THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

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

CLASS 6A

SECTIONAL 1

LAKE CENTRAL (3-6) AT CROWN POINT (9-0)

PENN (9-0) AT PORTAGE (0-9)

SECTIONAL 2

CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (6-3) AT ELKHART (6-3)

FORT WAYNE SNIDER (3-6) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (7-2)

SECTIONAL 3

ZIONSVILLE (3-6) AT WESTFIELD (7-2)

HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (4-5) AT CARMEL (8-1)

SECTIONAL 4

HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (5-4) AT HOMESTEAD (6-3)

FISHERS (6-3) AT NOBLESVILLE (1-8)

SECTIONAL 5

BEN DAVIS (3-6) AT AVON (5-4)

BROWNSBURG (9-0) AT PIKE (3-6)

SECTIONAL 6

NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (2-7) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (7-2)

LAWRENCE CENTRAL (4-5) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (7-2)

SECTIONAL 7

SOUTHPORT (1-8) AT ARSENAL TECH (4-5)

WARREN CENTRAL (5-4) AT PERRY MERIDIAN (2-7)

SECTIONAL 8

JEFFERSONVILLE (4-5) AT CENTER GROVE (8-1)

COLUMBUS NORTH (4-5) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (4-5)

_______________________________________________

CLASS 5A

SECTIONAL 9

MUNSTER (3-6) AT HAMMOND CENTRAL (0-9)

MERRILLVILLE (7-2) AT HAMMOND MORTON (6-3)

SECTIONAL 10

MICHIGAN CITY (6-3) AT VALPARAISO (2-7)

LAPORTE (3-6) AT CHESTERTON (5-4)

SECTIONAL 11

WARSAW (6-3) AT CONCORD (8-1)

FORT WAYNE NORTH (5-4) AT GOSHEN (2-7)

SECTIONAL 12

LAFAYETTE JEFF (8-1) AT MCCUTCHEON (2-7)

KOKOMO (3-6) AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS (4-5)

SECTIONAL 13

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (6-3) AT ANDERSON (1-8)

NEW PALESTINE (9-0) AT PLAINFIELD (7-2)

SECTIONAL 14

FRANKLIN (4-5) AT EAST CENTRAL (7-2)

COLUMBUS EAST (5-4) AT WHITELAND (8-2)

SECTIONAL 15

TERRE HAUTE NORTH (0-9) AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH (6-3)

TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (7-2) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (8-1)

SECTIONAL 16

EVANSVILLE NORTH (7-2) AT NEW ALBANY (0-9)

FLOYD CENTRAL (8-1) AT CASTLE (6-3)

______________________________________________

CLASS 4A

SECTIONAL 17

LOWELL (8-2) AT EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (4-6)

HOBART (8-2) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (2-8)

SECTIONAL 18

PLYMOUTH (4-6) AT MISHAWAKA (9-1)

NORTHRIDGE (3-7) AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (9-1)

SECTIONAL 19

FORT WAYNE SOUTH (3-7) AT EAST NOBLE (10-0)

COLUMBIA CITY (6-4) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (8-2)

SECTIONAL 20

FRANKFORT (0-9) AT LEBANON (8-2)

LOGANSPORT (7-3) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (6-4)

SECTIONAL 21

YORKTOWN (7-2) AT BEECH GROVE (7-3)

GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (6-4) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (9-1)

SECTIONAL 22

DANVILLE (6-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (7-3)

BREBEUF JESUIT (3-7) AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (8-2)

SECTIONAL 23

SHELBYVILLE (5-5) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (7-3)

CHARLESTOWN (8-2) AT MARTINSVILLE (4-6)

SECTIONAL 24

EVANSVILLE REITZ (7-3) AT HERITAGE HILLS (9-1)

EVANSVILLE HARRISON (3-7) AT JASPER (8-2)

____________________________________________

CLASS 3A

SECTIONAL 25

CALUMET (6-4) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (3-7)

GRIFFITH (9-1) AT KNOX (10-0)

SECTIONAL 26

LAKELAND (6-4) AT GARRETT (5-5)

ANGOLA (5-5) AT WEST NOBLE (8-2)

SECTIONAL 27

PERU (3-7) AT TWIN LAKES (8-2)

WESTERN (7-3) AT FRANKTON (2-8)

SECTIONAL 28

MISSISSINEWA (9-1) AT JAY COUNTY (4-6)

NORWELL (2-8) AT FORT WAYNE LUERS (5-5)

SECTIONAL 29

CASCADE (10-0) AT TRI-WEST (7-3)

CRAWFORDSVILLE (5-5) AT GUERIN CATHOLIC (6-4)

JH PREDICTION: GUERIN, 42-21.

SECTIONAL 30

LAWRENCEBURG (8-1) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (8-2)

SOUTH DEARBORN (5-5) AT GREENSBURG (3-7)

SECTIONAL 31

INDIAN CREEK (6-3) AT MADISON (2-8)

NORTH HARRISON (4-6) AT SCOTTSBURG (8-2)

SECTIONAL 32

EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (9-0) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (9-1)

SOUTHRIDGE (6-4) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (5-5)

______________________________________________

CLASS 2A

SECTIONAL 33

ANDREAN (8-1) AT WHEELER (8-1)

RENSSELAER CENTRAL (8-2) AT BREMEN (6-4)

SECTIONAL 34

SOUTHMONT (9-1) AT WESTERN BOONE (6-4)

SEEGER (9-1) AT LEWIS CASS (7-3)

SECTIONAL 35

MANCHESTER (7-3) AT EASTSIDE (8-2)

ADAMS CENTRAL (10-0) AT BLUFFTON (9-1)

SECTIONAL 36

EASTBROOK (10-0) AT ROCHESTER (9-1)

TIPTON (6-4) AT EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (9-1)

SECTIONAL 37

PARK TUDOR (5-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (9-1)

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (6-4) AT MONROVIA (4-6)

SECTIONAL 38

NORTHEASTERN (9-1) AT TRITON CENTRAL (9-1)

LAPEL (10-0) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (6-4)

SECTIONAL 39

NORTH POSEY (7-3) AT SULLIVAN (7-3)

LINTON (7-3) AT GREENCASTLE (5-5)

SECTIONAL 40

CLARKSVILLE (5-5) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (7-2)

PAOLI (8-2) AT BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (10-0)

_______________________________________________

CLASS 1A

SECTIONAL 41

LAVILLE (6-4) AT NORTH JUDSON (8-2)

BOWMAN ACADEMY (6-4) AT WEST CENTRAL (9-1)

SECTIONAL 42

FRONTIER (10-0) AT PIONEER (9-1)

TAYLOR (6-3) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (6-3)

SECTIONAL 43

SOUTHWOOD (3-6) AT NORTH MIAMI (7-3)

TRITON (7-3) AT FREMONT (7-3)

SECTIONAL 44

HAGERSTOWN (4-6) AT MONROE CENTRAL (5-5)

SOUTH ADAMS (7-3) AT TRI (6-4)

SECTIONAL 45

SOUTH PUTNAM (8-2) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (6-4)

NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (7-3) AT RIVERTON PARKE (10-0)

SECTIONAL 46

INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-7) AT CLOVERDALE (6-4)

SHERIDAN (6-2) AT CLINTON PRAIRIE (3-5)

SECTIONAL 47

MILAN (4-4) AT EASTERN GREENE (2-8)

