Mougey said. “Obviously, the draft capital we have, the cap space and just being here now a year with AG, working with AG, the staff, getting to learn the staff, getting to learn the players, getting to learn this division — I feel more confident today than ever moving forward with what we have going.”
That might seem a tough sell to some who watched the Jets lose their last five games by being outscored 188-46 to put an ugly capper on a 15th straight year without a playoff appearance.
Overall, there were plenty of mistakes, including the ill-fated decision to have Justin Fields be the starting quarterback to hiring the since-fired Steve Wilks as the defensive coordinator. And there was a lot in-between, including injuries, inconsistencies and questionable calls.
Glenn refused to blame the season on anything or anyone but himself, saying he needs to do a better job.
“Listen, we’re frustrated about this season,” Glenn said. “I know the players are frustrated about it also. But there’s also faith that comes with that. And that’s the fact we went through this whole year to be able to learn a ton about ourselves, about the roster, about how we can get better. And I have total confidence in that and I want the fans to have total confidence in that also.”
Glenn, who completed his first season as a head coach after four as Detroit’s defensive coordinator, insists being “educated” over the last year on what it takes to be successful in his position, and for Mougey in his, will benefit them — and the team — moving forward. He added that there are “a number of things” he’ll improve on in his second year.
“So for our fans, listen, again, there’s a vision that we have,” Glenn said. “And there’s a trust that we have in that also. And I expect and I will want our fans to have a total trust in us in being able to do that. And we have to earn that too, and our plan is to do that.
“And we don’t expect to have another season like this here.”
Otherwise, of course, there might be new people in place trying to complete the rebuild.
“There’s always a sense of urgency,” Glenn said when asked if there’s added pressure to prove to ownership he’s the right coach. “It doesn’t matter what the record is because winning is a sense of urgency in itself and that’s what the plan is, is to win. We all know Woody and we all know he wants to win, just like we do. So yes, there is a sense of urgency from that.”
Fields’ future
There’s an assumption that Fields, who started just nine games before being benched and then ending the season on injured reserve with a knee injury, won’t be back despite a year left on his deal with New York.
Glenn would only say: “Justin is under contract,” while adding that rookie Brady Cook, who started the final four games, is also signed for next season.
It would seem likely the Jets will explore taking a quarterback in the first round since they have the No. 2 pick, but adding a veteran through free agency is also in play.
“I can tell you this: We will exhaust every option,” Mougey said.
Hall in?
Running back Breece Hall is scheduled to be a free agent coming off the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his four-year career. Hall was the subject of trade rumors this season and will be the Jets’ highest-profile player who can leave in free agency.
“Breece is a good player,” Mougey said. “I want as many good players back as we can. I met with probably 50 players yesterday. I met with Breece yesterday, had a lot of good conversations. So, we’ll go through this process and we’ll see how free agency unfolds, but we want to add good players.”
Mougey declined to go into hypotheticals when asked if using the franchise or transition tags on Hall would be a possibility.
Next DC
Glenn and Mougey will evaluate the roster and coaching staff over the next few days. One position Glenn has to address is his defensive coordinator.
Chris Harris was the interim in place of Wilks, but Glenn said there are “a number of coaches we’ll look at” for the vacancy. Glenn said he hired Wilks because of his experience as a former head coach and because he ran the same defense the Jets wanted to have.
Glenn acknowledged it didn’t work out, and said he wants “a lot of synergy” between him and the next defensive coordinator.
NFL PLAYOFF GUIDE: HOW TO WATCH, BETTING FAVORITES AND SOME OF THE TOP STORYLINES
This year’s NFL playoffs could represent a shift to a new generation of winning players — particularly at quarterback.
The top two seeds in both the AFC and NFC are led by a quartet of young or unheralded quarterbacks, including Bo Nix (Broncos), Drake Maye (Patriots), Sam Darnold (Seahawks) and Caleb Williams (Bears).
All while perennial MVP candidates like Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson are sitting at home.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be some familiar postseason faces taking snaps in the coming weeks. Veterans like Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford are back in the postseason, vying for a spot in Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8.
The postseason begins Saturday with the opening of wild-card weekend. Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, how to watch and a few of the biggest storylines.
NFL playoff schedule
Wild-card weekend (all times EST)
NFC
— No. 7 Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) at No. 2 Chicago Bears (11-6), Saturday, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
— No. 6 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6), Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)
— No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at No. 4 Carolina Panthers (8-9), Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)
AFC
— No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England Patriots (14-3), Sunday, 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
— No. 6 Buffalo Bills (12-5) at No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4), Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
— No. 5 Houston Texans (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), Monday, 8 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
The No. 1 seeds are the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC and Denver Broncos in the AFC. They both have a bye week before playing in the divisional round.
Divisional round: Jan. 17-18
AFC and NFC championships: Jan. 25
Super Bowl 60: Feb. 8
Betting Favorites
Winning on the road is hard but Vegas is bullish on three of the six road teams this weekend.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Rams are favored by a whopping 10 points over the Panthers, who won the NFC South despite an 8-9 record that’s the worst among the 14 playoff teams.
The Bills are also 1.5-point favorites over the home Jaguars while the Texans are favored by 3.5 points at the Steelers, who snuck into the playoffs on Monday with a 26-24 win in Week 18 when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired.
First-time champ?
One bit of added intrigue to the postseason is that five of the 14 teams have never won a Super Bowl, including the Bills, Panthers, Jaguars, Texans and Chargers. The Texans and Jaguars have never even played in a Super Bowl.
The Bills have a particularly tough postseason history, losing four Super Bowls in a row from 1991 to 1994.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
CFP QUARTERFINALS VIEWERSHIP UP 14% FROM LAST YEAR, INCLUDING THIS SEASON’S 3 MOST-WATCHED GAMES
The College Football Playoff has some viewer momentum going into this week’s semifinals.
Last week’s quarterfinals had a 14% increase from last season. According to ESPN and Nielsen, the four matchups averaged 19.3 million viewers, including the three most-watched games of the season.
The CFP is averaging 14.4 million through the quarterfinals, which is up 3% from last year. Six of the eight games are in the top 10 of most-viewed this season.
Top-seeded Indiana’s 38-3 rout of No. 9 Alabama in the Rose Bowl averaged 24.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched College Football Playoff game since Michigan’s win over Washington in the 2024 title game drew 25 million.
Overall, it was the 12th highest-viewed game in the 12 years of the CFP and a 13% jump from last year’s Rose Bowl between Ohio State and Oregon. The audience for the Hoosiers’ first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1967 season peaked at 25.6 million.
No. 10 Miami’s 24-14 victory over second-seeded Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve averaged 19 million and peaked at 21.6 million. It was a 37% jump between last season’s Dec. 31 quarterfinal between Penn State and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Sixth-seeded Mississippi’s 39-34 comeback win over No. 2 Georgia drew 18.7 million with a peak audience of 21.4 million. It was a 18% increase from last year, when the Notre Dame-Georgia game was moved to Jan. 2 after a deadly terror attack in New Orleans the morning of New Year’s Day.
No. 5 Oregon’s 23-0 shutout of No. 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl averaged 15.9 million, an 8% drop from last season’s first quarterfinal of New Year’s Day between Texas and Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. The Orange Bowl, though, was the eighth most-watched game of the season.
This is the last year ESPN will have all the quarterfinal games. The Warner Bros. Discovery channels — TBS, TNT and truTV — will have two quarterfinals beginning next year as well as a semifinal game.
How much of an impact last week’s losses by Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State will have on the ratings remains to be seen. According to Nielsen, the Crimson Tide were college football’s most-watched team in the regular season, averaging 8.49 million. The regular-season averages did not include conference championship games.
Georgia was third (7.48 million) and Ohio State was fourth (6.57 million). Texas, which didn’t make the 12-team field, was the second most-watched (7.55 million).
Ole Miss is the most-viewed team remaining in the field. It was 12th during the regular season, averaging 4.48 million. The SEC had 13 of their 16 schools ranked in the top 20. Miami was 19th (3.43 million).
The Rebels and Hurricanes open the semifinals on Thursday at the Fiesta Bowl.
Oregon was 20th (3.29 million) and Indiana 24th (2.70). The two teams meet on Friday at the Peach Bowl.
NO. 6 OLE MISS’ HIGH-SCORING OFFENSE FACES STIFF TEST AGAINST NO. 10 MIAMI’S DEFENSE AT FIESTA BOWL
No. 6 Mississippi (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) vs. No. 10 Miami (12-2, CFP No. 10 seed), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
BetMGM Sportsbook College Football Odds: Miami by 3 1/2.
Series record: Miami leads 2-1.
What’s at stake?
The first of two College Football Playoff semifinals pits two teams not expected to get this far. Miami didn’t play in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game due to tiebreakers, but earned the CFP nod over champion Duke thanks to its resume and CFP ranking. The Hurricanes are vying for their first national title since 2001 behind a suffocating defense and a steady offense led by Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck. Miami held No. 7 seed Texas A&M and second-seeded Ohio State to 17 combined points the first two CFP rounds. Ole Miss spent the last part of the regular season wondering if coach Lane Kiffin would leave for LSU and played two playoff games after he made the jump. Behind dual-threat quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, the high-scoring Rebels blew out Tulane in the first round of the playoffs and took down No. 3 seed Georgia in the quarterfinals.
Key matchup
The Fiesta Bowl will be a classic case of strength against strength. Miami’s defense was one of the best in the nation in its first season under coordinator Corey Hetherman. The Hurricanes are stout up front, loaded with athletes in the secondary and have shut down teams all season. Miami’s defense was fourth nationally in scoring, allowing 13 points per game, and 10th in total defense at 285 yards allowed per game. The Rebels are keyed by their offense. A Division II player a year ago, Chambliss has thrived since becoming the starter in the third game of the season, racking up 4,180 total yards and 29 touchdowns. Ole Miss was second nationally with 496.2 yards per game and averaged 37.6 points, 10th in the FBS.
Players to watch
Miami: Defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior has been a wrecking ball at the heart of Miami’s defense all season. Despite facing near constant double teams, Bain had 13 tackles for loss, including 9 1/2 sacks. He had three sacks against Texas A&M and was constantly in the face of Ohio State’s Julian Sayin in the CFP quarterfinals. The tandem of Bain and Akheem Mesidor gives the Hurricanes one of the most dominating 1-2 punches on the defensive line.
Ole Miss: RB Kewan Lacy. While Chambliss has deservedly grabbed most of the headlines, Lacy has been a big reason defenses can’t load up to stop Chambliss. The 5-11, 200-pound transfer from Missouri was third in the FBS with 1,464 yards rushing and his 23 rushing TDs are third in SEC history. Lacy announced this week that he’s returning to Ole Miss for another season.
Facts & figures
Beck has thrown for 3,313 yards and 27 touchdowns on 74% passing with 10 interceptions in his first season with the Hurricanes. He is 36-5 as a starter. … Ole Miss WR Harrison Wallace III had one of the best games of his Ole Miss career against Georgia, finishing with nine catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. … Miami is 0-4 all-time at the Fiesta Bowl, including a loss to Ohio State in the 2002 BCS title game. … Former defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to head coach of the Rebels after Kiffin left. Several assistant coaches who are expected to join Kiffin at LSU have remained with Ole Miss through its playoff run. … Miami WR Malachi Toney led all FBS freshmen with 94 catches and 1,008 yards receiving. Nicknamed “Baby Jesus,” he had the game-winning catch after earlier losing a fumble against Texas A&M.
BRYCE UNDERWOOD STAYING AT MICHIGAN FOR SOPHOMORE SEASON UNDER 1ST-YEAR COACH KYLE WHITTINGHAM
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bryce Underwood is staying at Michigan for his sophomore season to play for first-year coach Kyle Whittingham.
Underwood announced his decision Monday night.
As the nation’s top-rated recruit, Underwood signed with the Wolverines under former coach Sherrone Moore and became the fourth true freshman to start at quarterback for college football’s winningest program.
Underwood completed 60% of his throws for 2,428 with nine passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions, including three in the last 18 minutes of a 41-27 loss to Texas in the Citrus Bowl. He ran for 392 yards and six touchdowns, including a 77-yard performance with a score on the ground against the Longhorns.
QB DEMOND WILLIAMS JR. TO TRANSFER DESPITE WASHINGTON CONTRACT
Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. announced he was entering the transfer portal on Tuesday night despite signing a contract to return to the Huskies.
“I have to do what is best for me and my future,” Williams said on social media. “After much thought and prayer, I will be entering the transfer portal.”
ESPN reported that the deal for Williams to return to Seattle for his junior season was near the top of the market. CBS Sports reported that LSU is one of the teams to watch for Williams’ landing spot.
Washington will pursue all legal avenues to enforce Williams’ signed contract, ESPN reported.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound QB earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in the coaches’ vote and also was selected to the Big Ten All-Academic team.
Williams thanked his coaches, teammates, Huskies fans and the Seattle community in the social media post before concluding with his announcement to transfer.
He started all 13 games as a sophomore as the Huskies went 9-4, including a 38-10 win over Boise State in the LA Bowl on Dec. 13. Williams was 15 of 24 for 215 yards and four touchdowns in the game.
For the season, Williams completed 246 of 354 passes (69.5%) for 3,065 yards, 25 TDs and eight interceptions. He also ran for 611 yards, which was second on the team, and six TDs.
For his Washington career, Williams completed 71.5% of his passes for 4,009 yards, 33 TDs and nine interceptions in 26 games (2024-25). He also rushed for 893 yards and eight touchdowns.
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MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOP 25 ROUNDUP: NO. 2 MICHIGAN BARELY AVOIDS UPSET VS. PENN ST.
L.J. Cason scored all 14 of his points in the first half and No. 2 Michigan remained unbeaten by escaping with a 74-72 Big Ten victory over Penn State on Tuesday night in University Park, Pa.
Michigan led by 15 with fewer than 11 minutes to play but nearly lost at the buzzer. Penn State’s Freddie Dilione V controlled the ball for the last shot, but his 25-foot fadeaway from the wing bounced off the back rim as time expired.
Nimari Burnett and Trey McKenney added 12 points apiece for the Wolverines (14-0, 4-0 Big Ten), who share the conference lead with Nebraska (15-0, 4-0). Yaxel Lendeborg had 10 points and seven rebounds for Michigan, which has 10 victories by 25 or more points this season.
Freshman Ivan Juric scored a career-best 20 points and Dilione added 17 for the Nittany Lions (9-6, 0-4). Josh Reed contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds as Penn State lost for the fifth time in six games. Nittany Lions leading scorer Kayden Mingo (undisclosed) missed the contest after being injured in Monday’s practice.
No. 6 Duke 84, No. 20 Louisville 73
Cameron Boozer poured in 27 points as the visiting Blue Devils used a second-half comeback to defeat the Cardinals in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Boozer added eight rebounds and four assists. Isaiah Evans had 23 points and six rebounds for Duke (14-1, 3-0 ACC), while Caleb Foster chipped in 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half.
Louisville led by as many as 12 points in the first half and was ahead 47-38 at the half. Ryan Conwell powered the Cardinals (11-4, 1-2) with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Aly Khalifa tossed in 17 points on perfect 6-for-6 shooting and Adrian Wooley had 11.
No. 7 Houston 69, No. 14 Texas Tech 65
Kingston Flemings poured in 23 points, nine of them in the final 2:11 of the game, as host No. 7 Houston rallied past No. 14 Texas Tech.
Flemings hit a pullup jumper with 1:41 left to give Houston the lead for good and finished off the Red Raiders with a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining, allowing Houston (14-1, 2-0) to escape with the gritty victory. Emanuel Sharp added 17 points for the Cougars, with Chris Cenac Jr. racking up 11 points and 11 rebounds and Joseph Tugler contributing 11 points and 10 rebounds. Houston has won eight straight games.
Jaylen Petty led Texas Tech (11-4, 1-1 Big 12) with 20 points, JT Toppin added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Atwell scored 13 points. The Red Raiders had a four-game winning streak snapped.