KNIGHTSTOWN (6-4) AT NORTH DECATUR (7-2)

SECTIONAL 48

SPRINGS VALLEY (10-0) AT PROVIDENCE (7-2)

TECUMSEH (6-4) AT NORTH DAVIESS (9-1)

___________________________________________________________________________

+++++++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL SEMI-STATE++++++++++

NORTH

1. ROCHESTER COMMUNITY
10 AM ET | M1: CROWN POINT VS. PENN
12 PM ET | M2: CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) VS. WESTFIELD
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

2. HUNTINGTON NORTH
10 AM ET | M1: FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER VS. HAMILTON HEIGHTS
12 PM ET | M2: NORTHWOOD VS. MISHAWAKA MARIAN
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

3. PERU
10 AM ET | M1: BENTON CENTRAL VS. SOUTHWOOD
12 PM ET | M2: LAKELAND VS. SOUTH ADAMS
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

4. FRANKFORT
10 AM ET | M1: FAITH CHRISTIAN VS. SOUTH NEWTON
12 PM ET | M2: ROSSVILLE VS. TRITON
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

SOUTH

1. MARTINSVILLE
10 AM ET | M1: PLAINFIELD VS. CASTLE
12 PM ET | M2: YORKTOWN VS. FLOYD CENTRAL
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

2. JASPER
10 AM ET | M1: JASPER VS. TRI-WEST HENDRICKS
12 PM ET | M2: BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL VS. RONCALLI
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

3. BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
10 AM ET | M1: BARR-REEVE VS. GREENCASTLE
12 PM ET | M2: EASTERN (PEKIN) VS. TRITON CENTRAL
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

4. JENNINGS COUNTY
10 AM ET | M1: SPRINGS VALLEY VS. LOOGOOTEE
12 PM ET | M2: GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN VS. TRINITY LUTHERAN
7 PM ET | CHAMPIONSHIP: M1 WINNER VS M2 WINNER

______________________________________________________

+++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS/GIRLS SOCCER+++++

STATE FINALS

FRIDAY, OCT. 31, 2025
6 PM ET | CLASS 2A BOYS | GUERIN CATHOLIC (17-4) VS. INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD (11-7-2)
8:30 PM ET | CLASS 1A BOYS | FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN (17-0-5) VS. INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (17-4-1)

_______________________________________________________

+++++INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY +++++

STATE FINALS

SITE: LAVERN GIBSON CHAMPIONSHIP CROSS COUNTRY COURSE, WABASH VALLEY FAMILY SPORTS CENTER, 599 S. TABORTOWN ROAD, TERRE HAUTE, IN 47803.
COURSE LAYOUT

TIME: NEW IN 2025: BOYS RACE AT 12 PM ET; GIRLS RACE AT 1 PM ET WITH AWARDS CEREMONY FOR BOTH TO FOLLOW.

GATES OPEN: 9:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM CT.

________________________________________________________

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

WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, OCT. 24
TORONTO 11 LA DODGERS 4 (TORONTO LEADS SERIES 1-0)

SATURDAY, OCT. 25
LOS ANGELES 5 TORONTO 1 (SERIES TIED 1-1)

MONDAY, OCT. 27
LOS ANGELES 6 TORONTO 5 18 INNINGS (DODGERS LEAD SERIES 2-1)

TUESDAY, OCT. 28
TORONTO 6 LOS ANGELES 2 (SERIES EVEN 2-2)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
TOR VS. LAD, GAME 5^ — 8 P.M. (FOX/FOX DEPORTES)

FRIDAY, OCT. 31
LAD VS. TOR, GAME 6^ — 8 P.M. (FOX/FOX DEPORTES)

SATURDAY, NOV. 1
LAD VS. TOR, GAME 7^ — 8 P.M. (FOX/FOX DEPORTES)

^(IF NECESSARY)

_____________________________________________________________

+++++++++COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 10 SCHEDULE+++++++++

TUESDAY, OCT. 28

KENNESAW STATE 33 UTEP 20

JAMES MADISON 52 TEXAS STATE 20

_____________________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29

7:30 P.M. | JACKSONVILLE STATE AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | ESPN2

8 P.M. | FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AT MISSOURI STATE | CBSSN

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

7 P.M. | NORFOLK STATE AT DELAWARE STATE | ESPNU

7:30 P.M. | MARSHALL AT COASTAL CAROLINA | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | TULANE AT UTSA | ESPN

FRIDAY, OCT. 31

7 P.M. | BROWN AT PENN | ESPNU

7 P.M. | NO. 25 MEMPHIS AT RICE | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA AT SYRACUSE | ESPN

8 P.M. | SAM HOUSTON AT LOUISIANA TECH | CBSSN

10:30 P.M. | IDAHO AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | ESPN2

SATURDAY, NOV. 1

12 P.M. | PENN STATE AT NO. 1 OHIO STATE | FOX

12 P.M. | NO. 10 MIAMI AT SMU | ESPN

12 P.M. | NO. 9 VANDERBILT AT NO. 20 TEXAS | ABC

12 P.M. | RUTGERS AT ILLINOIS | NBC

12 P.M. | DUKE AT CLEMSON | ACCN

12 P.M. | UAB AT UCONN | CBSSN

12 P.M. | ARMY AT AIR FORCE | CBS/PARAMOUNT+

12 P.M. | NAVY AT NORTH TEXAS | TBD

12 P.M. | BUFFALO AT BOWLING GREEN | ESPN+

12 P.M. | TOWSON AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T

12 P.M. | NEW HAVEN AT SACRED HEART | ESPN+

12 P.M. | COLUMBIA AT YALE | ESPN+

12 P.M. | GEORGETOWN AT LEHIGH | ESPN+

12 P.M. | LONG ISLAND AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

12 P.M. | WAGNER AT SAINT FRANCIS

12 P.M. | ARIZONA STATE AT IOWA STATE | TNT

12 P.M. | UCF AT BAYLOR | ESPNU

12 P.M. | WEST VIRGINIA AT NO. 22 HOUSTON | FS1

1 P.M. | MONMOUTH AT BRYANT

1 P.M. | STONY BROOK AT MAINE

1 P.M. | GARDNER-WEBB AT TENNESSEE TECH | ESPN+

1 P.M. | DRAKE AT BUTLER

1 P.M. | DAVIDSON AT MOREHEAD STATE | ESPN+

1 P.M. | VALPARAISO AT PRESBYTERIAN | ESPN+

1 P.M. | PRINCETON AT CORNELL | ESPN+

1 P.M. | LAFAYETTE AT HOLY CROSS | ESPN+

1 P.M. | ROBERT MORRIS AT STONEHILL

1 P.M. | MERRIMACK AT COLGATE | ESPN+

1:30 P.M. | SAMFORD AT WOFFORD | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MONTANA STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO | ESPN+

2 P.M. | CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MORGAN STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | ESPN+

2 P.M. | NORTH DAKOTA AT SOUTH DAKOTA | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MERCER AT FURMAN | ESPN+

2 P.M. | VMI AT THE CITADEL | ESPN+

2 P.M. | MARIST AT ST. THOMAS-MINNESOTA

2 P.M. | FORDHAM AT RICHMOND | ESPN+

2 P.M. | EAST CAROLINA AT TEMPLE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | MONTANA AT WEBER STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | UT MARTIN AT EASTERN ILLINOIS | ESPN+