Florida 92, No. 18 Georgia 77
Thomas Haugh had 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four blocks to help the Gators run away from the visiting Bulldogs in Southeastern Conference play in Gainesville, Fla.
Alex Condon finished with 21 points and eight rebounds for Florida (10-5, 1-1 SEC), which rebounded from its two-point loss at Missouri in the conference opener on Saturday. Urban Klavzar scored 11 points, while Rueben Chinyelu added 10 for the Gators, who outrebounded Georgia 56-35 and outscored the Bulldogs 58-38 in the paint. Reserve Micah Handlogten pulled down 11 rebounds.
Marcus Millender led Georgia (13-2, 1-1) with 18 points off the bench, followed by Dylan James’ 16. Jordan Ross scored 13 and Kanon Catchings had 12 for the Bulldogs, who had their seven-game winning streak come to an end.
Minnesota 70, No. 19 Iowa 67
Langston Reynolds scored 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting and the Golden Gophers escaped with a win over the Hawkeyes in Minneapolis.
Cade Tyson added 16 points for Minnesota (10-5, 3-1 Big Ten), which blew a 14-point lead with less than seven minutes left before scoring seven of the game’s final 10 points to secure the upset. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Isaac Asuma scored 10 points apiece.
Bennett Stirtz scored 21 points to lead Iowa (12-3, 2-2) but missed two game-tying 3-point attempts in the final 11 seconds. Kael Combs scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting, and Isaia Howard finished with 10 points.
No. 21 Tennessee 85, Texas 71
Ja’Kobi Gillespie poured in 22 of his career-high 34 points in the first half and the host Volunteers recorded their first Southeastern Conference win by taming the Longhorns in Knoxville.
Gillespie was exceptional on both ends of the court, hitting 12 of 18 from the floor, 5 of 8 from long range and all five free throws. The senior added five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. J.P. Estrella added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Volunteers (11-4, 1-1), who shot 52.7% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc. The Volunteers also held a 44-18 edge in paint points.
Tramon Mark had 20 points and five rebounds for the Longhorns (9-6, 0-2). Camden Heide totaled 16 points and four rebounds. Simeon Wilcher pitched in with 10 points.
No. 22 Kansas 104, TCU 100 (OT)
Darryn Peterson finished with 32 points in 32 minutes, Tre White added 22 and the Jayhawks stormed back late to top the Horned Frogs in Lawrence, Kan.
Kansas (11-4, 1-1 Big 12) was down by 15 with just over four minutes left and by nine with 74 seconds left in regulation. But they battled back in the final minutes, tying the game when Peterson was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made three free throws with 1.7 seconds left.
In overtime, KU used an 8-2 spurt to take a 97-91 lead with just over one minute left and put the game away. The Frogs (11-4, 1-1) used an 18-1 run to a 67-51 lead with under 12 minutes left. But missed free throws, turnovers and foul trouble were costly down the stretch
Oklahoma State 87, No. 25 UCF 76
Parsa Fallah scored 24 points and Kanye Clary added 18 as the Cowboys knocked off the Knights in a Big 12 matchup in Stillwater, Okla.
Clary scored 15 of his points in the second half and finished the game with nine rebounds and eight assists for Oklahoma State (13-2, 1-1), which led for nearly the entire game and held off multiple late surges to snap UCF’s 11-game winning streak.
The Knights (12-2, 1-1) were led by Riley Kugel with 15 points and Jamichael Stillwell with 13.
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WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
OREGON STUNS NO. 21 USC WITH MASSIVE FOURTH-QUARTER RALLY
Oregon rallied from a 17-point second-quarter deficit to defeat No. 21 USC 71-66 in Big Ten play on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
The Ducks (14-3, 2-2) entered the fourth quarter trailing 58-45, but scored the first dozen points of the frame to trim the deficit to 58-57. The Trojans (10-5, 2-2) responded with an 8-0 surge to lead 66-57, but the visitors tallied the game’s final 14 points and outscored USC 26-8 in the quarter.
Ari Long (11 points) knocked down back-to-back treys in 27 seconds to knot the score at 66-all, then gave Oregon the lead on another 3-pointer with 31 seconds remaining. Ehis Etute scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the second half and added 13 rebounds for the Ducks. Katie Fiso added 14 points and eight rebounds.
USC’s Kara Dunn led all scorers with 21 points and collected nine rebounds, while Jazzy Davidson added 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Trojans only made 9 of 30 shots from the floor and 2 of 11 from beyond the arc in the second half.
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NBA
NBA ROUNDUP: GRIZZLIES RALLY, NIP SPURS ON LATE BLOCK
Cam Spencer scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Santi Aldama blocked a potential game-winning shot by De’Aaron Fox with 5.2 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
Spencer gave the Grizzlies the lead with 37.3 seconds to go on a baseline jumper. A minute earlier, he had connected on a 3-pointer to trim San Antonio’s lead to 105-104. Jaren Jackson Jr. matched Spencer with 21 points and had nine rebounds. Jock Landale contributed 19 points and nine boards and Vince Williams Jr., returning from a lengthy injury absence, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Victor Wembanyama came off the bench to lead the Spurs with 30 points. Julian Champagnie added 23 points and eight rebounds and Stephon Castle had 15 points and eight boards before fouling out with 3:13 to go.
The Grizzlies played without starters Ja Morant, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Morant missed his second straight game with a right calf contusion and his 18th game overall of the team’s 36 contests because of a variety of injuries. Coward sprained his left ankle in Sunday’s loss at the Lakers.
Lakers 111, Pelicans 103
Luka Doncic and LeBron James both scored 30 points as Los Angeles won in New Orleans to win its third straight. Doncic also had 10 assists while James had eight boards and eight assists.
Doncic had 11 first-quarter points and 16 at the half despite missing all six of his 3-point shots. Deandre Ayton paired 18 points with 11 rebounds as the Lakers opened the fourth on a 9-0 run to take control of the game.
Trey Murphy III had a career-high 42 points for New Orleans, which frittered away a position of strength to suffer its eighth successive defeat. Zion Williamson added 15 points and Derik Queen posted 10 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
Cavaliers 120, Pacers 116
Darius Garland posted 29 points and six assists as Cleveland won in Indianapolis, sending Indiana to its franchise-record 13th consecutive loss.
Evan Mobley had 20 points and Jarrett Allen finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have won four of their last five. Sam Merrill also scored 19. Cleveland won despite resting Donovan Mitchell, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer at 29.8 points per game, and losing Dean Wade after eight minutes when he re-injured his left knee.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 22 points, Jay Huff scored 20 and Johnny Furphy had nine points and 11 rebounds. The Pacers’ most recent win was Dec. 8 over the Sacramento Kings. Indiana, which had lost 12 consecutive games four prior times since joining the NBA in 1976, owns the worst home record in the league at 5-15.
Timberwolves 122, Heat 94
Anthony Edwards scored 26 points in 29 minutes, and Minnesota cruised to a win over Miami in Minneapolis.
Jaden Daniels added 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting for Minnesota, which won its third game in a row. Julius Randle (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (13 points, 17 rebounds) each registered double-doubles, and Naz Reid scored 14 points off the bench.
Norman Powell. Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware grabbed 11 rebounds apiece. One bright spot for the Heat was the return of Tyler Herro, who played for the first time since Dec. 9. He showed no signs of a right big toe injury as he finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench.
Wizards 120, Magic 112
CJ McCollum scored 27 points and Alex Sarr added 23 to go along with eight rebounds, fueling host Washington past Orlando. Justin Champagnie had 17 points off the bench for Washington, which made 31 of 33 shots from the free-throw line.
Bilal Coulibaly recorded 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals for the Wizards, who have won five of their last seven.
Orlando rookie Jase Richardson scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. Desmond Bane scored 15 points, Paolo Banchero had 14 and Tristan da Silva added 13 for the Magic, who committed 19 turnovers that led to 29 points by Washington. The Magic whittled a 26-point deficit down to two late in the game, but a 10-2 Wizards run sealed their victory.
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NHL
NHL ROUNDUP: ILYA SOROKIN SETS ISLES’ MARK IN 9-0 WIN VS. DEVILS
Anthony Duclair collected a natural hat trick and goalie Ilya Sorokin authored his team-record 26th career shutout for the New York Islanders, who rolled to a 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night in Elmont, N.Y.
The win was tied for the most lopsided shutout in Islanders history, matching a mark set most recently against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 9, 1986. Duclair, a healthy scratch the previous two games, entered Tuesday with just four goals in 39 contests this season.
The hat trick was the fourth for Duclair but his first since Dec. 14, 2019, when he was a member of the Ottawa Senators. He also had two assists to complete a five-point game. Sorokin stopped 44 shots as he broke a tie with Glenn “Chico” Resch atop New York’s all-time shutout list.
The Islanders have won five of their last seven (5-2-0). Casey Cizikas posted two goals and an assist, Mathew Barzal and Tony DeAngelo each notched a goal and an assist, Calum Ritchie and Simon Holmstrom also scored and Ryan Pulock added two assists. Jacob Markstrom recorded 15 saves for the Devils, who have lost six of eight (2-5-1).
Golden Knights 4, Jets 3 (OT)
Tomas Hertl scored a power-play goal with 12.8 seconds left in overtime as Vegas rallied to defeat host Winnipeg and snap its season-long five-game losing streak.
Mark Stone, Brett Howden and Reilly Smith also scored goals, Hertl finished with a goal and an assist and Marner had two assists for the Golden Knights. Carter Hart finished with 17 saves.
Cole Perfetti, Luke Schenn and Kyle Connor scored goals and Gabriel Vilardi had two assists for Winnipeg, which lost its 10th straight game (0-6-4). Hellebuyck made 27 saves as his personal winless streak reached nine games (0-5-4).
Lightning 4, Avalanche 2
Brandon Hagel netted the tiebreaking goal in the third period and Tampa Bay recorded its NHL-high eighth straight win to deal visiting Colorado just its second losing streak of the season.
Hagel hit the 20-goal mark with a goal at 8:31 to put the Lightning ahead for good and he assisted on Anthony Cirelli’s marker into an empty net with 1:25 left to lock down another victory. Nikita Kucherov’s two assists moved his point streak to eight games (seven goals, 12 assists) while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves.
Colorado’s Parker Kelly and Brock Nelson scored, with the latter running his point streak to six games (five goals, four assists). Goalie Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 shots, but the club went 1-2-0 on its three-game road trip and lost consecutive matches in regulation for the first time this season.
Oilers 6, Predators 2
Connor McDavid had a hat trick to lead host Edmonton to a win over Nashville.
Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists, Kasperi Kapanen a goal and an assist and Curtis Lazar also scored for the Oilers, who had lost three of their previous four. Vasily Podkolzin had two assists and Connor Ingram made 24 saves. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recorded his 500th assist.
Ryan O’Reilly and defenseman Nick Blankenburg scored for the Predators, who had won six of the last eight games. Juuse Saros stopped 37 shots. It was the finale of a seven-game road trip for Nashville.
Sabres 5, Canucks 3
Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 32 of 35 shots as host Buffalo held on to beat Vancouver after the Canucks trimmed a four-goal deficit in the third to one with three straight goals.
Ryan McLeod, Zach Metsa, Josh Doan and Tage Thompson also scored for the Sabres, who have won 11 of their last 12 overall and five straight on home ice. Their 10-game win streak ended Saturday at Columbus.
Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson and Liam Ohgren scored goals and Thatcher Demko made 15 saves for the Canucks, who suffered their fourth consecutive loss. It was not the way the Canucks wanted to start this six-game road trip, their longest of the season.
Hurricanes 6, Stars 3
K’Andre Miller scored two goals and added an assist while Seth Jarvis, in his first game back from an injury, provided a goal and an assist as Carolina blew past visiting Dallas for a victory at Raleigh, N.C.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Logan Stankoven and William Carrier netted Carolina’s other goals, while Andrei Svechnikov supplied four assists and Nikolaj Ehlers had three assists. Brandon Bussi made 20 saves to improve his record to 15-2-1.
Jason Robertson, Mikko Rantanen, who played briefly for the Hurricanes last season, and Wyatt Johnston scored the Stars’ goals, but Dallas’ slump extended to a season-worst six consecutive losses. Robertson added two assists for a three-point night and Rantanen contributed an assist.
Flyers 5, Ducks 2
Trevor Zegras scored twice against his former team, lifting host Philadelphia over slumping Anaheim, which has lost seven straight.
Cam York and Nikita Grebenkin each added a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which has won five of its last seven games. Travis Sanheim also scored for the Flyers, while Dan Vladar made 16 saves.
Former Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier scored his team-leading 20th goal for the Ducks while Lukas Dostal made 34 stops.
Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 1
Matthew Knies had a goal and an assist in his 200th career game and Toronto defeated visiting Florida.
Easton Cowan, Auston Matthews and Bobby McMann (empty net) also scored for the Maple Leafs, who have won three of four. Matthews has six goals in his past three games. Joseph Woll made 31 saves. Toronto opened the scoring with 24 seconds left in the first period and made it 2-0 just 42 seconds into the second.
Carter Verhaeghe scored for the Panthers, who have lost three of four. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 shots.
Kraken 7, Bruins 4
Berkly Catton scored the first two goals of his NHL career as Seattle torched visiting Boston.
Kaapo Kakko had two goals and an assist, Jared McCann had one of each, Jordan Eberle and Ben Meyers also scored, and Matty Beniers, Vince Dunn and Freddy Gaudreau had two assists apiece for the Kraken, who extended their point streak to nine games (8-0-1). Joey Daccord made 32 saves.
David Pastrnak tallied twice, Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and an assist, and Mason Lohrei also scored for the Bruins, who wrapped up a five-game trip in which they went 2-2-1. Jeremy Swayman stopped 20 of 26 shots as Boston saw a two-game winning streak and a three-game point streak snapped.
Sharks 5, Blue Jackets 2
Alexander Wennberg had a goal and two assists to help San Jose top visiting Columbus.
Mario Ferraro had a goal and an assist while Pavol Regenda, Zack Ostapchuk and Macklin Celebrini also scored. Alex Nedeljkovic made 34 saves for San Jose, which improved to 4-1-0 in its past five games.
Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan scored and Jet Greaves made 31 saves for the Blue Jackets, who came in 4-1-1 in their past six. Regenda, who notched his first NHL hat trick in a 7-3 loss to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, opened the scoring with 49 seconds left in the first period and the Sharks maintained their lead the rest of the way.
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NASCAR NEWS
NASCAR COMMISSIONER STEVE PHELPS RESIGNS AFTER INFLAMMATORY TEXTS REVEALED IN TRIAL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The fallout from NASCAR’s federal antitrust trial continued into the new year as NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps on Tuesday announced his resignation after more than 20 years with the top racing series in the United States.
His resignation comes after last month’s trial in which inflammatory texts Phelps sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed. Phelps will leave the company at the end of the month, ahead of the start of the first exhibition race of the season on Feb. 1.
He was named NASCAR’s first commissioner last season after a courting process for the same role by the PGA golf tour. The opportunity with the PGA was revealed during December testimony of the antitrust trial brought by two race teams against NASCAR and Phelps testified he pulled out of consideration for that role upon the NASCAR promotion from president.
The top executive at NASCAR was deeply bruised during the trial — and the discovery process leading into it — when communications he exchanged with his leadership team was exposed. In one exchange, Phelps called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
That led Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, an ardent supporter of both NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing, to write a damning letter demanding Phelps’ removal as commissioner.
After he concluded his testimony in the nine-day trial last month, Phelps left the stand with his jaw clenched, his face red, and he made no eye contact with NASCAR’s owners as he briskly headed directly out of the courtroom. His fiancée trailed after him as he even refused to look in her direction.
NASCAR settled the lawsuit with 23XI Racing, owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, the day after Morris’ letter went public and two days after Phelps’ testimony.
“As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities and firsts over my 20 years,” Phelps said in a statement. “Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners, and the commitment of our wonderful employees.
“It has been an honor to help synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators, and incredible racing talent.”
He added he will seek “new pursuits in sports and other industries” and thanked colleagues, friends and fans that “played such an important and motivational role in my career.”