3 P.M. | ALABAMA A&M AT GRAMBLING

3 P.M. | ALABAMA STATE AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M

3 P.M. | ALCORN STATE AT TEXAS SOUTHERN

3 P.M. | SOUTHERN AT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF

3 P.M. | MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT BETHUNE-COOKMAN

3 P.M. | UNI AT ILLINOIS STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | INDIANA STATE AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPN+

3 P.M. | LAMAR AT UIW | ESPN+

3 P.M. | DARTMOUTH AT HARVARD | ESPN+

3 P.M. | NO. 16 LOUISVILLE AT VIRGINIA TECH | THE CW

3 P.M. | NEW MEXICO AT UNLV | TBD

3:30 P.M. | UALBANY AT WILLIAM & MARY

3:30 P.M. | NC CENTRAL AT HOWARD | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | YOUNGSTOWN STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NO. 2 INDIANA AT MARYLAND | CBS

3:30 P.M. | NO. 5 GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA | ABC

3:30 P.M. | MICHIGAN STATE AT MINNESOTA | BTN

3:30 P.M. | PITT AT STANFORD | ACCN

3:30 P.M. | DELAWARE AT LIBERTY | CBSSN

3:30 P.M. | NEW MEXICO STATE AT WESTERN KENTUCKY | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | FRESNO STATE AT BOISE STATE | FS1

3:30 P.M. | OLD DOMINION AT UL MONROE | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | LOUISIANA AT SOUTH ALABAMA | ESPN+

3:30 P.M. | NO. 12 NOTRE DAME AT BOSTON COLLEGE | ESPN

3:30 P.M. | NO. 13 TEXAS TECH AT KANSAS STATE | FOX

3:45 P.M.| NO. 15 VIRGINIA AT CAL | ESPN2

4 P.M. | SACRAMENTO STATE AT EASTERN WASHINGTON | ESPN+

4 P.M. | IDAHO SATE AT UC DAVIS | ESPN+

4 P.M. | TARLETON STATE AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN | ESPN+

4 P.M. | NORTH ALABAMA AT UTAH TECH | ESPN+

4 P.M. | HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT NICHOLLS | ESPN+

4 P.M. | WESTERN CAROLINA AT CHATTANOOGA | ESPN+

4 P.M. | DAYTON AT SAN DIEGO | ESPN+

4 P.M. | MISSISSIPPI STATE AT ARKANSAS | SECN

4 P.M. | OKLAHOMA STATE AT KANSAS | ESPN+

4 P.M. | CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT WESTERN MICHIGAN | ESPNU

4:30 P.M. | LINDENWOOD AT TENNESSEE STATE | ESPN+

5 P.M. | PORTLAND STATE AT CAL POLY | ESPN+

5 P.M. | EASTERN KENTUCKY AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS

5 P.M. | SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT MURRAY STATE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | JACKSON STATE AT FLORIDA A&M | ESPN+

7 P.M. | EAST TEXAS A&M AT SE LOUISIANA | ESPN+

7 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN STATE AT MCNEESE | ESPN+

7 P.M. | UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | ESPN+

7 P.M. | PURDUE AT NO. 21 MICHIGAN | BTN

7 P.M. | WYOMING AT SAN DIEGO STATE | CBSSN

7 P.M. | SOUTH CAROLINA AT NO. 7 OLE MISS | ESPN

7 P.M. | ARIZONA AT COLORADO | FS1

7:30 P.M. | NO. 8 GEORGIA TECH AT NC STATE | ESPN2

7:30 P.M. | KENTUCKY AT AUBURN | SECN

7:30 P.M. | NO. 23 SOUTHERN CAL AT NEBRASKA | NBC

7:30 P.M. | WASHINGTON STATE AT OREGON STATE | CBS

7:30 P.M. | WAKE FOREST AT FLORIDA STATE | ACCN

7:30 P.M. | NO. 18 OKLAHOMA AT NO. 14 TENNESSEE | ABC

8 P.M. | ARKANSAS STATE AT TROY | ESPNU

8:30 P.M. | AUSTIN PEAY AT SOUTHERN UTAH | ESPN+

10:15 P.M. | NO. 17 CINCINNATI AT NO. 24 UTAH | ESPN

10:30 P.M. | HAWAI’I AT SAN JOSE STATE | CBSSN

______________________________________________________________

++++++++NFL SCHEDULE++++++++

NFL STANDINGS: https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2025/reg

______________________________________________________________

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, OCT. 30

BALTIMORE AT MIAMI, 8:15 P.M. (PRIME VIDEO)

SUNDAY, NOV. 2

INDIANAPOLIS AT PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M. (CBS)

ATLANTA AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 P.M. (CBS)

CHICAGO AT CINCINNATI, 1 P.M. (CBS)

LA CHARGERS AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M. (CBS)

SAN FRANCISCO AT NY GIANTS, 1 P.M. (CBS)

CAROLINA AT GREEN BAY, 1 P.M. (FOX)

DENVER AT HOUSTON, 1 P.M. (FOX)

MINNESOTA AT DETROIT, 1 P.M. (FOX)

JACKSONVILLE AT LAS VEGAS, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)

NEW ORLEANS AT LA RAMS, 4:05 P.M. (FOX)

KANSAS CITY AT BUFFALO, 4:25 P.M. (CBS)

SEATTLE AT WASHINGTON, 8:20 P.M. (NBC)

MONDAY, NOV. 3

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

BYES: CLEVELAND, NY JETS, PHILADELPHIA, TAMPA BAY

_______________________________________________________________

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

PHILADELPHIA 139 WASHINGTON 134 OT

MIAMI 144 CHARLOTTE 117

OKLAHOMA CITY 107 SACRAMENTO 101

MILWAUKEE 121 NEW YORK 111

GOLDEN STATE 98 LA CLIPPERS 79

____ ___________________________________________________________

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

PHILADELPHIA 3 PITTSBURGH 2

TORONTO 4 CALGARY 3

VEGAS 6 CAROLINA 3

COLUMBUS 4 BUFFALO 3 OT

ANAHEIM 3 FLORIDA 2

BOSTON 5 NY ISLANDERS 2

TAMPA BAY 5 NASHVILLE 2

WINNIPEG 4 MINNESOTA 3 OT

DETROIT 5 ST. LOUIS 2

DALLAS 1 WASHINGTON 0

CHICAGO 7 OTTAWA 3

COLORADO 8 NEW JERSEY 4

EDMONTON 6 UTAH 3

NY RANGERS 2 VANCOUVER 0

MONTRÉAL 4 SEATTLE 3 OT

LOS ANGELES 4 SAN JOSE 3

____________________________________________

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

2025 MLS PLAYOFF GLANCE

ALL TIMES EDT

FIRST ROUND – BEST OF 3 (X-IF NECESSARY)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

PHILADELPHIA VS. CHICAGO

SUNDAY, OCT. 26: PHILADELPHIA 2 CHICAGO 2 (PHILADELPHIA WINS PK)

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: PHILADELPHIA AT CHICAGO 5:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: CHICAGO AT PHILADELPHIA, TBD

___________________________________________________________

CINCINNATI VS. COLUMBUS

CINCINNATI 1 COLUMBUS 0

SUNDAY, NOV. 2: CINCINNATI AT COLUMBUS, 6:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: COLUMBUS AT CINCINNATI, TBD

___________________________________________________________

MIAMI VS. NASHVILLE

MIAMI 3 NASHVILLE 1

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: MIAMI AT NASHVILLE, 7:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: NASHVILLE AT MIAMI, TBD

___________________________________________________________

CHARLOTTE VS. NEW YORK CITY

NEW YORK CITY 1 CHAROLTTE 0

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: CHARLOTTE AT NEW YORK CITY, 3:30 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 7: NEW YORK CITY AT CHARLOTTE, TBD

___________________________________________________________

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SAN DIEGO VS. PORTLAND

SUNDAY, OCT. 26: SAN DIEGO 2 PORTLAND 1

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: SAN DIEGO AT PORTLAND 9:30 P.M.

X-SUNDAY, NOV. 9: PORTLAND AT SAN DIEGO, TBD

___________________________________________________________

VANCOUVER VS. DALLAS

SATURDAY, OCT. 26: VANCOUVER 3 DALLAS 0

SATURDAY, NOV. 1: VANCOUVER AT DALLAS, 9:30 P.M.

X-FRIDAY, NOV. 7: DALLAS AT VANCOUVER, TBD

___________________________________________________________

MINNESOTA VS. SEATTLE

MINNESOTA 0 SEATTLE 0 (MINNESOTA WINS ON PK)

MONDAY, NOV. 3: MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE, 10:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: SEATTLE AT MINNESOTA, TBD

___________________________________________________________

LOS ANGELES FC VS. AUSTIN

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29: AUSTIN AT LOS ANGELES FC, 10:30 P.M.

SUNDAY, NOV. 2: LOS ANGELES FC AT AUSTIN, 8:30 P.M.

X-SATURDAY, NOV. 8: AUSTIN AT LOS ANGELES FC, TBD

___________________________________________________________

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

NOV. 22 – NOV. 23

EASTERN CONFERENCE: TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE: TBD

CONFERENCE FINAL

NOV. 29 – NOV. 30

SEMIFINAL WINNERS, TBD

CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY, DEC. 6: CONFERENCE FINAL WINNERS, 2:30 P.M.

______________________________________________________________

+++++TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES+++++

++++++++++WORLD SERIES NEWS++++++++++

JAYS SHAKE OFF MARATHON LOSS, DUMP DODGERS TO EVEN WORLD SERIES

LOS ANGELES — It was not so much the heartbreak that the resilient Toronto Blue Jays overcame on Tuesday, it was the actual pain.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run home run, Shane Bieber pitched into the sixth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays got even in the World Series with a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4.

Andres Gimenez, Bo Bichette and Addison Barger each had RBI singles in a four-run seventh inning as the Blue Jays moved past the agony of an 18-inning loss in Game 3 to guarantee a Game 6 at Toronto on Friday.

The Blue Jays powered through the physical demands after a 6-hour, 39-minute game one night earlier.

“What didn’t hurt?” said 29-year-old Toronto third baseman Ernie Clement, who had two hits and scored a run. “I barely got out of bed. … But yeah, nobody felt sorry for themselves today. We got to play a World Series game.”

Shohei Ohtani pitched six-plus innings for the Dodgers in his first career World Series start and was charged with four runs on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts. After reaching base nine times in Game 3, he went 0-for-3 at the plate in Game 4 with a walk and two strikeouts.

The Dodgers’ offense has managed three runs over the past 20 innings going back to the eighth inning of Game 3.

“Whether it’s during the regular season or the postseason, my goal is to be able to pitch six innings,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “The situation, this game, I wanted to go seven, and it was regrettable that I wasn’t able to finish that inning.”

Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

Enrique Hernandez gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly that scored Max Muncy.

The Blue Jays moved in front 2-1 in the third inning on Guerrero’s two-run shot to left-center against Ohtani. The long ball was the seventh of the postseason but the first of the World Series for Guerrero, who entered the night without an RBI in the Fall Classic.

“I was just looking for a pitch to do damage, and I saw it right there up in the zone, and I could do damage,” Guerrero said through an interpreter about hitting a home run off an Ohtani sweeper.

When Bieber struck out Ohtani on a foul tip in the third inning, it ended Ohtani’s World Series-record streak of reaching base in 11 consecutive plate appearances. Ohtani had singled in the eighth inning of Game 2, reached base all nine times in Game 3 (including two doubles and two homers) and walked in the first inning of Game 4.

“You know, we’re facing quality arms this time of the year against really good teams, and we’re facing the best of the best, so I think it’s not that easy,” Ohtani said about the Dodgers’ offense. “But at the same time, we could do at least the bare minimum to be able to put up some runs.”

Bieber (2-0) gave up one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

“I would have loved to give the team a couple more innings, but ultimately, it’s the World Series and a win is all that matters,” Bieber said.

Ohtani (2-1) departed from the mound in the seventh after the Blue Jays opened the inning with a single from Daulton Varsho and a double from Clement.

Dodgers left-hander Anthony Banda took over on the mound, and Gimenez greeted him with an RBI single to left, making it a 3-1 game. Ty France delivered a run-scoring groundout before Bichette and Barger added RBI hits for a 6-1 lead.

Los Angeles got back one run in the ninth on a run-scoring groundout by Tommy Edman.

Toronto played without leadoff man George Springer because of an injury to his right side that occurred in Game 3.

“I feel really good about this team every night,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “It’s hard to play 18 innings and come back and kind of flip the narrative against a very talented team and a very talented individual in Shohei Ohtani on the mound.”

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

THE SEASON IS SLIPPING AWAY FOR JAYDEN DANIELS AND THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The losses and the injuries just keep mounting for the Washington Commanders, who are on a three-game losing streak as their season appears to be slipping away.

They are just 3-5 at roughly the halfway mark — already the same number of defeats they had while going 12-5 and making it all the way to the NFC championship game in January, carried there by the dynamic quarterback-wideout duo of AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and 13-TD scorer Terry McLaurin.

This time around, Washington is missing the magic that helped produce all of those last-minute wins, first of all, and it hasn’t helped that Daniels was sidelined for three games so far, including Monday night’s 28-7 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs, and McLaurin has been forced to sit out four. There also are all sorts of other absences on offense, defense and special teams.

Washington simply has not played very well, with two victories coming against also-ran opponents in the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders. They’ve been something less than competitive for stretches, including their past two outings, in which they were outscored by an average of 21.5 points.

Against Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the rest of the Chiefs, the Commanders did manage to hang in there for a half, reaching the break tied at 7-all. Still, coach Dan Quinn was not pleased with missed chances by an offense being run by Marcus Mariota in place of a hurt Daniels, who was out with a bad right hamstring.

Everything fell apart in the second half.

“Man, did we leave a lot of opportunities out there tonight,” Quinn said. “You cannot leave that many chances out there and expect to win.”

Might not get any easier over the next two weeks, when Washington will face the Seattle Seahawks, then the Detroit Lions.

It seems as if a record of 3-7 could be a real possibility by the time Week 10 is done.

“You’re kind of putting yourself in a hole,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “You don’t want to dig yourself in a deeper hole.”

What’s working

McLaurin’s return Monday was a big deal after he was unavailable for a month because of a quadriceps injury. He scored his first touchdown of the season with a terrific toe-tapping grab. He made another “How did he do that?” catch on a head-first dive. “It felt good just to contribute,” McLaurin said. But as often has been the case for the Commanders, every step forward comes with a step back: McLaurin exited the game after aggravating his bad leg.