He also thanked the France family, the founders and owners of NASCAR, who hired him away from the NFL two decades ago and promoted him to a position that could have netted him $5 million annually with bonuses.
“Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family, and for having a place in NASCAR’s amazing history,” Phelps concluded.
Phelps is a native of Vermont, where as a child he became a fan of local racing. He graduated from both the University of Vermont, where he set the school record in the 800 meters, and Boston College, where he earned a masters in business administration.
NASCAR thanks Phelps for leadership
NASCAR said that Phelps’ leadership transformed a stale schedule with new events, “bucket list fan experiences,” and reshaped its strategic vision. Phelps was also lauded for expanding NASCAR’s international footprint, securing long-term media rights and charter agreements, and building a leadership team that is focused on building the future of stock car racing with fan experience at its core.
“Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders,” said Jim France, the NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “For decades he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history.”
Phelps also led NASCAR as it became the first sport to return to competition during the COVID-19 shutdown, as well as developing races inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the downtown streets of Chicago.
“Steve leaves NASCAR with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset,” France added.
Lesa France Kennedy, the NASCAR executive vice chair, said “while his career may take him elsewhere, he’ll always have a place in our NASCAR family.”
NASCAR did not announce any additional leadership or personnel changes and said there are no immediate plans to replace him as commissioner or to seek outside leadership. His responsibilities will be delegated internally through NASCAR’s president — now Steve O’Donnell — and the executive leadership team.
O’Donnell moved into Phelps’ role as president upon Phelps’ promotion to commissioner. Although the two were mostly in favor of improving revenue-sharing for the teams in over two-plus years of bitter negotiations, the discovery process showed their growing frustration with NASCAR’s board of directors over its refusal to make the charters permanent.
The Childress texts
Phelps appeared to be an advocate for more concessions for the race teams, but as the process dragged on, he ultimately fell in line with the France family and that’s when his communications became more pointed. He testified he felt the teams had received a fair deal on the new charter agreements.
But it was the attacks on Childress that drew the most attention and Phelps said in court he regretted his words, had apologized to Childress and explained he was venting out of frustration.
It wasn’t good enough for Morris, a longtime backer of Childress teams.
“We can’t help but wonder what would happen if Major League Baseball brought in a new commissioner and he or she trash-talked one of the true legends who built the game like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth?” Morris wrote. “Such blatant disrespect would probably not sit well with the fans — such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, keep his or her job for very long!”
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INDIANA RELEASES
INDIANA PACERS
GAME REWIND: PACERS 116, CAVALIERS 120
The Indiana Pacers hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers in a Central Division matchup on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana sought to stop an extended slide – the Pacers had dropped 12 straight contests entering tonight’s matchup. The Blue & Gold had a strong first half, scoring 60 points en route a seven-point lead at the break, 60-53, but ultimately fell to the Cavaliers, 120-116.
Bennedict Mathurin was sidelined for a second straight game with a thumb sprain that coach Rick Carlisle said was a lingering issue.
“I don’t remember exactly when he did it, but it’s been a while,” Carlisle said before the matchup. “…It’s on [his] shooting hand, and it just becomes more than a nuisance.”
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell was also out tonight for rest purposes.
With Mathurin out, Johnny Furphy slotted into the starting lineup and had a hot start in the first quarter. Furphy recorded five points and four rebounds on 2-for-2 shooting through his initial eight minutes, including a breakaway dunk after he completed a steal on the defensive end of the floor.
Indiana went on to win the first quarter, 28-22, led by Pascal Siakam’s seven points. Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with six points and three rebounds.
Cleveland brought more energy in the second quarter as De’Andre Hunter scored six early points for the Cavs. They cut the Pacers’ lead down to just three points with nearly seven minutes to play in the first half.
The Cavaliers captured the lead following an 8-0 run, and led by two points with five minutes remaining in the second quarter, 45-43.
Indiana followed that with a 5-0 run of its own to take back the lead and secure a three-point advantage, 48-45. Aaron Nesmith hit back-to-back 3-pointers, scoring eight points in five minutes.
Jay Huff ensured Indiana closed the second period on a high note, as he notched 10 points of his own in the frame, helping the Pacers to a 60-53 halftime lead. Huff led Indiana in scoring at the break with 13 total points on 5-for-7 shooting. Nesmith joined Huff in double-figures with 10 points at the halftime break.
Darius Garland led Cleveland with 11 points and three assists.
Sam Merrill opened the third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers and looked to be catching fire for Cleveland. The Cavs had cut Indiana’s lead to two points in just over two minutes, and the Pacers needed to find an offensive groove.
Siakam and Furphy took turns punishing the Cavaliers in the paint as they manufactured an 8-2 Indiana run that gave the Pacers an eight-point advantage, 73-65.
Huff kept his momentum in the third quarter, scoring seven more points and recording an assist. Micah Potter added seven points for Indiana in the third, and the Pacers went into the fourth quarter leading the Cavaliers, 93-84.
The opening few minutes of the fourth quarter were trying for Indiana. Cleveland closed the gap to just one point in under three minutes, and the Pacers were desperate for some offense.
Andrew Nembhard answered the call with a timely 3-pointer, and followed it up with an assist to a cutting Jarace Walker for a flush. The Pacers maintained the lead, 102-98.
But Cleveland kept pushing.
The Cavs went up by three points after Jarrett Allen slammed home a pass from Garland, and the Pacers were playing from behind at the 4:53 mark of the fourth quarter, 105-102. It was a 21-9 run for Cleveland.
Indiana was down by six points by the two-minute mark, but kept fighting. Siakam earned a trip to the free-throw line with 58.3 seconds remaining and a chance to cut the Cavalier lead down to just four points. He knocked down both shots, and Indiana trailed by four, 115-111.
Cleveland turned the ball over the next possession.
Siakam took the ball to the rim, and laid it in through contact. He converted the free throw, and Indiana was down one point with just 33.5 seconds to go, but Garland hit a midrange jumper to extend the lead back to three points. It was Indiana’s ball with 11.5 seconds remaining.
The Pacers couldn’t get the ball inbounds within the allotted five seconds, turning it over, but Cleveland gave it right back after committing a backcourt violation.
Merrill fouled Nembhard following the inbounds pass, and he went to the line. Nembhard split the free throws, bringing the Pacers within two points, 117-115, with 7.2 seconds to go.
Craig Porter Jr. also split his free throws on the opposite end, leaving Indiana down just three points. Nesmith collected the rebound, was fouled and hit his first free throw. Nesmith missed the second on purpose and Indiana crashed for the rebound, but Cleveland’s Allen grabbed it.
Allen made both free throws, sealing the victory for Cleveland.
Siakam’s 22 points led the Pacers, and Huff contributed a season-high 20 points. Nembhard recorded a second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 11 assists.
Garland led the charge for Cleveland with 29 points and six assists.
The Pacers are back in action on Thursday as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets.
Inside the Numbers
Cleveland outrebounded Indiana in the second half 30-9 and 48-32 overall.
The Pacers committed 14 turnovers to the Cavs’ 19.
Johnny Furphy recorded a career-high 11 rebounds.
Jay Huff tied his season-high with 20 points.
Andrew Nembhard’s 15-point, 11-assist double-double was his second consecutive double-double.
You Can Quote Me on That
“We’re a group that is fighting hard and we’re going to keep fighting…I have zero question about this group and their character…We’re not going to make any excuses. We’re going to continue to fight and play hard and believe in each other and what we’re doing.” – coach Rick Carlisle on Indiana’s mentality
“We’re learning a lot about our team. We’re all finding out how much we really love this game. No matter what happens, it’s a ‘get to’ job. It’s not a ‘have to’ job. It’s a ‘get to’ job. We get to come in here in front of this crowd, and play a game whose purity and beauty is really held in high esteem by people in the state. So we’ll continue to work to get better.” – Carlisle’s perspective amid losing streak
“This guy is an All-Star, and my sincerest of hopes is that the fans and his fellow players and the media recognize the kind of year he’s having. The level of excellence, the level of integrity that he’s leading and playing with. I mean, that’s very, very impressive. And there’s just such a high level of character. I know how badly he wants to win games, and he wants to bring these fans joy…Please give Pascal Siakam a vote, because the guy has been incredible.” – Carlisle on Pascal Siakam’s All-Star case
“I’m just trying to play as hard as I can and try and contribute to winning in any way. I’m trying to learn a lot from the older guys, just kind of asking them for advice and that sort of thing. Because, you know, this is new opportunity for me, new experience for me. So [I’m] just trying to be a sponge and learn, learn as much as possible. It’s a good opportunity for me.” – Johnny Furphy on taking advantage of more playing time
“He has a great impact on the whole team. He’s such a great role model, just the way he goes about it, he’s going to put his body on the line every single night. And I think everyone can learn a lot from him and his experience.” – Furphy on Siakam’s leadership
“At the end of the day, we can still keep losing more games, but we can also turn things around. We can win some games. We can go on a winning streak, and you know, that’s the goal. Kind of even things out a little bit. Obviously, it’s hard.” – Jay Huff on Indiana’s recent streak of losses
Stat of the Night
The Pacers won each of the first three quarters, but lost the fourth quarter by 13 points.
Noteworthy
The Pacers are 111-107 against the Cavaliers all-time.
Bennedict Mathurin missed his second straight contest with a sprained right thumb.
Up Next
The Pacers travel to Charlotte for a matchup with the Hornets on Thursday, Jan. 8, 7:00 PM ET.
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INDY FUEL
FUEL ACQUIRE FORWARD TJ WALSH FROM WORCESTER
FISHERS- The Fuel have announced on Tuesday that they have acquired forward TJ Walsh in a trade with the Worcester Railers for future considerations.
Walsh, 25, joined the Fuel from the North division’s Worcester Railers where he has played 11 games this season, tallying two assists.
Prior to that, the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts native played 66 games for the Iowa Heartlanders last season. With the Heartlanders, Walsh had 43 points (18g, 25a) and helped Iowa to the playoffs for the first time in their franchise’s history.
The 5’9 winger also played two games for the Orlando Solar Bears during the 2023-24 season after graduating from Sacred Heart University where he played one season. There, he collected 26 points in 36 games and was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Nominee.
He also spent two seasons at RPI and two seasons at Northeastern University before that.
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INDIANA FOOTBALL
STRONG GROUND GAMES PROPEL NO. 1 INDIANA AND NO. 5 OREGON TO CFP SEMIFINAL MATCHUP AT PEACH BOWL
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Fernando Mendoza spent all season stealing headlines and collecting awards.
Indiana running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black were content doing the dirty work in the shadows of their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, propelling the top-ranked Hoosiers into college football’s version of the Final Four.
Now, less than a week after dominating Alabama on the ground, the Hoosiers dynamic duo hopes to replicate that performance against No. 5 Oregon in Friday night’s Peach Bowl.
“You see the guys we have up front, they work really hard and they make my job and Kaelon’s job really easy,” Hemby said Monday. “We just try to outphysical our opponents. We really want to make it a four-quarter fight to where we kind of impose our will and, at some point in the game, we feel like we could potentially break the defense or make that play that helps us win.”
The surprise, to some, has been just how much the Football Bowl Subdivision’s third-highest scoring offense, 41.6 points per game, actually has relied on the running game.
While Mendoza and the passing attack certainly have driven this season’s narrative, Indiana’s ground game sometimes went unnoticed.
The Hoosiers rush for 220.7 yards per game — 10th nationally and No. 1 among the teams still fighting for a national championship. They’ve topped the 300-yard mark six times and had two more with more than 200 including the 215 it logged in last week’s 38-3 rout over No. 9 Alabama.
It’s also a big reason the undefeated Hoosiers have the nation’s top third-down conversion percentage at 56.5%. Perhaps more important — Indiana has only one fumble all season.
“It just comes from wanting to be better,” Black said, referring to the backfield’s internal motivation. “Being around a great group of guys, a great group of teammates, you just have the want to to be better in your life and also on the football field. And now that we’re in this position, we have no choice but to be better.”
Still, Hemby and Black are hardly household names.
Hemby played four seasons at Maryland, averaging 4.9 yards per carry while rushing for 2,347 yards. This year, he’s at 5.2 yards and topped the 1,000-yard mark for the first time with an 8-yard game against the Crimson Tide. He earned a third team all-Big Ten selection from the media but not the coaches.
Black was solid, not spectacular, in four seasons at James Madison but blossomed after following coach Curt Cignetti to Bloomington. This season, he has 157 carries, 898 yards and eight TDs — all career bests with the top-seeded Hoosiers (14-0). Yet he was left off the all-conference list.
The two backs already understand the challenge Oregon (13-1) poses. In their first meeting, Indiana ran 27 times for a paltry 111 yards or 3.0 yards per carry, their third-lowest single game average all season. And on tape, they think Oregon looks even better now.
So does linebacker Bryce Boettcher, who acknowledged having some mental mistakes in Round 1 but played a key role in Oregon’s 23-0 shutout over No. 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.
On the other hand, the Ducks recognize how difficult it will be to replicate that effort especially with Indiana’s secret weapon — Mendoza’s ability to buy time and scramble for first downs — and against an offensive line that has proven to be one of the nation’s best.
“They’re smart, fast and physical,” Boettcher said, describing Indiana’s linemen. “In the run game, they play physical and they do their job. They don’t have a lot of unblocked hats. I know in the screen game, they get out and they’re elite at kind of retracing and blocking for the receiver in the screen game, which was present in our last game.”
Oregon’s offense looks remarkably similar to the Hoosiers.
While the Ducks rank second in scoring among the final four teams, 38.0 points per game, and as Mendoza and Dante Moore continue their presumed competition to be the No. 1 NFL draft pick in April, Oregon enters Friday with the second-best ground game in the remaining field at 206.1 yards with Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison leading the way.
The Hoosiers had the upper hand in the 30-20 victory in October, holding the Ducks to 81 yards rushing, their lowest regular-season total, on 30 carries. Indiana knows the rematch could prove more difficult.
But for two offenses that have thrived through the air with star quarterbacks and a deep stable of prominent receivers, the path to Miami and the Jan. 19 national championship will likely be determined on the ground.
“It’s one of those things where we had to keep working toward it to get where we want to be and, obviously, we’re still not where we want to be,” Hemby said when asked about the improvement in Indiana’s ground game this season. “I don’t know if we’ve changed people’s minds, we’re not really in the business of trying to do that. Hopefully we did. But at the end of the day if we’re winning games, we’ll take it however we can.”
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INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 15 AT MARYLAND
Opening Tip
• Indiana University continues Big Ten Conference play at Maryland on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the XFINITY Center in College Park. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on BTN with Jason Horowitz (PxP) and Steve Smith (Analyst) on the call.
• Maryland (7-7, 0-3 B1G) is under the direction of first-year head coach Buzz Williams. He is in his 19th season as a collegiate head coach with previous stops at Marquette (2008-14), Virginia Tech (2014-19), and Texas A&M (2019-25).
• Senior forward Pharrel Payne, who has missed the last three games, leads the Terrapins in points (17.5) and blocks (1.1) per game. The A&M transfer has averaged 7.2 rebounds a night. Graduate guard David Coit has averaged 13.3 points and 3.0 assists per outing. Freshman guard Darius Adams has posted 12.5 points per night, while senior forward Solomon Washington has added 10.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in six games played.
• Redshirt junior guard Myles Rice, a former Hoosier, has averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per night.
• Maryland gets to the charity strips 26.2 times per contest and hits free throws at a 75.5% clip as a team. On average, the Terrapins outscore their opponent by 6.4 points per game from the free throw line.
Game Information
Jan. 7, 2026 • 6:30 PM ET
XFINITY Center (17,300) • College Park, Md.
TV: BTN (Jason Horowitz, Steve Smith)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 14-10
Last Meeting: MARY 79, IU 78 on Jan. 26, 2025, in Bloomington
Series History
• The Hoosiers have won 14 times in the 24-game series against the Terrapins. Since Maryland joined the Big Ten, IU is 9-8 and has won six of the last eight matchups.
• Indiana pulled out an 83-78 contest the last time the Hoosiers traveled to College Park (March 3, 2024). Mackenzie Mgbako netted a game-high 24 points to lead IU.
• The two sides met in the 2002 National Championship game, a title won by Maryland by a score of 64-52 in Atlanta.
Last Time Out
• Indiana (11-3, 2-1 B1G) scored 1.48 points per possession, shot 51.7% (31-of-60) from the floor, made 12 3-pointers, and turned the ball over just four times in a 90-80 victory over Washington on Sunday, Jan. 4, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
• Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson scored a game-high 22 points, his third straight game over 20, to go along with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 39 minutes of run.
• Redshirt senior guard Conor Enright turned in his best offensive performance to date with season highs in points (12) and assists (9). Sixth-year senior guard Tayton Conerway produced 20 points (18 in the first half) on 4-of-4 shooting from distance.
• Freshman forward Trent Sisley added 10 second-half points to lead the IU bench that recorded a 26-11 advantage over the visiting Huskies.
That’s an Offensive Stat
• The Hoosiers scored 90-plus points in three-straight contests to open the season for the first time since 2007-08. In total, Indiana has scored 85-plus points seven times.
• IU has averaged 85.1 points per contest and shot 48.7% (52nd nationally) from the floor, 36.6% (65th) from the 3-point line, 77.4% (27th) from the free throw line, and an effective field goal percentage of 57.8% (17th).
• The Hoosiers have averaged 96.3 points per game in three high-major games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. In those games, IU has shot 100-of-178 (56.2%) from the floor, 39-of-92 (42.4%) from the 3-point line, and 50-of-64 (78.1%) from the free throw line. Indiana is 10-0 in front of Hoosier Nation this season.
• Indiana has dished out 20-or-more assists in six games, the most in a single season since 2022-23. IU handed out a season-best 30 dimes against Penn State on Dec. 9, 2025, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The total marked the second-most and program history and the most in a Big Ten game since 1981.
• The Hoosiers average 18.8 helpers per night and have assisted on 66.2% of its made field goals, the seventh-best rate in the country.
• Indiana boasts an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.80, the 13th-best mark in the country. IU has recorded 263 assists (on 397 made field goals) compared to 146 turnovers. Four Hoosiers average at least 2.0 assists per outing, led by 4.9 from redshirt senior guard Conor Enright.
• Four Hoosiers average double-figure scoring numbers, led by fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson. He has averaged 19.2 points per night on 41.7% (48-of-115) shooting from the 3-point line. He has made at least four 3-pointers in six games.
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INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
AIRD INKS EXTENSION TO REMAIN IN BLOOMINGTON
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson and head volleyball coach Steve Aird have agreed to a contract extension through the 2031 season. Aird, who will enter his ninth season in 2026, guided the Hoosiers to 20+ win seasons in two of the last three years.
“We are very excited to announce that we have agreed to a new contract with IU volleyball coach Steve Aird,” Dolson said. “When we brought Steve to Bloomington, we did so with the belief and goal that the program could compete at a very high level in the Big Ten and nationally. Steve is turning that vision into reality.”
Aird and the Hoosiers are coming off the most successful season in program history. During the 2025 campaign, IU broke single-season records in the NCAA era for wins (25), regular season wins (23), Big Ten wins (14), road wins (9) and ranked road wins (3). IU finished in the top five of the Big Ten for the first time since 1999.
“This past year was historic. In addition to our program-record 25 wins and our first Sweet 16 appearance in 15 years, we energized our fanbase and the IU community and turned Wilkinson Hall into one of the best environments in Big Ten Volleyball,” Dolson said. “On top of that, with an amazing group of returnees back in the fall plus a talented incoming recruiting class, I believe that the future is even brighter. We look forward to Steve’s continued leadership as we build on this momentum and pursue even bigger things in the years to come.”
IU finished the year ranked No. 13 in the AVCA poll – the highest ranking in the program history. The Hoosiers hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Wilkinson Hall, sweeping Toledo and No. 24 Colorado to advance to the second NCAA regional semifinal in program history.
Aird helped oversee the development of three First Team All-Big Ten selections, two AVCA All-Americans and two selections in the Major League Volleyball Draft in 2025. Outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles became the program’s winningest player (77) while finishing her career at number eight on the all-time kills list (1,386).
“My family and I are proud to call Bloomington home,” Aird said. “Indiana University is a special place and my staff and I are excited to continue this journey. 2025 was a historic season and I strongly believe the best is yet to come. The department’s leadership is outstanding and the momentum around IU Athletics is contagious. President Whitten, Scott Dolson and Jeremy Gray have shown tremendous belief in our staff and we are grateful for their support. Our focus is to continue to develop great human beings that compete at the highest level and represent the institution and state with pride. From day one I believed that IU volleyball had a rightful place amongst the nation’s elite and we will work hard every day to chase that goal.”
IU’s program has been on an upward trajectory over the past several seasons. Since the 2022 campaign, IU has gone 77-51 (.602) overall and 42-38 (.525) in Big Ten action. The Hoosiers have finished .500 or better in each of the last four seasons with two 20-win campaigns to their name. In each of those four years, IU has met or exceeded preseason conference expectations.
The Hoosiers have built their program behind elite recruiting at the prep level and the development of impactful transfers. Aird and his staff have signed three top-15 classes since 2020 – including an impressive seven-player class in 2025. Three of the four highest ranked recruits in school history have signed to play for Aird.
Under his watch, Wilkinson Hall has become one of the toughest venues to play at in the Big Ten. Since the start of the 2022 season, IU has gone 40-15 (.727) in its home arena. That run of form includes ranked wins over No. 15 Purdue (Oct. 11, 2023) and No. 24 Colorado (Dec. 5, 2025). IU has won 23-straight games against unranked teams at Wilkinson Hall.
“The program is ready to take the next step. We have proven to be able to develop professionals and win big matches,” Aird said. “The team thrives in the classroom and values their education. They care about the community and love Bloomington. The growth and popularity of the game is reflected in the crowds and energy at Wilkinson Hall. You are a good coach when you have good players and the program is full of them. We have eight months to prepare for the 2026 season and we will attack each day with the intent to make more history.”
Since he became the head coach in 2018, 13 players have graduated from IU and gone on to play at least one season of professional volleyball. Of the 17 student-athletes on IU’s 2025 roster, 14 of them began their collegiate career in Bloomington. All 13 eligible players are set to return for the 2026 campaign. IU was the only program this past season to have a different freshman record 1,000 assists (Krickovic), 380 kills (Jager) and 100 blocks (Gray).
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PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
#5 PURDUE BEGINS HOMESTAND WEDNESDAY VS. WASHINGTON
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
[5 / 5] Purdue (13-1, 3-0) vs. Washington (9-5, 1-2)
Wednesday, January 7 | 8:30 PM ET
West Lafayette, Indiana | Mackey Arena (14,876)
TELEVISION: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Jordan Taylor, Andy Katz)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE SCENE SETTER
• No. 5-ranked Purdue returns home to begin a three-game homestand when it hosts Washington to Mackey Arena for the first time ever.
• The Boilermakers will play three straight home games beginning Wednesday against Washington. Purdue will host Penn State on Saturday and then conclude with No. 19 Iowa next Wednesday. The three-game homestand matches Purdue’s longest of the season.
• Following the homestand, Purdue heads on its West Coast trip with contests at USC and UCLA.
THE MATCHUP
• Purdue and Washington will meet for just the eighth time overall and the second as Big Ten counterparts after the Boilermakers topped the Huskies last January in Seattle, 69-58.
• This marks Washington’s third trip to West Lafayette, but will be its first appearance in Mackey Arena. The Huskies played at Purdue in December 1947 and December 1966, with the Boilermakers winning both.
• Purdue has won three straight games against Washington, including a memorable 76-74 win over the Huskies in the 2009 NCAA Tournament second round in Portland, Oregon.
• It will mark the third straight season that Purdue has faced head coach Danny Sprinkle. The Boilermakers defeated Sprinkle and the Utah State Aggies in the 2nd round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, before last year’s win in Seattle in Sprinkle’s first year at Washington.
• Daniel Jacobsen and J.J. Mandaquit were teammates on the USA Basketball U19 Team that won the gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland last summer.
NEWS AND NOTES
• Purdue is coming off an 89-73 win over Wisconsin on Saturday night, in a game it led by 25 points with eight minutes to play. It was Purdue’s third straight victory in the Kohl Center and the Boilermakers’ largest win ever in the facility.
• Since Dec. 10, the start of Purdue’s five-game winning streak, Purdue ranks No. 1 in the country in efficiency via BartTorvik.com, just ahead of Michigan and Iowa.
• A win over Washington will match Purdue’s best 15-game start in school history at 14-1, done eight other times including in 2024, 2023, 2011 and 2010 under Painter.
• Purdue is one-of-six teams nationally to rank in the top 15 nationally in both offensive (1st) and defensive (15th) efficiency, joined by Michigan, Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Gonzaga and Arizona on the list.
• Purdue is ninth nationally in assist rate, assisting on 65.6 percent of its made field goals. Purdue is also 11th in offensive rebound percentage (.399).
• Through Monday’s games, the Boilermakers are tied for the nation’s lead with four quad-1 victories and the 10 victories in the first three quads are third.
• Braden Smith became the Big Ten’s all-time career leader in assists on Saturday night, passing Cassius Winston for the top spot. Smith enters Wednesday’s game with 893 career assists.
• Last Saturday’s game was the 700th game coached by Matt Painter at Purdue. He owns a 484-216 record with the Boilers.
• On the NCAA leader baords, Purdue ranks second nationally in assist / turnover ratio (2.09), fourth in assists per game (20.9), 10th in 3-point percentage (.397), 14th in rebound margin (+10.5), 16th in scoring margin (+19.9) and 21st in field goal percentage (.510).
• On the NCAA individual leaderboards, Braden Smith leads the country in assists per game (9.6), Trey Kaufman-Renn is 22nd in rebounds per game (9.8), Fletcher Loyer is 25th in free throw percentage (.915) and Daniel Jacobsen is 27th in blocks per game (2.21).
• With its No. 5 ranking in the AP poll on Monday, the Boilermakers have been ranked in the top 5 in 56 weeks since the start of the 2021-22 season — the most in the country (Houston is next at 48 weeks).
SMITH NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR THE SECOND TIME
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the second time this season and third time in his career, Braden Smith was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for his role in two Boilermaker victories last week.
The No. 5-ranked Boilermakers, led by Smith, dominated in its two victories, defeating Kent State 101-60 and Wisconsin 89-73 to improve to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference.
Smith averaged 13.0 points, 10.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 60.0 percent (12-of-20) from the field in the two victories.
Smith scored 12 points with eight assists, four rebounds and two steals in just 27 minutes of a 101-60 win over Kent State on Dec. 29. He followed that up with a sterling 14-point, 12-assist effort against Wisconsin in an 89-73 win over Saturday.
During the win over Wisconsin, Smith set the Big Ten Conference’s career assists record, now with 893 assists, moving into the top 20 all-time in the NCAA record books. Smith now just needs 174 assists to set the NCAA record of 1,076 set by Duke’s Bobby Hurley from 1990-93.
On the season, Smith leads the country in assists per game at 9.6 per game, while averaging 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He is shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3-point range and has double-digit assists in four of the last five games.
He is one of two players in NCAA history with 1,500 career points, 850 assists and 500 rebounds (Ohio’s D.J. Cooper, 2010-13).
Smith and the No. 5-ranked Boilermakers host Washington on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in Mackey Arena.
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PURDUE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
PURDUE HEADS TO MADISON TO FACE WISCONSIN ON THURSDAY
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s basketball team hits the road for the second straight time to open 2026 with a Thursday clash at Wisconsin. The 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff from the Kohl Center will be streamed on B1G+.
Tim Newton will call the action courtside for the Purdue Global Radio Network on 95.3 BOB FM.
Madison Layden-Zay inched closer to the Purdue career 3-point record with a pair of makes at No. 20 Nebraska on Sunday. The fifth year passed head coach Katie Gearlds for third all-time and now sits five away from Karissa McLaughlin’s record of 244.
GAME NOTES
• Purdue is in the midst of a five-game stretch with four on the road, including the two-game road swing to Los Angeles against USC (Jan. 18) and UCLA (Jan. 21).
• With a pair of 3-pointers against Nebraska, Madison Layden-Zay passed Katie Gearlds for third on Purdue’s all-time 3-point list. The fifth year sits at 239 triples for her career, one behind Courtney Moses for second and five behind Karissa McLaughlin’s record of 244.
• Layden-Zay is also closing on a rare club. She needs 18 rebounds and 14 steals to join Caitlin Clark as the only Big Ten players to ever post 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists, 200 3-pointers, 200 steals and 50 blocks.
• Coming out of the holiday break, Madison Layden-Zay has played just about every minute for the Boilermakers, sitting out just 2:32, with complete games against Illinois and Nebraska. The Kokomo, Ind., native is ninth in the Big Ten with 33 minutes played per game this season and eighth with 36.9 minutes played per league contest.
• Kendall Puryear has given the Boilermakers a spark off the bench since the holiday break. The sophomore has reached double figures twice, including a career-high 20 points against Illinois, while averaging 12 points per game at a blistering 69.6% clip from the field.
• Tara Daye has become a do-it-all guard for Purdue after playing in the post over her first three collegiate seasons. Averaging a team-high 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds, Daye is one of four Big Ten guards averaging better than 12 points and 6.0 rebounds per night. She has kept up her production against Big Ten opposition with 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per night.
• Hila Karsh continues her bid as one of the top freshmen in the Big Ten, sitting fifth among league rookies with 9.8 points per game. Karsh is one of eight freshmen nationally and the only one from the Big Ten to shoot 40% from the field, 35% from deep and 90% at the line.
• Purdue ranks seventh in the Big Ten with a rebounding margin of 7.1 this season. The Boilermakers have a defensive rebounding percentage of 75.3%, good for third in the league. Purdue is 8-2 this season when winning the rebounding battle.
• Despite having the most newcomers in the Big Ten this season with 10, Purdue has moved the ball well already posting four games with 20 assists or more. The Boilermakers are 25-1 since the start of the 2021-22 season when dishing out 20 or more dimes.
• Since the start of the 2024-25 season, the Boilermakers are 15-1 when scoring 70 points or more and a 15-4 mark when keeping opponents below 70.
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BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
TURNOVERS DOOM BUTLER IN 84-70 LOSS TO ST. JOHN’S
The Red Storm defense forced Butler into 21 turnovers as St. John’s took an 84-70 win over Butler Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
St. John’s turned those 21 miscues into 27 points.
With the win, the Red Storm improves to 10-5 (3-1 BIG EAST). The Bulldogs fall to 10-6 (1-4).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first half featured four lead changes and 10 ties, including being knotted at 42-42 after the first 20 minutes of play.
Butler’s largest lead of the game came at 35-28 with 4:31 remaining in the first half.
After Butler scored the first bucket of the second half, the Red Storm went on a 7-0 run to take a 49-44 advantage.
Another run – this one, 15-3 – would extend the Red Storm lead to 74-57 with 5:37 to play, essentially putting the game out of reach.
TIP-INS:
Zuby Ejiofor led five Red Storm players in double figures with 18 points.
The Bulldogs were led by Finley Bizjack and his game-high 21 points.
Michael Ajayi narrowly missed another double-double, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds. He entered the contest as the nation’s leader in both double-doubles (with 12) and in rebounding (12.3 caroms per game).
Both teams shot 50 percent from the field but St. John’s attempted 18 more shots than Butler.
While St. John’s forced 21 Butler turnovers, the Red Storm committed only five of their own.
Butler out-rebounded St. John’s, 34-28, their 14th game this season (in 16 tries) holding a rebounding advantage.
Butler’s opening stretch of BIG EAST play includes four losses; those four teams are now a combined 14-2 in conference play on the young season.
UP NEXT: Butler has the weekend off before returning to action Wednesday, Jan. 14 at Xavier. The Bulldogs’ next home game is Jan. 20 against DePaul.