What needs help

The offense is in a rut right now, so it would be good for Washington to get Daniels back: The team is 1-2 in the games he missed. Mariota threw two picks against KC, and the running game was barely there, gaining only 60 yards on 20 carries.

Stock up

At least the defense finally produced some turnovers, intercepting Mahomes to end each of Kansas City’s first two possessions — something that had never happened to him — with Wagner and the much-maligned Marshon Lattimore each getting one. Wagner had his first pick since Week 16 of the 2022 season, Lattimore his first since Week 1 of 2023. “It was good to get some takeaways,” Wagner said. The Commanders entered the night with three turnovers all season.

Stock down

Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The rookie seventh-round pick, such a sensation earlier this season, gained 25 yards on nine carries Monday, a 2.8 average.

Injuries

LT Laremy Tunsil left with a hamstring problem. … McLaurin wasn’t sure right after the game where things stood with his quad muscle. “It’s a little sore,” he said. “It’s hard to say what it is or what it isn’t.” … Even PK Matt Gay had an injury issue Monday, sitting out the game because of his back.

Key number

800 — Zach Ertz reached that number of career catches Monday, making him the sixth tight end in NFL history with at least that many. The others: Kelce, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Antonio Gates and Shannon Sharpe.

Next steps

Nothing has come easily for Washington and the path might not be smooth for the next couple of weeks, hosting Seattle (5-2) on Nov. 2, and Detroit (5-2) on Nov. 9.

THE STEELERS DEFENSE THOUGHT IT COULD DO ‘HISTORIC THINGS’ IN 2025, BUT IT HASN’T WORKED OUT SO FAR

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin went on a local radio station over the summer and said he believed the Pittsburgh Steelers defense could do “historic things” in 2025.

It’s on a path to do just that, just not in the way the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach or anyone else inside the organization imagined.

Yet even after getting shredded for a second consecutive week and with the Steelers (4-3) 30th in the NFL in yards against — territory the franchise hasn’t sniffed since the late 1980s — Tomlin does not see any need for panic.

So don’t expect massive changes to the coaching staff or the roster as Pittsburgh tries to find a way forward on Sunday against Indianapolis (7-1), which has been on an absolute heater all season thanks to the NFL’s top offense led by a resurgent Daniel Jones.

Tomlin brushed aside the suggestion he should take over playcalling duties from defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, instead putting the onus on all involved to help a well-compensated but floundering group find its footing.

“We just got to keep doing what we’re doing, and do it better,” Tomlin said Tuesday.

A lot better.

The Steelers are dead last in the league against the pass and let Green Bay’s Jordan Love do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted during a second-half barrage on Sunday night that left Pittsburgh’s veteran-laden defense reeling. Love completed 20 straight passes at one point on his way to 360 yards and three touchdowns without an interception or a sack.

Longtime Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward said afterward he was alarmed by what he considered a lack of fight. Tomlin didn’t necessarily see that on tape, but he also didn’t see the kind of splash plays — turnovers in particular — that have been the team’s calling card defensively for years.

“You know, you don’t get credit for trying hard,” Tomlin said. “We’re not in the try-hard business. Our fight is about production and producing.”

And Pittsburgh is doing little of either of late. The Steelers didn’t produce a takeaway in October after racking up 10 across their first four games.

“There’s a price to pay when you miss opportunities,” Tomlin said. “And so it’s not only about producing opportunities, but it’s about taking advantage of them. And we hadn’t done that.”

No, they haven’t, letting a chance to take a firm grasp of the AFC North lead vanish in the process. While Pittsburgh remains the only team in the division with a winning record, the schedule is about to get more challenging.

Four of the Steelers’ next five games are against teams currently above .500 and that’s before a finishing stretch that includes a pair of showdowns with rival Baltimore, which finds itself in last place but will also return two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson this week.

To survive, Pittsburgh will need to do a better job not only on defense but also in keeping its composure when things go sideways.

That didn’t happen against the Packers, when a non-call on an apparent offside by the Packers early in the second half seemed to shift momentum in a way the Steelers couldn’t recover from.

Asked if a team with such an experienced group, particularly on defense, should be reacting better to adversity at the season’s midway point, Tomlin nodded.

“Our kids should do what we tell them to do, but they often don’t,” Tomlin said. “You know, we all fall short of perfection, man. That’s why we’re always working, as individuals and as a collective, whether it’s football or life.”

Pittsburgh will have to face Indianapolis without safety DeShon Elliott, who is out indefinitely with a hyperextended right knee. They have well-traveled replacements at the ready in Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers, though Tomlin didn’t rule out adding another player or two to the mix. The Steelers worked out nine-year veteran Vonn Bell — who has spent most of his career with Cincinnati — on Tuesday.

The club also kicked the tires on free agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Monday. If Pittsburgh signs the two-time Super Bowl champion, it would reunite him with Aaron Rodgers. The two were teammates in Green Bay from 2018-21.

The Steelers have been relatively efficient on offense this year with Rodgers at the controls. The 41-year-old has thrown 16 touchdown passes through seven weeks, putting him on pace to threaten the club record of 34 set by Ben Roethlisberger in 2018.

The bigger issue for Pittsburgh isn’t the lack of a clear No. 2 wide receiver to put opposite DK Metcalf, but a defense that is not meeting expectations.

While it’s not unheard of for the Steelers to fire a coordinator during the season — they did it two years ago when they jettisoned Matt Canada in November — Tomlin does not seem ready to make any such move with the popular Austin.

“I’ve largely been pleased with his work,” Tomlin said of Austin, who has been with the club since 2019 and the defensive coordinator since 2022. “But certainly he and I are not pleased with where we are right now from a defensive unit perspective, and so we’re just going to keep working.”

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+++++++++++COLLEGHE FOOTBALL NEWS+++++++++++

PLAYING CATCH-UP: OHIO STATE’S WEALTH OF TALENT AT WR HAS ITS BIG TEN RIVALS TRYING TO FOLLOW SUIT

Ohio State coach Ryan Day spoke definitively earlier this month about where he believes Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith ranks nationally.

“I don’t think it’s even close that Jeremiah Smith is the best offensive player in college football,” Day said then. “If it’s close, I’d like to know who it is.”

Day appeared to soften his stance a couple of weeks later to make room for one more Ohio State receiver after Carnell Tate scored two touchdowns in the top-ranked Buckeyes’ 34-0 victory over Wisconsin, including a spectacular 33-yard grab between two defenders in which he hung onto the ball despite losing his helmet while landing.

“He is playing himself to be a first-rounder and All-American,” Day said after that game. “He’s just a different style of player than Jeremiah but just as dangerous and just as good.”

It’s not unusual for Ohio State to have multiple future NFL receivers on its roster. Five Ohio State receivers have been selected in the first round of the last four drafts: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.

What’s notable this year is how the depth of receiving talent in the Big Ten isn’t limited to the Buckeyes.

Seven of the top 19 Bowl Subdivision players in yards receiving per game are from the Big Ten. The Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 each have only two receivers on that list.

Smith, generally regarded as the best receiver in college football, isn’t draft eligible yet as a sophomore. The Big Ten still has three of the top five and four of the top 10 draft-eligible receivers in the rankings that ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released earlier this month. Kiper had Southern California’s Makai Lemon first, Tate third, USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane fifth and Washington’s Denzel Boston 10th.