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BUTLER VOLLEYBALL
BUTLER WELCOMES TWO TRANSFERS FOR 2026 SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler volleyball program and Head Coach Kyle Shondell have announced the signings of two transfers ahead of the 2026 season. Ava Hunter from Loyola of Chicago and Raegan Durbin from Middle Tennessee will return home to Indiana and will join BU for the 2026 campaign.
“We’ve known Ava was a great fit for Butler for years,” said Shondell. “As a teammate and a setter, she will be a phenomenal addition to our gym and the Butler family!”
Hunter is a sophomore setter who is coming off a season with Loyola that saw the Ramblers make the NCAA Tournament. The Fishers, Indiana native made 72 set appearances over 10 starts this season and played in 21 matches. She totaled 10 kills, 414 assists, 14 aces, 130 digs and four blocks during 2025. Hunter averaged 5.75 assists per set and 1.81 digs per set. She had four double-doubles this season and opened 2025 on a nine-match streak with 10 or more assists. Hunter had an impressive outing in her collegiate debut, posting 46 assists and 10 digs against Drake. She recorded a career-high 54 assists against Wright State and posted a career-high 15 digs against George Washington.
“One of the hardest working opposing players we saw all season, Raegan is an automatic fit with the direction our program is going,” said Shondell. “Her versatility and drive can make an immediate impact on our team.”
Durbin hails from Thorntown, Indiana and was a pivotal piece for Middle Tennessee this past season. Durbin made 108 set appearances in 28 matches and tallied 339 kills, 19 assists and 37 service aces. The outside hitter was impressive during her freshman campaign, recording 3.20 kills per set en route to earning a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman Team. She posted three performances with 24 or more kills this season, and her career high match against Delaware saw 26 kills– the fifth best performance in Conference USA all season and the best performance by a freshman. Durbin tallied 10 double-doubles on the season and led the team in service aces (37).
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BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
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BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLER RETURNS TO HINKLE TO FACE GEORGETOWN ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler Bulldogs will host the Georgetown Hoyas on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
Time: 7 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Live Stats: Butlersports.com
Watch: ESPN+
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Butler (7-8, 1-4 BE) is coming off a 67-59 setback against Creighton on Sunday afternoon. Saniya Jackson led the way for Butler pouring in 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the floor. Jackson added three rebounds, two assists and a three steals in the contest.
Lily Zeinstra leads the BU offense, averaging 10.1 points per game. The sophomore is shooting 45.6-percent from the floor and 35.7-percent from beyond the arc. Dotsey leads the squad on the glass, pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game.
Butler’s two freshmen, Baxter and Anna Wypych, have been solid contributors this season for BU averaging 20.1 and 16.2 minutes per game, respectively. Baxter, a 2025 Indiana All-Star from Columbia City is averaging 6.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals per game. She is shooting 40.7-percent from the floor and is shooting 76.6-percent from the charity stripe. Wypych posts 5.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The Michigan native has been impressive from the floor, shooting 45.6-percent while sinking 38.6-percent of her shots from behind the arc.
Dotsey, Saniya Jackson and Mallory Miller have all been pivotal pieces for Butler, averaging 9.3, 9.3 and 8.9 points per game, respectively. Dotsey was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 22 after leading Butler to its first conference win of the season over Xavier with 25 points in the contest. Miller earned a nod to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 15. Miller averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game in a 2-0 week for Butler.
BU is in the top 100 nationally in free throw percentage (74.6%; 66th) and assists per game (14.9; 97th).
Butler had six players score in double figures against Dayton on Nov. 28 (Lily Zeinstra 19, Anna Wypych 12, Caroline Dotsey 12, Saniya Jackson 11, Mallory Miller 10 and Nevaeh Jackson 10). That was the first time Butler has had six players in double figures in the last 15 seasons. The last time Butler had six score in double digits was Dec. 12, 2010, when Butler defeated Ball State 105-98.
Butler returns three letterwinners from a year ago and added nine new players to the team with the addition of seven transfers and two freshmen.
Austin Parkinson enters his fourth season at the helm of the Bulldogs. Parkinson has led the squad to 42 wins in his first three seasons.
SCOUTING GEORGETOWN
Georgetown (8-6, 1-4 BE) is coming off a 52-51 defeat against Xavier on Sunday afternoon. Khia Miller led the Hoyas with a game-high 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor.
Miller leads the Georgetown offense, averaging 11.4 points per game. The junior chips in 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Cristen Carter leads the Hoyas on the glass, pulling down 6.1 rebounds per game. Laila Jewett paces the offense, averaging 3.1 assists per game.
Darnell Haney is in his third season at the helm of the Hoyas and helped Georgetown reach the BIG EAST Championship game in March of 2024.
2025-26 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TICKETS: Season tickets remain on sale, providing the best seating locations still available for the upcoming season. Contact the Butler Ticket Office at tickets@butler.edu or 317-940-DOGS (3647) to place your order. Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Butler Women’s Basketball season are available through ButlerSports.com/BuyTickets.
Butler University Upgrades Iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse with Dynamic LED Video
Technology consultant Anthony James Partners (AJP) provided design, procurement, and construction administration services for the upgrades, supporting Butler in selecting SNA Displays to manufacture and install more than 2,700 square feet of LED video display technology, including a center hung display system, baseline LED ribbons, multiple courtside tables, and other digital signage.
The centerpiece of the project is a new LED center hung display consisting of four curved, 14-foot-tall video screens seamlessly connected to create a continuous 360-degree video surface. Each side features a 4 mm pixel pitch for increased pixel density and clarity. The center hung also includes custom static lettering along the top ring of the structure and a team-branded Bulldog logo facing downward toward the playing surface.
Other video signage includes 3-foot-high LED ribbons along the second-level fascia at both ends of the Fieldhouse, two 19-foot-long vomitory displays between the second and third levels, and eight new courtside mobile scorer’s tables equipped with LED screens. For recruitment and training purposes, the project also features two new ASPECT™ all-in-one 16:9 video screens from SNA Displays in an adjacent practice facility, directly integrated into the new control management system.
UP NEXT
Butler will travel to New York City this weekend for a Saturday showdown with the St. John’s Red Storm. Tipoff at Carneseca Arena is slated for 2 p.m. on Jan. 10. Fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.
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BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MATCHUP ANNOUNCED FOR SECOND ROUND OF MAC-SBC CHALLENGE FOR MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Ball State men’s basketball team will play at Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) for the second leg of the MAC-SBC Challenge, the Mid-American Conference office announced Tuesday.
The Cardinals previously beat Louisiana 75-64 in the season opener on Nov. 3 in the first round of the competition between MAC and Sun Belt Conference teams.
This is the third season of the two-game clash between the conferences, which had MAC teams host SBC opponents in November and make the trip down south in February for another round of games. The MAC went 9-4 on that opening night against the Sun Belt.
MEN’S BASKETBALL SUFFERS MAC LOSS TO EASTERN MICHIGAN
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team got out to a 20-14 lead midway through the first half but Eastern Michigan took control of the game from there in a 74-52 road win for the Eagles on Tuesday night at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals claimed the six-point edge at the 11:16 mark of the opening period following a 3-pointer by Devon Barnes, but the visitors closed the first half on a 25-5 run to take a 39-25 advantage into the break.
Ball State (4-11, 0-3 Mid-American Conference) got 15 points and four assists from Armoni Zeigler and 13 points from Elmore James IV, but they were the only two Cardinals with more than five points on the night.
Eastern Michigan (8-8, 2-2 MAC) was paced by Carlos Hart (18 points) and Addison Patterson (12 points) offensively and held advantages in rebounding (37-18), points in the paint (28-18) and second chance points (10-2) to take the conference road win.
The hosts shot 33.3 percent (17-51) from the field, 31.3 percent (5-16) on 3-pointers and 86.7 percent (13-15) at the foul line. Eastern went 58 percent (29-50) on field goals including 52.4 percent (11-21) from distance.
Ball State committed seven fewer turnovers (14-7) to help attain a 16-13 edge in points off turnovers, but the visiting Eagles got 20 more points from its bench (32-12) for the game.
Next up for the Cardinals is a two-game road swing starting Saturday afternoon at UMass.
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BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HOSTS TROY TO COMPLETE MAC-SBC CHALLENGE ON FEB. 7
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The final opponent of the Mid-American Conference/Sun Belt Conference Challenge has been announced by the league office today. The Ball State women’s basketball team will host to Troy on February 7 at 1 pm ET in Worthen Arena.
This will be the second meeting between the Cardinals and the Trojans with Ball State winning its first contest over Troy in Troy, Alabama by a score of 86-71 on Nov. 11, 2024.
Ball State improved to 4-1 record in the MAC-SBC Challenge after winning its first match-up this season against Arkansas State by a 68-66 decision on Nov. 3 in Arkansas.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FACES TOLEDO AT HOME WEDNESDAY IN #MACTION RIVAL CONTEST
Return of the MAC:
– Wednesday’s contest marks the 97th time in program history the two schools have met with Toledo leading the all-time series record, 63-33.
– Ball State and Toledo last met in the 2025 Mid-American Conference championship title game with the Cardinals defeating the Rockets 65-58. BSU was crowned the MAC Tourney champion and earned its second-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament with the victory.
– It may be cold outside but the Cardinals tend to get hot in the month of January under 14th-year head coach Brady Sallee. Sallee owns an overall record of 78-29 (.724) in the month of January dating back to his first season in 2012-13.
Where We Rank in the MAC:
Ball State remains at the top of the charts in assists per game (18.5), rebound margin (12.8), rebounds defensive per game (31.8), rebounds per game (46.47) and scoring offense (77.2).
International Success:
The Cardinals have had plenty of international success under 14th year head coach Brady Sallee. We all remember Nathalie Fontaine the 6-2 guard from Stockholm, Sweden became Ball State’s all-time leading scorer with 2,166 points. The 2016 MAC Player of the Year and AP honorable mention averaged 21.0 points per game and 10.2 rebounds while making over 50 percent of her shots. After Fontaine was Carmen Grande a native from Madrid, Spain who held onto the all-time assists record with 697 until Ally Becki surpassed her last season with 721 and we also cannot forget Thelma Dis Agustsdottir from Keflavik, Iceland who holds the all-time 3-point record with 325 treys. Agustsdottir also competed at the Celsius 3-point championship at the NCAA Tournament.
Only 23 Teams in the Nation:
The Cardinals are one of 23 teams remaining in the country with an undefeated conference ledger.
Rebound that Basketball:
The Cardinals have been strong on the boards so far this season. Ball State is outpacing its opponents on the board 46.5 to 33.7. Defensively, the Cardinals have totaled 697 rebounds this season. The Cardinals pulled down a season best 69 rebounds against Oakland City which was a program record on Dec. 3, 2025.
3-0 in the MAC:
The Cardinals have opened their Mid-American Conference season with a 3-0 ledger for the third-straight season and the 11th time in program history. Ball State has won seven-straight MAC regular season contests dating back to last year with its last lost being against Kent State by a 60-54 decision on Feb. 22, 2025.
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PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MBB AT YSU ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne hits the road for a Horizon League contest at Youngstown State on Wednesday (Jan. 7) evening.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (9-8, 3-3 Horizon League) at Youngstown State (8-8, 2-4 Horizon League)
When: Wednesday, January 7 | 7:17 PM ET
Where: Youngstown, Ohio |Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: 1380 AM
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Youngstown State
Know Your Foe
Imanuel Zorgvol leads the Horizon League with 26 total blocks and 1.6 blocks per game. The Penguins have lost three straight games: Detroit Mercy, Oakland and Northern Kentucky.
Series History
Youngstown State leads the series 8-7. The ‘Dons are 2-7 all-time in Youngstown, this includes a 72-67 loss to the Penguins in the Horizon League postseason last season.
‘Dons & Ends
// Purdue Fort Wayne’s 16-point comeback victory vs. Cleveland State (Jan. 4) was the second largest comeback in the program’s NCAA Division I era. The largest comeback victory in program history came in a win at North Dakota State (Jan. 20, 2011) when the ‘Dons rallied back from 18.
// In December, Corey Hadnot II was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List. The award recognizes the best player in NCAA Mid-Major Division I basketball. The award is given out at the end of the season.
// The Mastodons have nine games this season with single-digit turnovers, including just two vs. Detroit Mercy on Dec. 14.
// Corey Hadnot II is one of only five juniors or seniors in NCAA Division I men’s basketball currently averaging 20 or more points who entered the season never having averaged 10 points in a season. (Cameron Carr, Baylor | Chandler Cuthrell, Elon | MJ Collins, Utah State | Dennis Parker Jr, Radford)
// The win over Notre Dame put the ‘Dons on a four-game win streak. The ‘Dons have now had a winning streak of at least four games in every season since 2009-10 except for one (2017-18). That is 16-of-17 seasons.
// The top two scoring games in the league this season belong to Corey Hadnot II. He had 33 at Oakland (Dec. 3) and 32 at Western Michigan (Nov. 12). Mikale Stevenson’s 29 against Chicago State (Nov. 25) is the fifth best scoring performance in the league this season.
// Through six league games, Corey Hadnot II is averaging 21.3 points per game in league play, best in the league.
// Jon Coffman picked up his 200th career victory on Nov. 15 against Boyce. He is the program’s leader in victories.
// DeAndre Craig Jr. has scored double-digits 15-of-17 games this season. He has four games of exactly 18 points this year. He tied a career high with 22 points vs. Oakland.
// Darius Duffy has 80 rebounds on the season, 44 have been on the offensive glass.
// Darius Duffy leads the league in two-point field goal percentage at 66.7 percent.
// Redshirt freshman Ebrahim Kaba has shown early results from beyond the arc, hitting 16-of-43 (38.1 percent) from three.
// How good has Corey Hadnot II been this year?
– Corey Hadnot II is 2nd in the nation with 129 field goals. He has 347 points this season, 1st in the nation. He is 1st in the league at 20.4 points per game (29th in the nation). Hadnot is also 11th in the nation in steals with 36.
– Hadnot is averaging 20.4 points per game, should he finish at that average, it would rank tie for 5th in Mastodon history for a single season.
– He has the most field goals made (tied, 12 at Oakland) and most field goals attempted (22 at WMU) by a Horizon League player this season.
– He has the third most steals in a game by a Horizon League player this season (6 at Ohio State).
– Through 17 games, Hadnot is on track to score 628 points in the regular season this year. This would rank 7th all time for points scored by a player in a single season in Mastodon history.
– Through 17 games, he is on track to have 73 steals in the regular season this year. This would rank 6th all time for steals by a player in a single season in Mastodon history.
– Hadnot’s scoring is up this year as is his shooting percentage.His field goal percentage has improved each season. (Freshman: 40.9 -> Sophomore: 44.6 -> Junior: 53.8)
– Hadnot leads the league in sports-reference’s player efficiency rating (26.2), usage percentage (28.1), points produced (317) and points produced per game (18.7).
// In the nation, the ‘Dons are:
– 10th in turnover margin (5.2)
– 24th in steals per game (9.6)
– 34th in fewest turnovers per game (10.1)
– 36th in turnovers forced per game (15.24)
– 51st in fast break points per game (15.35)
// Weekly alumni spotlight:
– 22 former Mastodons have played professionally in the last 14 years.
Jalon Pipkins (2021-22) is playing for Gargzdu in Lithuanian. He had eight points and two rebounds in a win over Jonavos CBet on Jan. 3
// John Konchar to enter Mastodon Hall of Fame
– Former Mastodon John Konchar (2014-19) will be inducted into the Mastodon Hall of Fame on Jan. 31. Konchar, the seven-year NBA veteran with the Memphis Grizzlies, finished his collegiate career as the first student-athlete in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals.
// Red Coat honor
– In May 2025 head coach Jon Coffman was selected as a Red Coat recipient from the Mad Anthonys Foundation. Each year the Red Coat is given to an individual that has made a positive impact on the region and the state of Indiana. A few of the previous honorees include: Keith Busse, Chuck Surack, Brad Stevens, Bob Chase, Arnie Ball, Shelley Long, Matt Painter, Brian Kelly, Brad Stevens, Joe Tiller, Bob Knight and John Wooden. The Red Coat Gala began in 1958.
// No place like home
– The ‘Dons have won 28 consecutive regular season home games against non-league opponents, a streak that started on Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Stetson. As the Mastodons are finished with non-league home games this season, the streak will continue to next season.
– The Mastodons have won 15 consecutive games at the Gates Sports Center dating back to the 2022-23 season. The last loss was a 71-64 setback to Robert Morris on Feb. 12, 2023. The streak started with a 77-75 win over Wright State on Feb. 19, 2023. That game is well remembered for Damian Chong Qui’s half court game-winning shot.
– The Mastodons are 8-1 at home this season. You can add in another win if you include the Mastodons exhibition win over Ball State.
– The Mastodons have recorded double-digit wins at home in 11 of the last 13 years. Last season the ‘Dons opened the season 9-0 at home, the best undefeated home stretch to start a season in the program’s NCAA Division I history.
– The ‘Dons have 11 seasons of double-digit home wins since the start of the 2012-13 season.
// NCAA Rankings, Historically Speaking
– Top 25 in the nation in 3-pointers per game in eight of the last 10 years.
– Top 35 in the nation in points per game in seven of the last 12 years.
– Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the ‘Dons are 7th in the nation in total made 3-pointers (3,559), 11th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.9 percent) and 24th in field goal percentage (46.6 percent).
// The ‘Dons have been top 25 in the nation in 3-pointers per game in eight of the last 10 years and top 35 in the nation in points per game in seven of the last 12 years.
// Purdue Fort Wayne finished each of the last two seasons ranked fourth in the nation in turnover margin; in 2024-25 (5.3) and in 2023-24 (5.7).
// Rally for these tidbits on the win over Cleveland State:
– Purdue Fort Wayne erased a 16-point first half deficit in the win.
– They closed the game on a 13-4 run over the final 3:30 to get the 74-71 victory.
– Cleveland State took a school-record 42 3-point attempts in the game.
– Corey Hadnot II and DeAndre Craig Jr. each had 20 points.
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EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL WELCOMES MURRAY STATE ON WEDNESDAY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On Wednesday, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team faces Murray State in the first of two meetings this season in a 7 p.m. game at the Ford Center. ESPN+ and Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Last Time Out
– Northern Iowa defeated the Purple Aces by a final score of 62-48 on Sunday
– AJ Casey led all players with 17 points while Connor Turnbull finished with 12
– The Panthers held UE to 18 first-half points while leading by as many as 20
Top of the Chart
– AJ Casey made it four out of five games reaching double figures as he scored a game-high 17 points against UNI
– Converting seven of his nine attempts, Casey is now shooting 60.0% in MVC play while averaging a team-high 14 points
– The top game of his career came at Bradley where he tallied 21 points while converting eight field goal tries
– Casey now has eight double digit games on the season and is averaging 9.8 PPG
Lucky Number
– Leif Moeller’s lucky number when it comes to dishing out assists seems to be eight
– Moeller had eight assists against UNI and has hit that number on three occasions this year while ranking fourth in the MVC with 3.69 per game
– He is 11th in the league with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.55 while ranking 13th in minutes with 28.28
– Helped by a career-high 21 points at WKU, Moeller is averaging 9.4 PPG over his last seven games (66 points) after posting 5.9 PPG in the opening nine contests
Taking it to another Level
– In the home game against Drake, Connor Turnbull recorded the third double-double of his career and second of the season finishing with 20 points and 15 boards
– His 15 caroms was a career-high and improved his average to 6.21 per game – 7th in the Valley
– Turnbull’s scoring average of 12.43 PPG ranks 17th in the conference; he is averaging 5.0 PPG in the last three games while shooting 23.1% (6/26) over that time
Scouting the Opponent
– Murray State is 13-3 overall and 5-0 through the opening portion of the MVC schedule
– The Racers are coming off an 86-66 home win over Bradley on Sunday
– Three MSU players average double figures in scoring with Javon Jackson leading the way with 16.5 PPG
– His scoring average is 4th in the MVC while his 44.9% shooting from outside is third in the league
– Fredrick King checks in with 13.1 PPG while Roman Domon is third on the team with 12.0 PPG
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SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
USI HOSTS SEMO, UTM THIS WEEK AT LIBERTY ARENA
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball returns home to Liberty Arena to start a home weekend Thursday and begin a stretch of six of the next eight games at home to finish January. The home weekend starts with Southeast Missouri State Thursday and concludes Saturday against UT Martin.
Both games are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off and will be streamed on ESPN+. All USI games are aired live on ESPN 97.7FM and The Spin 95.7FM. The USI-SEMO matchup will be presented by Tri-State Orthopaedics.
The Screaming Eagles (3-11, 0-4 OVC) hope this critical home stretch at Liberty Arena can get them back on track in Ohio Valley Conference play. USI has been in the last three games, losing by a total of 11 points and had a chance to tie/take the lead in the final 30 seconds of the games.
The Eagles are coming off a 0-2 road trip that saw them lose at SIU Edwardsville, 59-55, and at Lindenwood, 83-80. Junior guard Tolu Samuels led the way for the Screaming Eagles on the trip with 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while senior guard Cardell Bailey and junior guard Sheridan Sharp posted 13.0 points and 12.5 points per game, respectively.
For the season, Habib has been posting 16.6 points per game to lead USI in scoring. Bailey is second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per contest this season and is averaging 16.5 points per outing in the last six games.
SEMO (8-7, 3-1 OVC) has won its last three games in the OVC play and has taken six of its last seven overall. The Redhawks lead the all-time series with USI, 8-3, after winning both meetings last season.
UT Martin (11-4, 3-1 OVC) posted a sweep last week and visits Morehead State Thursday before coming to USI. The Skyhawks lead the all-time series with USI, 9-4, after taking both matchups last season.
Following this week’s home games, USI is on the road to Tennessee Tech January 15 and Tennessee State January 17. The Eagles are back in Liberty Arena versus Eastern Illinois January 22; Western Illinois January 24; Lindenwood January 29; and SIUE January 31.
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SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL
USI SOFTBALL ANNOUNCES 2026 SCHEDULE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball has released its 2026 schedule, opening the season at the Alabama State Stinger Classic February 7-8.
The 2026 schedule features 47 games, including 12 home games at USI Softball Field during the Ohio Valley Conference season.
USI’s opening week at the Alabama State Stinger Classic is highlighted by matchups against Nicholls State University, Northern Kentucky University, Murray State University, and host Alabama State University.
The Screaming Eagles head to the Memphis 901 Classic the following weekend, February 13-15. USI faces the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Ball State University, the University of Evansville, Miami University (Ohio), and the host University of Memphis.
USI’s non-conference slate continues February 19-23 at the Florida Atlantic Joan Joyce Classic. The Eagles compete against the University of Kansas, the University of Massachusetts, Villanova University, and twice against host Florida Atlantic University.
Preceding the start of conference play, the Screaming Eagles travel February 27-March 1 for a tournament hosted jointly by Austin Peay State University and Belmont University. USI takes on Austin Peay, Ohio University, and Central Michigan University at Austin Peay while playing the Bruins twice at Belmont.
The Eagles open Ohio Valley Conference play and their home schedule at USI Softball Field, March 7-8, with a series against Tennessee State University, kicking off a 27-game conference schedule.
Following the opening weekend of OVC action, USI concludes its non-conference schedule with a single-game trip to the University of Kentucky on March 11.
A few other highlighted OVC series include a home weekend against Southeast Missouri State University on March 21-22, a trip to Tennessee Tech University on April 11-12, and a home series finale against reigning OVC regular-season and tournament champion Eastern Illinois University on April 25-26. USI finishes its 2026 regular-season schedule May 1-2 at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
The 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament returns to Louisville Slugger Sports Complex and OSF Healthcare Field in Peoria, Illinois, for the third consecutive season on May 6-9.
The upcoming 2026 championship season will be USI’s first season as a full-fledged Division I member and eligible for potential NCAA postseason championship berths. The Screaming Eagles won 17 games overall and finished fourth in the OVC to earn a third consecutive OVC Tournament berth.
The full schedule and game times can be found on usiscreamingeagles.com. Further information regarding game broadcasts and more will become available at a later date. Game dates and times are subject to change.
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VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HOSTS BRADLEY THURSDAY
Valparaiso (0-15, 0-4 MVC)
Game #16 – January 8, 2026 – 6 p.m.
Bradley (8-6, 1-2 MVC)
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valpo women’s basketball team continues Missouri Valley Conference play on Thursday evening with its lone home game in a five-game stretch, taking on Bradley at the ARC.
Previously: The Beacons completed their weekend swing through the state of Indiana with a 66-46 loss at Evansville Saturday afternoon. Freshman Allia von Schlegell surpassed her previous career best with 19 points.
Following Valpo Basketball: Video: ESPN+
Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com
Head Coach Courtney Boyd (0-15 at Valpo, 1st season; 190-83 [.696] overall, 9th season): Courtney Boyd was named the ninth head coach of the Valparaiso University women’s basketball program on April 4, 2025. A national championship-winning head coach and player, an NAIA National Coach of the Year, and a two-time conference Coach of the Year, Boyd has won 20 or more games in seven of her first eight seasons as a head coach. She spent the last two seasons at the helm of the Quincy University program after six seasons as head coach at Clarke University, leading the latter program to the NAIA national title in 2022-23.
Series Notes: Bradley leads the all-time series between the two programs by a 13-11 mark, but Valpo has the 10-7 edge since joining the MVC. The Beacons had won eight straight in the series, including a 59-52 home win and a 66-64 road win last season, before the Braves claimed a 64-58 victory in the opening round of the MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
@ValpoWBB…
…at Evansville
– Valpo took the lead inside the first minute on a triple from Allia von Schlegell before Evansville scored 10 in a row to force a timeout from the Beacons 3:39 into the game.
– The Beacons came out of the stoppage with seven of the next nine points, capped by a 3-pointer by Fiona Connolly to bring Valpo within 12-10 with 3:32 to play in the quarter.
– After the teams traded points, the Purple Aces scored the final seven points of the quarter to extend their lead to 21-12 at the end of the period.
– Evansville matched that spurt to start the second quarter, pushing its edge to 28-12 and forcing a Valpo timeout 90 seconds into the period.
– The Beacons held the Purple Aces to just five points over the next eight minutes, while von Schlegell had eight points and Connolly four during the same stretch to get back to within nine points.
– Evansville scored a pair of baskets in the final 30 seconds of the half to lead 37-24 at halftime.
– Valpo’s deficit fluctuated between 12 and 15 points for most of the third quarter before the Purple Aces went on a 9-0 run to end the period with a 52-31 lead.
– von Schlegell surpassed her career high with a 19-point afternoon, a mark which included a Valpo season-best five made 3-pointers. It was the freshman’s eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
– Connolly added 11 points to score in double figures for the 11th time this year.
– One game after dishing out a Valpo season-high seven assists, Mikayla Huffine followed with a game-high five assists on Saturday.
– The Beacons hit just 27.1% from the floor and were just 7-of-29 from 3-point range. The defense did hold Evansville to 37.5% shooting, including just 6-of-27 from 3-point range, and also forced 18 turnovers by the Purple Aces, a season high for its opposition.
…at Indiana State
– The Beacons got off to a quick start offensively, scoring on each of their first three possessions, and pulled out to a 9-4 edge just over two minutes in on a triple from Allia von Schlegell.
– An 8-0 ISU run over a two-minute stretch mid-quarter turned a five-point Valpo lead into a three-point edge for the Sycamores.
– The teams traded the lead over the last few minutes of the period. A 3-pointer by Kayla Preston had Valpo up 22-21 with 20 seconds to play in the quarter, but the Sycamores got a midrange jumper right before the horn to lead 23-22 10 minutes in.
– It was a one-possession game for the first half of the second quarter, with a free throw from Autumn Dibb tying things up at 30-30 with 5:23 remaining in the half. ISU outscored the Beacons 17-5 over the second half of the period to claim a 47-35 lead at halftime.
– A late-quarter run in favor of the hosts proved vital in the third quarter as well, as after the Beacons had kept the deficit right around that 12-point mark from intermission for most of the period, ISU went on a 12-2 run over three minutes to push out to a 21-point lead – a lead which was 79-58 with 10 minutes to play.
– After giving up 79 points over the first three quarters, Valpo limited ISU to just nine points in the fourth quarter, holding the Sycamores to 3-of-18 shooting, in an attempt to rally. The Beacons got to within 10 late on a 3-pointer from Mikayla Huffine, but were unable to get any closer.
– The 78 points marked a season high for the Beacons, whose previous best this season was a 69-point effort against SIUE.
– The Beacons connected on a season-high 11 3-pointers and hit at a 40.7% clip from the 3-point line, also a season best.
– Valpo was strong at the foul line as well, going 23-for-29 (79.3%) at the charity stripe — also a season best for free throws made.
– For the third straight game, Kayla Sullivan posted a season best in the scoring column, finishing with 14 points. The junior, who made her first start of the season, also matched her season high with six rebounds.
– Fiona Connolly led all players with 21 points, tying her career high set earlier this season against Radford. The senior went 5-of-7 from the floor, including a career-best three 3-pointers, and shattered her career best by making eight free throws (8-for-11).
– von Schlegell finished one off her season high with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, a mark which included three triples to match her season best.
– Huffine filled out the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds and seven assists — the six rebounds matched her career best, while the seven assists were the second-highest output of her career in that category.
…looking ahead
– It’s a quick turnaround for the Beacons, who return to the road for a Saturday afternoon game at Southern Illinois.
– Another road game follows next Thursday, as Valpo travels to take on Illinois State.
…at the ARC
– Thursday’s game is the sixth of 13 home games this season for the Beacons, as Valpo hosts three nonconference games and 10 MVC games.
– The Beacons are currently 0-5 at the ARC this year.
– Valpo posted a 9-6 record at the ARC last season, the program’s first winning record at home since the 2019-20 season.
….and @ValleyHoops
– Valpo is in its ninth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
– Valpo was picked outside the top-four of the MVC preseason poll, as the Valley released only the top four selections.
– The Valley finished last season ranked seventh in the NET, matching the conference’s highest NET/RPI ranking in Valpo’s time as an MVC member (2020-21).
…looking back at last year
– Valpo finished last season with a 13-19 overall record and went 9-11 in MVC play to finish in eighth place.
– Among the Beacons’ 13 victories were a thrilling rally from a 20-point deficit for a home win over Drake which entered the game ranked 69th in NET, the program’s highest-ranked win since a win over #54 UNI in 2021-22.
– Leah Earnest was tabbed a First Team All-MVC honoree as she concluded a decorated career that saw her finish first in program history in career rebounds and third in career scoring.
– The 2024-25 Beacons hit 245 3-pointers, third-most in a single season in program history, and tallied 314 steals, seventh on the program’s single-season chart and the most since 2001-02.
@BradleyWBB
– Bradley enters Thursday’s game with an 8-6 overall record on the season and sits at 1-2 in MVC play, following a double-overtime defeat at Murray State last time out.
– The Braves also fell at Belmont last weekend after getting in the win column in MVC play against Southern Illinois.
– Kaylen Nelson averages a team-best 17.1 points/game and hits at a 40.7% clip from the 3-point line, while Maya Foz adds 14.0 points/game.
Fiona Leads the Way
– Senior Fiona Connolly returned from missing the CMU game due to injury to lead the Beacons in scoring in each of the next two games – 10 points versus UNI, and a game-high 21 points at Indiana State to tie her career high.
– Connolly – who dropped in 11 points last time out at Evansville – has been a consistent offensive presence for Valpo this season, scoring in double figures in 11 of her 14 appearances and being held under eight points just once.
– Connolly is averaging a team-best 12.7 points/game this season, over triple her scoring average of 3.5 points/game last year.
– She has also nearly doubled her production on the boards, averaging 3.9 rebounds/game this season after posting 2.2 boards/game last year.
Allia Heats Up
– Freshman Allia von Schlegell has been on a tear in the scoring department recently.