“There’s more NFL talent maybe even in the wide receiver pool in the Big Ten than there is any other position, which I don’t know if you could have ever said that in the last 100 years,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said.

Seven Big Ten players are averaging at least 83.5 yards receiving per game, which would essentially equate to 1,000 yards over a 12-game regular season. As recently as 2017, the Big Ten had only one 1,000-yard receiver.

“The old-school version of what the Big Ten was — just running the football and big, physical guys, and everything down south was about athleticism and speed — I think that everybody’s starting to realize that that’s not the case,” Fickell said. “I’m not saying that there’s more in the Big Ten than there is in the SEC, but I think that what we see and we have seen on a consistent basis is, it’s as good as you get.”

And that’s produced plenty of headaches for defenses trying to stop these guys.

“There’s never a break,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “If you decide to take a breath, you’re going to lose.”

The easy explanation for this increase in receiving talent across the Big Ten is the addition of Oregon, USC, Washington and UCLA to the conference. USC leads the nation and Washington ranks 26th in passing yards per game. Oregon annually has one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses.

Conference expansion resulted in an end to divisional play. Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt, who played tight end at Michigan from 2013-16, says that also has contributed to the change in style.

“When it was the East and the West, you think about the teams that consistently would win the West,” Butt said. “It was Iowa. It was Wisconsin. What that incentivized programs to do was win by playing great defense, running the football, playing ball control, winning on special teams.”

Butt said those old West Division schools have needed to diversify to adapt to the arrival of the former Pac-12 schools plus the improved coaching across the league.

“You used to be able to say you could have a successful season in the Big Ten West, and you would never need to throw the ball,” Butt said. “You could have a successful season just by running the ball. Now because of the competition conference-wide, all these teams have been forced to adapt.”

That adaptation takes time.

Of the seven Big Ten receivers on pace for 1,000-yard seasons, the only one from a former West Division school is Illinois’ Hank Beatty (averaging 86.3 yards per game). The others are Lemon (108.3), Rutgers teammates KJ Duff (95.1) and Ian Strong (90.5), Smith (86.0), Tate (83.9) and Boston (83.5).

One noteworthy aspect of this year’s surge in receiving depth is the number of Big Ten schools with multiple productive wideouts. Rutgers has Duff and Strong. USC’s Lemon and Lane are both likely early-round draft picks. No. 2 Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt has 10 touchdown catches to lead all FBS players, while teammate Omar Cooper Jr. has seven.

“It allows us to go out there and play more free, knowing you can’t double-team one person because we’ve got more weapons than you can hold,” Cooper said.

But all these teams ultimately are playing catch-up to Ohio State, which could make a case it has the two best receivers in all of college football.

Smith and Tate are so good that they’ve boosted the Heisman Trophy chances of Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, who has capitalized on the opportunity to throw to these future NFL receivers.

“We’ve got two guys who, when it’s one-on-one and you’re looking both sides, I have full confidence that both these guys are going to go score a touchdown for us,” Sayin said.

The depth of receiving talent across the Big Ten has plenty of its quarterbacks feeling confident each Saturday.

ALABAMA COACH KALEN DEBOER ‘DEFINITELY EVOLVING’ AS WIN STREAK GROWS, AND IT’S CONTAGIOUS

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s seven-game winning streak has revealed a new side of coach Kalen DeBoer.

And it could set the tone for the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide as they move closer to securing spots in the Southeastern Conference championship game and the College Football Playoff.

Alabama (7-1, 5-0 SEC), which has won every game since a stunning loss at Florida State to open the season, is off this week before beginning a three-game homestand that includes LSU and No. 18 Oklahoma.

DeBoer is sure to be fired up before each of the games. He certainly was for Alabama’s last home game, a 37-20 win against rival Tennessee.

With AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blaring inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, DeBoer led players toward the field before the opening kick. His energy steadily increased as they made their way through the hallways and out of the tunnel.

DeBoer clapped his hands every so often, yelling “Let’s go!” His energy culminated with him slapping the goalpost as the team reached the field.

“That’s definitely a new side of coach DeBoer, and it’s good,” receiver Germie Bernard said “We need for him to be fired up because, as players, we learn from the leader. He’s the leader, and so he has to lead by example, and he’s been doing a great job of that.”

DeBoer attributed the moment to feeding off of the players’ pregame energy. The clip provided a peek into the growing confidence inside the Alabama program, one that seemed to be missing during the ups and downs of DeBoer’s first year in Tuscaloosa.

“If you haven’t seen that emotion from the outside, now you have,” linebacker Deontae Lawson said. “That’s the coach DeBoer that we’re getting used to. He’s definitely evolving.”

Alabama’s rise and DeBoer’s swagger began after that Week 1 debacle in Tallahassee. The Crimson Tide players began holding players-only meetings every Friday. DeBoer arrives at the end of each one to deliver a message. Now, several weeks later, it’s considered the turning point to the season.

“He came in and said what he needed to say,” Lawson recalled. “He said some things, and the guys just got really very excited. That was the first little taste of it.”

The sense of urgency has been palpable.

Florida State’s four-game losing skid has made the opener a “bad loss” for Alabama, creating a back-against-the-wall mentality. There’s also a new level of comfort between DeBoer, his staff and his players.

“I’ve been able to just really tap into just the guys as a whole,” DeBoer said. “But also really individually and be able to know what makes one guy tick versus another. You talk to the whole team, certainly, but you also have to have that relationship and that understanding of what makes guys go. So I think our coaching staff gets that, and we communicate very well.”

Alabama’s current resume is one of the strongest in college football, complete with four wins against ranked opponents. And the Tide ended an unsettling trend with last week’s come-from-behind, 29-22 victory at South Carolina.

Alabama won as a double-digit road favorite, a position that didn’t bode well for a program that lost to FSU in Week 1 and to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Michigan last year in similar positions.

“I challenged the guys, and they believe it: That the world has not seen Bama’s best yet,” DeBoer said. “That’s really what we’re striving to do. When you keep it really as simple as possible on that, have great preparation, everyone caring about what we’re trying to accomplish, you have that edge.”

MICHIGAN AND COACH MOORE DROP APPEAL OF NCAA PENALTIES FROM SIGN-STEALING SAGA

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The University of Michigan and football coach Sherrone Moore have dropped their appeal against NCAA penalties stemming from a sign-stealing operation.

Michigan was fined tens of millions of dollars and Moore was suspended for a third game by the NCAA in August as punishment for a sprawling scandal that has loomed over the Wolverines for two years, including during their run to the national championship in the 2023 season.

“After careful consideration of the prolonged impact of an appeal on Michigan and our student athletes, we have withdrawn our appeal of the NCAA’s infractions decision and penalties,” the university said in a statement.

The 21st-ranked Wolverines (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) host Purdue (2-6, 0-5) on Saturday.

Moore withdrew his appeal on Sept. 29 after serving the school’s self-imposed, two-game suspension. He will also be suspended for the 2026 season-opening game. The school withdrew its appeal on Oct. 6.

The NCAA said in August that it had “overwhelming” and concerning evidence of a cover-up by Wolverines staff and noted there were “sufficient grounds for a multiyear postseason ban” against a program now considered a repeat violator. The governing body stopped short of program-crippling punishments, though, saying a two-year postseason ban “would unfairly penalize student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff” who were no longer there.