– She has scored in double figures five times in Valpo’s last six games, averaging 15.5 points/game over that stretch.
– That comes after opening her career with just three double-digit games in her first nine, averaging just 5.8 points/game over that stretch.
– Included in the recent run is a 17-point effort at Indiana State; back-to-back 18-point games versus SIUE and at Western Michigan; and most recently, a game-high and season-best 19 points at Evansville.
– von Schlegell currently ranks third among MVC freshmen in scoring (9.7 points/game) and first in 3-pointers made (27).
Nonconference Scoring
– von Schlegell scored in double figures six times in nonconference action, among the best in program history in terms of double-digit scoring outputs by a freshman in nonconference games since Valpo joined the North Star Conference for the 1987-88 season:
Dani Franklin, 2014-15, 11
Meredith Hamlet, 2015-16, 8
Tabitha Gerardot, 2010-11, 8
Sarrah Stricklett, 1996-97, at least 7 (2 boxes unavailable)
Debbie Bolen, 1989-90, at least 7 (1 box unavailable)
Jeanette Gray, 1999-2000, 7
Allia von Schlegell, 2025-26, 6
Stephanie Greer, 1987-88, 6
Amy Cole, 1987-88, 6
Linda Batz, 1987-88, 6
Ali Saunders, 2022-23, 5
Jamie Gutowski, 2002-03, 5
– Notably, the six players ahead of von Schlegell on that list all went on to earn All-Freshman/Newcomer Team honors and closed their time at Valpo among the top-12 in program history in career scoring.
Huffine’s Helping Hand
– Senior Mikayla Huffine led all players in the assist department in both of Valpo’s games last weekend with two of the best efforts of her career.
– Huffine dished out seven assists in the game at Indiana State, the most by a Valpo player in a single contest since Ava Interrante recorded seven assists at UNI Feb. 29, 2024.
– Huffine followed with a five-assist effort at Evansville on Saturday.
– She became the first Valpo player with back-to-back games of at least five assists since Shay Frederick totaled at least six assists in five straight games in February 2022.
– Huffine tallied five assists four times in her two years at Quincy and surpassed that mark just once – a nine-assist game Feb. 24, 2024 at Truman State.
Notables from Indiana State
– The 78 points were not only a season high for the Beacons, but it was Valpo’s highest-scoring game since scoring 79 at Milwaukee Nov. 14, 2024.
– It was the program’s highest-scoring game in Valley play since scoring 79 versus Bradley Jan. 21, 2024.
– Fiona Connolly became the first Valpo player to score at least 21 points with no more than seven field goal attempts (5-7) since Grace White scored 23 points on seven field goal attempts against Xavier Dec. 16, 2020.
– Mikayla Huffine filled out the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds and seven assists — the first Valpo player to hit those three marks in the same game since Shay Frederick posted 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists at Loyola Feb. 25, 2022.
– Kayla Sullivan went 8-for-8 from the foul line — the first Valpo player to shoot 100% from the stripe with at least eight attempts since Leah Earnest went 12-for-12 at Lehigh Dec. 1, 2024.
Shifting Starters
– With Mor Shabtai missing last weekend’s games due to injury, Valpo used its seventh different starting lineup of the season, as Kayla Sullivan earned her first starts as a Beacon and Kamryn Winch also returned to the starting five.
– Shabtai had started 34 consecutive games dating back to last season prior to missing out at Indiana State.
– Nine different players have been a part of at least one starting five this year, with only one – Mikayla Huffine – starting every game.
All-Tournament Honoree
– Fiona Connolly represented Valpo on the All-Tournament Team at the CSU Invitational, as she averaged 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over the Beacons’ trio of games in Cleveland.
– Connolly opened with her career-high 21 points and also tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds against Radford.
– She tied for game-high honors with 14 points versus Cleveland State, and closed the tournament with nine points and seven boards against St. Bonaventure.
The Tall and the Short
– This year’s Valpo roster features recent extremes on both ends of the height spectrum.
– Mor Shabtai and Mikayla Huffine both are listed at 5-4, making them the shortest Valpo players since 5-3 Rashida Ray (2007-11).
– On the flip side, Kamryn Winch and Milana Nenadic both check in at 6-3, making them the tallest Valpo players since 6-5 Nicole Johanson (2018-19).
International Flavor
– Valpo has a trio of international players on its 2025-26 roster: sophomore Mor Shabtai (Israel) and transfers Milana Nenadic (Ontario, Canada) and Kennedy Sproule (Manitoba, Canada).
– Prior to Shabtai’s arrival last year, the Valpo program hadn’t had an international player since Sharon Karungi (Uganda) roamed the paint from 2013-15.
Sister Act
– For the third straight season, the Beacons have a pair of sisters on their roster, as freshman Nuala Connolly joins senior sister Fiona on this year’s squad.
– The last two years featured identical twins Nevaeh and Saniya Jackson.
– Before that, the last set of sisters to suit up together in the Brown and Gold were the trio of Hamlet sisters: Annemarie (2013-16) overlapped with both older sister Elizabeth (2013-14) and younger sister Meredith (2015-19).
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SMALL INDIANA COLLEGE SPORTS WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
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TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
On January 7 in …
1908 – England beats Australia by one wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
1910 – Ottawa Senators sweep Galt in two games for the Stanley Cup.
1927 – Harlem Globetrotters play first basketball game (Hinckley, Illinois).
1932 – First game played at Orchard Lake Curling Club, Michigan, USA.
1936 – Tennis champions Helen Moody and Howard Kinsley volley 2,001 times (1 hour 18 minutes).
1947 – Australia versus England at Melbourne Cricket Ground drawn in six days, first cricket draw in Australia since 1882.
1956 – Vinoo Mankad scores 231 versus New Zealand, 413 opening stand with Roy.
1961 – First NFL Playoff Bowl (runner-up bowl)-Detroit Lions beats Cleveland Browns 17-16.
1962 – AFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 47-27.
1968 – GE College Bowl quiz show premieres on NBC TV.
1972 – Los Angeles Lakers chalk up 33rd consecutive win (NBA record).
1973 – Jo Ann Prentice wins LPGA Burdine’s Golf Invitational.
1973 – Johnny Watkins bowls six overs 0-21 versus Pakistan Never again.
1980 – Minnesota North Stars end Philadelphia Flyers’ NHL record 35 game unbeaten streak.
1982 – New York Islanders’ Bryan Trottier’s 10th career hat trick.
1983 – Australia regain the Ashes with a 2-1 series win versus England.
1985 – Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1987 – Kapil Dev takes his 300th Test wicket, at age 28 the youngest.
1989 – Cleveland Cavaliers block 21 New York Knicks’ shots tying NBA regulation game record.
1990 – Lynn Jennings runs world record 5km indoor at 15:22.64.
1992 – Last day of Test cricket for Imran Khan.
1992 – Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers elected to Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1994 – South Africa beats Australia in the Sydney Test by five runs.
1994 – US female Figure Skating championship won by Tonya Harding.
2005 – Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announces Major League Baseball and the Players Association will donate $1 million to help the victims of last month’s Indian Ocean tsunami.
2006 – At the sixth Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Legacy ceremonies in Kansas City, Bob Watson, the first black general manager in baseball history, receives the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award.
2007 – Randy Johnson agrees to a US$26 million, two-year Arizona Diamondbacks deal.
2010 – Matt Holliday signs a US$120 million seven-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
2022 – At Enterprise Center in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, NHL regular season game: Saint Louis Blues beats Washington Capitals by score 5-1.
2022 – At PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, NHL regular season game: Carolina Hurricanes beats Calgary Flames by score 6-3.
Births of sports figures on January 7
1875 – Birth of Thomas Hicks; English/US marathon runner (Olympics-gold-1904).
1890 – Birth of Maurice E McLoughlin; tennis champion (US Open-1912).
1910 – Birth of Jack Lovelock; New Zealand/US surgeon/runner (Olympics-gold-1936).
1911 – Birth of Merv Waite; cricket player (South Australian all-rounder).
1916 – Birth of Gerrit Schulte AKA De Bossche Reus in the Netherlands; Dutch six day bicyclist, ten-time national champion, twice European champion, World Champion.
1918 – Birth of Colin Snedden; cricket player (Test New Zealand versus England 1947, 0-46, did not bat).
1928 – Birth of Rajindranath; cricket player (4 stumpings in his only Test for India).
1929 – Birth of Kenneth Henry; American 500m speed skater (Olympics-gold-1952).
1934 – Birth of Charles Lamont Jenkins in New York City, New York, USA; 400m runner (Olympics-gold-1956).
1942 – Birth of Vasili Alexeyev in USSR; weightlifter (Olympics-gold-1972, 1976).
1943 – Birth of Jim Lefebvre in Hawthorne, California, USA; baseball manager (Seattle Mariners).
1945 – Birth of Tony Conigliaro in Massachusetts, USA; baseball outfielder (Boston Red Sox).
1953 – Birth of Agha Zahid; cricket player (open batting for Pakistan vs West Indies 1975, scored 14 and 1).
1954 – Birth of Alan Butcher; cricket player (one Test England versus India, scored 14 and 20).
1956 – Birth of Robin Walton in Boise, Idaho, USA; LPGA golfer (1995 GHP Heartland Classic-15th).
1956 – Birth of Rosalyn Bryant in Chicago, Illinois, USA; 4x400m runner (Olympics-silver-1976).
1962 – Birth of Jeff Montgomery in Wellston, Ohio, USA; pitcher (Kansas City Royals).
1963 – Birth of Craig Shipley; Australian/US baseball infielder (San Diego Padres).
1965 – Birth of Mark Rushmere; cricket player (South Africa opening bat in comeback Test 1992).
1966 – Birth of Jennifer Luff; Australian rower (Olympics-1996).
1966 – Birth of Randy Burridge in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada; NHL left wing (Buffalo Sabres).
1967 – Birth of Guy Hebert in Troy, New York, USA; NHL goalie (Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Team USA 1998).
1967 – Birth of Scott Galbraith; NFL tight end (Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys).
1968 – Birth of Michael Rosati; hockey goaltender (Team Italy 1998).
1968 – Birth of Nathaniel Bolton; WLAF running back (Frankfurt Galaxy).
1969 – Birth of Chris Hatcher; US baseball outfielder (Houston Astros).
1969 – Birth of Erric Pegram; NFL running back (Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, San Diego Chargers).
1969 – Birth of Todd Kinchen; NFL wide receiver (Saint Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons).
1970 – Birth of Darryl Williams; NFL safety (Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals).
1970 – Birth of Frank “Cliff” Mannon in Amarillo, Texas, USA; team handball (Olympics-1996).
1970 – Birth of Paul McCallum; Canadian Football League/WLAF kicker/punter (Scottish Claymores, Saskatchewan Roughriders).
1970 – Birth of Todd Day; NBA guard/forward (Boston Celtics).
1971 – Birth of Bobby Hamilton; NFL/WLAF defensive end (Amsterdam Admirals, New York Jets).
1971 – Birth of Masato Itai; WLAF wide receiver (Amsterdam Admirals).
1971 – Birth of Todd Yeaman; NFL defensive tackle (New York Giants).
1972 – Birth of Aaron John Mcintosh in Auckland, New Zealand; sailboard yachter (Olympics-1996).
1972 – Birth of Chuck Levy; kick returner/running back (San Francisco 49ers).
1972 – Birth of Donald Brashear in Bedford, Indiana, USA; NHL left wing (Montreal Canadiens).
1973 – Birth of Bobby Engram; wide receiver (Chicago Bears).
1973 – Birth of Brian Milne; fullback (Cincinnati Bengals).
1973 – Birth of Ricky Wood in Van Nuys, California, USA; diver (Olympics-1996).
1973 – Birth of Robert Dunn in Glenn Cove, New York, USA; team handball left wing (Olympics-1996).
1975 – Birth of Robert Norman Waddell in Cambridge, New Zealand; single scull rower (Olympics-1996).
Deaths of sports figures on January 7
1936 – Howard Francis, cricket player (two Tests South Africa versus England 1898-99, 39 runs), dies.
1955 – Gerald Hartigan, cricket player (South African batsman in five Tests 1911-14), dies.
1967 – Sid Emery, cricket leg-spinner (New South Wales and Australia, five wicket in 1912 series), dies.
1972 – Clarence Passailaigue, cricket player (487 for 6th wicket for Jamaica), dies.
1982 – Bert Oosterhuis, Dutch motor racer (Paris-Dakar), dies in race crash.
1990 – Bronislau “Bronko” Nagurski, football hall of famer, dies at age 81.
1990 – Horace Stoneham, baseball owner (San Francisco Giants), dies at age 86.
1990 – Joseph Robbie, lawyer/NFL owner (Miami Dolphins), dies at age 73.
On January 8 in …
1897 – Michael Eagan wins first US national amateur handball championship.
1902 – First National Bowling Championship held (Chicago, Illinois, USA).
1931 – Philadelphia Quakers set NHL record of 15 straight loses.
1938 – Donald Bradman scores 107 for South Australia versus Queensland (first innings).
1947 – Toronto Maple Leafs’ rookie Howie Meeker scores five goals in a game.
1953 – Cleveland Indians bar night games with Cleveland Browns (who refuse to share TV receipts).
1955 – Furman sets NCAA basketball single-game scoring record with 154 points.
1955 – Georgia Tech ends Kentucky’s 130-game home basketball win streak.
1955 – Louise Sugg wins LPGA Los Angeles Golf Open.
1962 – Golfer Jack Nicklaus, age 21, makes his first professional appearance, comes in 50th.
1972 – NCAA announces freshman can play on teams starting in fall.
1973 – Greg Chappell’s best Test bowling, 5-61 versus Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground.
1980 – NCAA decides to sponsor women’s championships in five sports.
1980 – New York Islanders’ Glenn Resch’s 20th shut-out opponent-Vancouver Canucks 3-0.
1981 – India all out 63 in one-day international versus Australia.
1981 – Cincinnati Reds become last team to sign a free agent (Larry Biitner).
1984 – NHL Washington Capitals’ Bengt Gustafsson scores five goals.
1984 – NCAA announces that basketball tournament will have 64 teams.
1986 – Willie McCovey is 16th elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year.
1988 – 9th largest NBA crowd 38,873-Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons.
1988 – US female Figure Skating championship won by Debi Thomas.
1991 – Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, and Rod Carew elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.
1991 – Tamás Darnyi swims world record 400m medley (4:12.36).
1993 – Chicago Bulls’ player Michael Jordan scores his 20,000th career point.
1994 – Rintje Ritsma skates world record 1500m (1:51.60).
1994 – US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Davis.
1995 – Mike Schmidt is elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1996 – For first time in 25 years no one is elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.
1998 – New York Giants’ general manager George Young resigns to accept NFL position.
2002 – Juan Gonzalez agrees to a $24 million, two-year deal with the Texas Rangers.
2010 – The Togo national football team is involved in an attack in Angola, and as a result withdraws from the Africa Cup of Nations.
2022 – At crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Los Angeles Kings beats Detroit Red Wings by score 4-0.
2022 – At Honda Center in Anaheim, California, USA, NHL regular season game: New York Rangers beats Anaheim Ducks by score 4-1.
2022 – At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, NHL regular season game: Chicago Blackhawks beats Vegas Golden Knights by score 2-1.
2022 – At Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, USA, NHL regular season game: Nashville Predators beats Arizona Coyotes by score 4-2.
2022 – At Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, NHL regular season game: Minnesota Wild beats Washinton Capitals by score 3-2.
2022 – At Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, USA, NHL regular season game: Colorado Avalanche beats Toronto Maple Leafs by score 5-4.
2022 – At Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, USA, NHL regular season game: Columbus Blue Jackets beats New Jersey Devils by score 4-3.
2022 – At FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Florida Panthers beats Carolina Hurricanes by score 4-3.
2022 – At Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, NHL regular season game: San Jose Sharks beats Philadelphia Flyers by score 3-2.
2022 – At Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, USA, NHL regular season game: Boston Bruins beats Tampa Bay Lightning by score 5-2.
2022 – At American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, USA, NHL regular season game: Dallas Stars beats Pittsburgh Penguins by score 3-2.