The biggest blow came from the financial penalties, which are expected to exceed $20 million. The football program also faces a 25% reduction in official recruiting visits during this season and a 14-week prohibition on recruiting communications during its four-year probation period.

Michigan’s initial response claimed the NCAA made fundamental errors in interpreting its bylaws, adding the governing body included conclusions that were directly contrary to the evidence – or lack of evidence – in the record.

Jim Harbaugh, a former Michigan quarterback and now the coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, faces a 10-year show-cause order following the conclusion of his previous four-year order effective Aug. 7, 2028. Harbaugh has always maintained he knew nothing about the scheme.

Connor Stalions, a former low-level staffer who ran the scouting and sign-stealing operation, was issued an eight-year show-cause order, which effectively bans a person from college athletics for the period handed down.

The NCAA does not have rules against stealing signs, but prohibits schools from sending scouts to the games of in-season opponents and using electronic equipment to record another team’s signals. The scheme run by Stalions, the NCAA said, was elaborate and detailed.

“If I’m a bad guy, then everyone in football is a bad guy,” Stalions said in a recent Netflix documentary. Stalions, who did not participate in the NCAA investigation, has said he knew almost every signal opponents used in seven games over two seasons.

DEION SANDERS FOCUSED ON REBOUNDING FROM COLORADO’S LOSS, NOT COACHING FUTURE AFTER HEALTH CONCERNS

DENVER (AP) — Deion Sanders refuses to look too far down the road and especially not in regard to how his recent health concerns might impact any decision on returning as Colorado’s coach next season or beyond.

All he’s focused on at the moment is bouncing back from the Buffaloes’ 53-7 loss at Utah last weekend.

“I’m a one day at a time type of guy,” Sanders said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. “We’ve got to win. That’s the only thing I’m worried about. My health is wonderful. I’m good. I’m not thinking about anything but winning.”

Sanders knows there are those concerned about his well-being — friends, even fans, reach out — and how coaching may be unduly taxing him. Nearly three weeks ago, he underwent a procedure to help alleviate blood clots in his leg. This after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer in the spring.

“I’m going to coach until I don’t have that urge to get up in the morning and go get it and go help and go be a blessing,” said Sanders, who signed a five-year, $54 million extension last March.

He appreciates all the concern, though.

“My health is not going to increase sitting on the lake fishing,” Sanders said. “My health is not going increase sitting at my property in Texas, having a good time or sitting back, drinking some sweet iced teas and eating some honey buns and watching television.

“I’m not damaging or putting my health at risk by doing what I’m doing. Matter of fact, it’s enhancing my health, doing the things I do.”

The 58-year-old was in pain during a 35-21 loss at TCU on Oct. 4, alternating between sitting and limping along the sideline with his leg throbbing. A few days later he had a procedure related to blood clots. He didn’t even miss practice the next day.

Sanders also dealt with blood clot issues while coaching at Jackson State in 2021, with doctors amputating two of the toes on his left foot.

These days, Sanders repeatedly stresses the importance of early detection in light of his bladder cancer. He had surgery nearly six months ago as doctors removed his bladder and reconstructed a section of his intestine to function as a bladder.

He’s stressing the importance of mental health, too. Asked what his low point was after being diagnosed with bladder cancer, he responded: “I don’t hit bottoms. I hit tops, man.”

“My head’s always up,” Sanders added as he made the rounds for RESTORE Hair, a hair restoration company in which he’s an ambassador. “My head ain’t never down. I’m not structured like that. So I don’t have those type of rock-bottom moments.”

For support, he’s relied on friends and, of course, family.

His oldest daughter, Deiondra, had a baby, making him a grandfather, while his youngest daughter, Shelomi, is playing basketball at Alabama A&M.

His son, Shilo, a safety who was waived by Tampa Bay in August, is “into the internet and YouTube and everything he has going on,” his father said. His youngest son, Shedeur, a rookie QB for the Cleveland Browns is, “waiting on his opportunity,” he said, while his oldest son, Deion Jr., chronicles the Buffaloes through his social media company “Well Off Media.”

“My kids are great,” Deion Sanders said.

Same goes for how he’s feeling.

“I’m great,” said Sanders, whose Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) play Arizona (4-3, 1-3) on Saturday. “I’m not great right now mentally because we just got our butts kicked. But I’ll be OK by Friday.”

Sanders is learning the importance of compartmentalizing all facets of life, including football.

“I don’t get too high and I never get too low,” said Sanders, who played Major League Baseball while also embarking on a Hall of Fame football career. “I have the baseball player’s mentality. Football players, you could bask in the glory for six days when you win, or you have to suffer the consequences for six days if you lose.

“But a baseball player, you must line up every day.”

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+++++++++++MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL++++++++++

HALL OF FAME COACH TOM IZZO SHOOTS TO SURPASS MODEST EXPECTATIONS AGAIN IN HIS 31ST SEASON IN CHARGE

No. 22 Michigan State (30-7, 17-3 Big Ten)

The Spartans are coming off a surprising season, winning the conference by three games and reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. They will shoot to do it again under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo in his 31st season. Michigan State is the fifth-highest ranked Big Ten team in the AP Top 25, modest expectations for a team that lost several players from last year.

Players to watch

Coen Carr is one of the best athletes in basketball. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., a redshirt sophomore, and senior big men Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper have a lot of experience. Sophomore guard Kur Teng is a pivotal player because of his 3-point shooting.

Departures and arrivals

Guards Trey Fort (Samford), Divine Ugochukwu (Miami) and Denham Wojcik (Harvard) were added from the portal. The 6-foot-4 Fort averaged 14.6 points last season as a second-team All-Southern Conference player. Highly touted freshmen Jordan Scott and Cam Ward are expected to be in the rotation. A lot was last from last year’s team, including Jase Richardson, who entered the draft. Three players transferred (Tre Holloman, Xavier Booker and Gehrig Normand) and three key players (Jaden Akins, Szymon Zapala and Frankie Fidler) were out of eligibility. Transfer Kaleb Glenn, who played at Florida Atlantic last season, had a season-ending knee injury.

Top games

The Spartans open against Colgate at home Monday. Home games also include No. 14 Arkansas (Nov. 8), No. 6 Duke (Dec. 6), No. 7 Michigan (Jan. 30), No. 17 Illinois (Feb. 7) and No. 12 UCLA (Feb. 17). They play on the road against No. 24 Wisconsin (Feb. 13), No. 1 Purdue (Feb. 26) and the rival Wolverines (March 8) to close the regular season. No. 9 Kentucky (Nov. 18) in New York and No. 25 North Carolina (Nov. 27) in Fort Myers, Florida, are neutral-site games.

Facts and figures

Michigan State was picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten last year and went on to win the conference for an 11th time under Izzo, whose team reached the Elite Eight for the 11th time. … The Spartans have played in 27 straight NCAA Tournaments, tied with North Carolina (1975-2001) for the second longest behind Kansas’ active run of 35 in a row.

AFTER WILLARD’S DEPARTURE AND WILLIAMS’ ARRIVAL, MARYLAND HOPES IT WON’T MISS A BEAT

Maryland (27-9, 14-6 Big Ten)

The Terrapins reached the Sweet 16 last season, then immediately had to rebuild after coach Kevin Willard left for Villanova. Maryland moved quickly to land Buzz Williams, who must replace the entire starting five — the much-loved “Crab Five” to home fans — after last season’s team scattered in various directions. In fact, the Terps have only one player on the entire roster left over from 2024-25. That’s not to say the team is inexperienced since Maryland was active in the transfer portal.