Births of sports figures on January 8
1909 – Birth of Bruce Mitchell; cricket player (South African bat, their top run-scorer (3471)).
1913 – Birth of Horace Smith; cricket player (New Zealand, only Test wicket off his first ball (Paynter)).
1923 – Birth of Johnny Wardle; cricket player (Yorkshire and England left-arm bowler of 1950s).
1930 – Birth of Doreen Wilber; American archer (Olympics-gold-1972).
1934 – Birth of Jacques Anquetil in France; Tour de France bicycle racer (5-time winner).
1946 – Birth of Elaine Cheris in Dotham, Alabama, USA; fencer-epee (Olympics-1996).
1949 – Birth of Lawrence Rowe; cricket player (prolific West Indies batsman, 302 versus England 1974).
1952 – Birth of Norm Jarvis in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada; golfer (1984 Chilliwack).
1953 – Birth of Bruce Sutter; pitcher (Chicago Cubs, Saint Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves).
1959 – Birth of Michael Harwood in Sydney, New South Wales; Australasia golfer.
1961 – Birth of Shoaib Mohammad; cricket player (son of Hanif Patient and prolific batsman).
1963 – Birth of Hiromi Kobayashi in Fukushima, Japan; LPGA golfer (1993 JAL Big Apple).
1964 – Birth of Virgil Hill in Missouri, USA; middleweight boxer (Olympics-silver-1984).
1965 – Birth of Champaka Ramanayake; cricket player (Sri Lankan opening bowler).
1965 – Birth of Eric Wohlberg in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; cyclist (Olympics-1996).
1966 – Birth of Darryl Hall; Canadian Football League linebacker (Calgary Stampeders).
1967 – Birth of Hollis Conway in Chicago, Illinois, USA; high jumper (Olympics-silver/bronze-1988, 1992).
1967 – Birth of Kent Jones in Portales, New Mexico, USA; golfer (NM State Amateur-1990-91).
1967 – Birth of Roger Rowland in Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Nike golfer (1990 Macon Open-second).
1967 – Birth of Willie Anderson; American NBA guard (New York Knicks, Olympics-bronze-1988).
1968 – Birth of Alexander Alexeev; NHL defenseman (Belarus, Olympics-1998).
1968 – Birth of Brian Johnson in Oakland, California, USA; catcher (San Diego Padres).
1968 – Birth of Mark Duane Croghan in Akron, Ohio, USA; 3k steeplechase (Olympics-5th-1996).
1968 – Birth of Paul Carey; US baseball infielder (Baltimore Orioles).
1969 – Birth of Brian Boehringer in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA; pitcher (New York Yankees).
1970 – Birth of Jon Klemm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; NHL defenseman (Colorado Avalanche).
1971 – Birth of Billy Joe Hobert; NFL quarterback (Oakland Raiders).
1971 – Birth of Branislav Janos; hockey forward (Team Slovakia 1998).
1971 – Birth of Darren Langdon in Deer Lake, Newfoundland, Canada; NHL left wing (New York Rangers).
1971 – Birth of Jason Giambi in West Covina, California, USA; infielder (Oakland Athletics).
1971 – Birth of Roosevelt Potts; NFL running back (Indianapolis Colts).
1971 – Birth of Stephane Barin; hockey forward (Team France 1998).
1972 – Birth of Brandie Burton in San Bernardino, California, USA; LPGA golfer (1993 du Maurier Ltd).
1972 – Birth of Devlin Murphy in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; canoe (alternate-Olympics-1996).
1974 – Birth of Arjan Blaauw; Dutch soccer player (FC Groningen).
1974 – Birth of Brian Roberson; wide receiver (New York Giants).
1975 – Birth of Vitali Yachmenev in Chelyabinsk, Russia; NHL right wing (Los Angeles Kings).
1976 – Birth of Brad Snyder in Ontario, Canada; shot putter (Olympics-1996).
Deaths of sports figures on January 8
1900 – Billy Bates cricket player (656 runs and 50 wickets in 15 Tests for England), dies.
1950 – George Rowe, cricket player (15 wickets in four Tests for South Africa 1895-1902), dies.
1987 – P G Joshi, cricket player (12 Tests for India 1951-60, ct 18 stp 9), dies.
1994 – Harvey Haddix, pitcher (12 perfect inning game), dies at age 68.
1995 – Carlos Monzon [El Macho], Argentine middleweight boxing champion (1970-77), dies at age 52.
2016 – Death of Maria Teresa de Filippis, Italian racing driver (born 1926).
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TV SPORTS
Wednesday, 1/7/26
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Denver Nuggets vs Boston Celtics | 7:00pm | ESPN ALT NBCS=PHI |
| Toronto Raptors vs Charlotte Hornets | 7:00pm | SN FanDuel Sports CHA |
| Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons | 7:00pm | CHSN FanDuel Sports DET |
| Washington Wizards vs Philadelphia 76ers | 7:00pm | MNMT NBCS-PHI |
| Los Angeles Clippers vs New York Knicks | 7:30pm | FanDuel Sports SoCal MSG |
| Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets | 7:30pm | FanDuel Sports FL YES |
| New Orleans Pelicans vs Atlanta Hawks | 7:30pm | GCSN FanDuel Sports ATL |
| Phoenix Suns vs Memphis Grizzlies | 8:00pm | AFSN FanDuel Sports MEM |
| Utah Jazz vs Oklahoma City Thunder | 8:00pm | FanDuel Sports OKC KJZZ |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs | 9:30pm | ESPN FanDuel Sports SW Spectrum |
| Milwaukee Bucks vs Golden State Warriors | 10:00pm | FanDuel Sports MIL NBCS-BAY |
| Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers | 10:00pm | SCHN Rip City |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Dallas Stars vs Washington Capitals | 7:00pm | TNT MAX |
| Calgary Flames vs Montreal Canadiens | 7:30pm | ESPN+ SN |
| Ottawa Senators vs Utah Mammoth | 9:30pm | Utah16 ESPN+ |
| St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks | 9:30pm | TNT MAX |
| San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings | 10:30pm | NBCS-CA FanDuel Sports West |
| MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Furman at Chattanooga | 5:00pm | CBSSN |
| UNCG at Wofford | 6:00pm | Nexstar |
| Loyola Maryland at Army West Point | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Holy Cross at Lehigh | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Indiana at Maryland | 6:30pm | BTN |
| Charleston Southern at Winthrop | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Longwood at UNC Asheville | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Missouri at Kentucky | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Xavier at Marquette | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| Miami (FL) at Wake Forest | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| Oklahoma at Mississippi State | 7:00pm | SECN |
| Stanford at Virginia Tech | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| Saint Louis at VCU | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| Belmont at UNI | 7:00pm | MVC TV |
| George Mason at Fordham | 7:00pm | SNY |
| La Salle at Rhode Island | 7:00pm | WLNE-DT5 |
| UConn at Providence | 7:00pm | Peacock |
| Richmond at St. Bonaventure | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Missouri State at Kennesaw State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Marshall at James Madison | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| VMI at ETSU | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Presbyterian at Radford | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Gardner-Webb at High Point | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| The Citadel at Mercer | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Bucknell at Navy | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| East Carolina at Temple | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| American at Colgate | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| FIU at Jacksonville State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Western Carolina at Samford | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Duquesne at Saint Joseph’s | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Boston University at Lafayette | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Purdue Fort Wayne at Youngstown State | 7:15pm | ESPN+ |
| Creighton at Villanova | 7:30pm | Peacock |
| Florida Atlantic at UAB | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Rice at Wichita State | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Iowa State at Baylor | 8:00pm | Peacock |
| Murray State at Evansville | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Illinois at UIC | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| South Florida at North Texas | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Illinois State at Valparaiso | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Troy at Arkansas State | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Charlotte at UTSA | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Washington at Purdue | 8:30pm | BTN |
| Alabama at Vanderbilt | 9:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Kansas State at Arizona | 9:00pm | FS1 |
| SMU at Clemson | 9:00pm | ESPNU |
| Arkansas at Ole Miss | 9:00pm | SECN |
| California at Virginia | 9:00pm | ACCN |
| Davidson at Loyola Chicago | 9:00pm | CBSSN |
| Drake at Bradley | 9:00pm | MVC TV |
| South Dakota at St. Thomas | 9:00pm | KMSP-DT2 |
| Arizona State at BYU | 9:00pm | Peacock |
| Utah at Colorado | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Grand Canyon at Boise State | 11:00pm | FS1 |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Serie A: Bologna vs Atalanta | 12:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Napoli vs Verona | 12:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Supercopa de España: Barcelona vs Athletic Clubo | 2:00pm | ESPN2 fuboTV |
| EPL: AFC Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur | 2:30pm | Peacock |
| EPL: Brentford vs Sunderland | 2:30pm | Peacock |
| EPL: Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa | 2:30pm | Peacock |
| EPL: Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2:30pm | Peacock |
| EPL: Fulham vs Chelsea | 2:30pm | Peacock |
| EPL: Manchester City vs Brighton & Hove Albion | 2:30pm | Peacock |
| Serie A: Lazio vs Fiorentina | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Parma vs Internazionale | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Torino vs Udinese | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| EPL: Burnley vs Manchester United | 3:15pm | Peacock |
| EPL: Newcastle United vs Leeds United | 3:15pm | Peacock |
Thursday, 1/8/26
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Indiana Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets | 6:00pm | FanDuel Sports IND FanDuel Sports CHA |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs Minnesota Timberwolves | 7:00pm | FanDuel Sports Ohio FanDuel Sports North |
| Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls | 8:30pm | NBATV FanDuel Sports Sun CHSN |
| Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz | 9:00pm | KFAA KJZZ |
| Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Clippers | 10:30pm | KJZZ FanDuel Sports SoCal |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Calgary Flames vs Boston Bruins | 7:00pm | SN NESN |
| Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens | 7:00pm | Scripps SN |
| Vancouver Canucks vs Detroit Red Wings | 7:00pm | FanDuel Sports DET SN |
| Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers | 7:00pm | MSG-BUF MSG |
| Toronto Maple Leafs vs Philadelphia Flyers | 7:00pm | TSN NBCS-PHI |
| New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins | 7:00pm | MSGSN ATTSN-PIT |
| Anaheim Ducks vs Carolina Hurricanes | 7:00pm | Victory+ FanDuel Sports South |
| New York Islanders vs Nashville Predators | 8:00pm | Hulu ESPN+ |
| Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets | 8:00pm | SN TSN |
| Ottawa Senators vs Colorado Avalanche | 9:00pm | ALT SN |
| Minnesota Wild vs Seattle Kraken | 10:00pm | KONG FanDuel Sports North |
| Columbus Blue Jackets vs Vegas Golden Knights | 10:00pm | FanDuel Sports Ohio Scripps |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: CFP Semifinal | 7:30pm | ESPN |
| MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Hofstra at Towson | 12:30pm | MNMT |
| Chicago State at Fairleigh Dickinson | 5:00pm | YES |
| Maine at UMBC | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UMass Lowell at Bryant | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northwestern at Michigan State | 6:30pm | BTN |
| Liberty at Louisiana Tech | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
| UNCW at Northeastern | 7:00pm | NESNplus |
| Stony Brook at Drexel | 7:00pm | NBCS-PHI+ |
| William & Mary at Monmouth | 7:00pm | SNY |
| Stonehill at Central Connecticut | 7:00pm | NEC Front Row |
| New Haven at Le Moyne | 7:00pm | NEC Front Row |
| Saint Francis U at Wagner | 7:00pm | NEC Front Row |
| Mercyhurst at LIU | 7:00pm | NEC Front Row |
| New Hampshire at NJIT | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Binghamton at Vermont | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Alabama at Eastern Kentucky | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| West Georgia at North Florida | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Old Dominion at Coastal Carolina | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Arkansas at Bellarmine | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| App State at Georgia State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Lipscomb at Stetson | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Queens at Jacksonville | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Austin Peay at FGCU | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Elon at North Carolina A&T | 7:00pm | FloCollege |
| Hampton at Campbell | 7:00pm | FloCollege |
| UT Martin at Morehead State | 7:30pm | Gray Media |
| Delaware at Sam Houston | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Denver at South Dakota State | 8:00pm | Midco Sports |
| Idaho State at Northern Colorado | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Abilene Christian at Tarleton | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Weber State at Northern Arizona | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern Utah at Utah Valley | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas State at Southern Miss | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Dakota at Omaha | 8:00pm | Summit |
| North Dakota State at Kansas City | 8:00pm | Summit |
| Rutgers at Illinois | 8:30pm | BTN |
| ULM at Louisiana | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Tennessee State at Western Illinois | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Southeast Missouri at Southern Indiana | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Little Rock at SIUE | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Tennessee Tech at Eastern Illinois | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Middle Tennessee at UTEP | 9:00pm | CBSSN |
| Montana State at Eastern Washington | 9:00pm | SWX |
| Montana at Idaho | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| WKU at NM State | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UC Riverside at CSU Bakersfield | 9:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Pepperdine at San Diego | 9:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Long Beach State at UC Irvine | 10:00pm | Spectrum |
| Pacific at Portland | 10:00pm | KUNP |
| Cal Poly at CSUN | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cal State Fullerton at UC San Diego | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Utah Tech at California Baptist | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Seattle U at Oregon State | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ohio State at Oregon | 10:30pm | BTN |
| San Francisco at Loyola Marymount | 11:00pm | CBSSN |
| Santa Clara at Gonzaga | 11:30pm | ESPN2 |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Serie A: Cremonese vs Cagliari | 12:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Supercopa de España: Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid | 2:00pm | ESPN2 fuboTV |
| Serie A: Milan vs Genoa | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| EPL: Arsenal vs Liverpool | 3:00pm | Peacock |
Friday, 1/9/2026
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics | 7:00 pm | SN NBCS-BOS |
| Philadelphia 76ers vs Orlando Magic | 7:00pm | NBCS-PHI FanDuel Sports FL |
| New Orleans Pelicans vs Washington Wizards | 7:00pm | GCSN MNMT |
| Los Angeles Clippers vs Brooklyn Nets | 7:30pm | FanDuel Sports SoCal YES |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs Memphis Grizzlies | 8:00pm | NBATV FanDuel Sports OKC FanDuel Sports MEM |
| Atlanta Hawks vs Denver Nuggets | 9:00pm | FanDuel Sports ATL ALT |
| New York Knicks vs Phoenix Suns | 9:00pm | MSG AFSN |
| Sacramento Kings vs Golden State Warriors | 10:00pm | NBCS-CA NBCS-BAY |
| Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers | 10:00pm | Rip City SCHN |
| Milwaukee Bucks vs Los Angeles Lakers | 10:30pm | NBATV Spectrum FanDuel Sports MIL |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Washington Capitals vs Chicago Blackhawks | 8:00pm | MNMT2 CHSN |
| Florida Panthers vs Montreal Canadiens | 8:00pm | Scripps SN |
| Vancouver Canucks vs Detroit Red Wings | 9:00pm | FanDuel Sports MW FanDuel Sports DET |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: CFP Semifinal | 7:30pm | ESPN |
| MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Bryant & Stratton at Youngstown State | 11:00 AM | ESPN+ |
| Miami (OH) at Toledo | 6:00pm | CBSSN |
| Saint Peter’s at Mount St. Mary’s | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Merrimack at Siena | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cleveland State at Oakland | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Canisius at Manhattan | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| IU Indianapolis at Green Bay | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Niagara at Iona | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Rider at Fairfield | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Wright State at Detroit Mercy | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Marist at Sacred Heart | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Akron at Bowling Green | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
| Northern Kentucky at Milwaukee | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| USC at Minnesota | 8:30pm | BTN |
| UNLV at Colorado State | 10:00pm | CBSSN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund | 2:30pm | ESPN2 fuboTV |
| La Liga: Getafe vs Real Sociedad | 2:45pm | ESPN+ fuboTV |
| Liga MX: Tijuana vs América | 3:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Mazatlán vs Juárez | 3:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Atlas vs Puebla | 3:00pm | VIX |
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About The Author