Players to watch

Pharrel Payne (senior F/C, 6-9, 10.4 ppg). Payne played for Williams at Texas A&M last season, starting 14 games and shooting 65% from the field. He played at Minnesota prior to that.

Myles Rice (junior G, 6-3, 10.1 ppg). Rice arrives after playing at Indiana and Washington State previously. He was a captain for the Hoosiers last season, starting 25 games.

Darius Adams (freshman G, 6-5). Adams is a five-star recruit ranked No. 15 overall in this year’s class by Rivals.com. He scored 19 points in 40 minutes in an exhibition game against Maryland-Baltimore County.

Departures and arrivals

Maryland lost lottery pick Derik Queen from last season’s team, plus a talented backcourt of Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Rodney Rice and big man Julian Reese. In addition to Payne and Adams, Virginia transfer Elijah Saunders and Texas A&M transfer Andre Mills started the exhibition game. The other starter was Guillermo Del Pino of Spain.

Top games

Maryland opens the regular season Nov. 3 in Baltimore against Coppin State. Then the Terps host Georgetown four days later in a local rivalry that’s been played only five times in the last 40 years. Maryland also faces Gonzaga in Las Vegas on Nov. 25.

Facts and figures

Williams is one of 12 active Division I coaches to win at least one NCAA Tournament game at three different programs. … Payne (919) and Myles Rice (842) are closing in on 1,000 career points. David Coit (1,224) has already surpassed it. He averaged 20.8 points a game two seasons ago at Northern Illinois and played at Kansas last season. … Four players on the roster are on their third school. … The lone holdover from last season is guard Lukas Sotell, who scored four points in 19 minutes in 2024-25.

CLEMSON’S ROSTER SEES MAJOR TURNOVER AFTER LAST YEAR’S RECORD-SETTING 27-WIN SEASON

Clemson (27-7, 18-2 ACC)

After finishing with a school-record 27 wins and an 18-2 record in the ACC last season — which included wins over AP top five teams Duke and Kentucky — the Tigers are predicted to take a step back this season and finish seventh in the conference. They have lost five of their six leading scorers, including Chase Hunter, Ian Schieffelin and Viktor Lakhin. Seven players graduated or exhausted eligibility. Six others entered the transfer portal. So Clemson is seeing unprecedented turnover with only three players returning from last year’s team for coach Brad Brownell.

Players to watch

Nick Davidson (redshirt senior, F, 6-10, 235, 15.8 ppg). He played three seasons at Nevada where he was a second-team All-Mountain West selection. He has plenty of experience, playing in 100 college games with 67 consecutive starts for the Wolfpack. He averaged a career-high 15.8 points last season, while adding 6.5 rebounds. He also totaled 39 blocks and 27 steals to go along with 92 assists.

Carter Welling (redshirt junior, C, 6-10, 240). Welling played one season at UC Irvine (2023-24) and one at Utah Valley (2024-25). He started all 32 games for Utah Valley, earning Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Defensive Player of the Year. Welling turned in 21 double-digit scoring games, including five 20-point outputs.

Dillon Hunter (senior, G, 6-3, 195, 5.4 ppg). Hunter returns this season for the Tigers after playing in 30 games last season and is expected to take on a bigger role.

Departures and arrivals

Clemson lost nearly 90% of its scoring production, including Chase Hunter, Ian Schieffelin, Viktor Lakhin, Chauncey Wiggins, Del Jones, Christian Reeves and Asa Thomas.

The Tigers brought in six transfers including Davidson, Welling, RJ Godfrey (Georgia), Jake Wahlin (Utah), Efrem Johnson (UAB) and Jestin Porter (Middle Tennessee State), and have four incoming incoming freshman including Blake Davidson, who is Nick Davidson’s brother.

Top games

Clemson opens at home against New Hampshire on Nov. 3. A challenge awaits on Nov. 15 when they visit Georgetown. The Tigers first major tests should come the first week of December when they visit No. 15 Alabama on Dec. 3 and No. 8 BYU on Dec. 9. The biggest game on the schedule comes Feb. 14 when they visit No. 6 Duke.

Facts and figures

The Tigers won a school record 27 games in 2024-25. … The No. 5 seeded Tigers were upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by McNeese State. … Godfrey returns to Clemson after spending a year away from the program at Georgia. He was recruited by Brownell out of high school and played two seasons for the Tigers, helping them reach the Elite Eight in 2023-24. … Clemson has won 74 games over the last three seasons, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament and the school’s second Elite Eight appearance.

7-FOOTER NATE BITTLE AND JACKSON SHELSTAD RETURN TO LEAD OREGON IN SECOND BIG TEN SEASON

Oregon (25-10, 12-8 Big Ten)

A year ago, Oregon finished eighth in its first season in the Big Ten, stung by a late five-game losing skid but advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Seven-foot star Nate Bittle considered the NBA in the offseason before returning to Oregon for another season. Oregon has six returning players overall, an incoming freshman and seven transfers. Dan Altman, who has 780 career wins, is starting his 16th season coaching the Ducks.

Players to watch

Bittle (senior, C, 14.2 ppg). Bittle was Oregon’s driving force last season, leading the Big Ten in blocks with an average of 2.1 a game. He also averaged 7.6 rebounds and was named All-Big Ten.

Jackson Shelstad (junior, G, 13.7 ppg). The 6-foot point guard also averaged 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in addition to his points, which ranked second-highest on the team. He was healing from a broken hand as the season neared.

Kwame Evans Jr. (junior, F, 6.1 ppg) Used mostly as a reserve last season, Evans added 4.6 rebounds off the bench per game. He was a top 15 recruit, so it is expected he will up his game as a senior.

Departures and arrivals

The Ducks lost senior playmaker TJ Bamba, who now plays professionally in Germany, and fellow senior guard Keeshawn Barthelemy. Oregon acquired senior Takai Simpkins, who averaged 16.4 points last season for Elon via the transfer portal, as well as junior forward Devon Pryor out of Houston. An interesting addition is Wei Lin, who played three professional season in China before joining Oregon. Ege Demir, a 6-foot-11 center from Nigeria, is new to the Ducks and also has professional experience in Turkey.

Top games

Oregon opens the season with four non-conference games, starting with Hawaii on Nov. 4, before heading to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival in late November. The Ducks visit No. 12 UCLA on Dec. 6 and play a neutral site game against No. 21 Gonzaga in Portland on Dec. 21. Oregon’s Big Ten season starts on the road at Maryland on Jan. 2. The regular season wraps up at home against rival Washington on March 7.

Facts and figures

Oregon was ranked as high as No. 9 last season in the AP Top 25. … When Shelstad broke his hand, the timeline for his recovery was four to six weeks, which is about the time the season is expected to kick off against Hawaii. … Oregon has won 20 or more games every season since 2010-2011, when Altman took over as head coach. … Oregon has reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the past two seasons. The team’s best season since 2020 was a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2021 … Newcomer Efe Vatan, a 6-foot-10 forward from Turkey, won’t be available for the start of the season because of a foot injury.

NO. 17 ILLINOIS HAS AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR, BUT ITS LEADER IS A HOMETOWN POINT GUARD

Illinois (22-13, 12-8 Big Ten)

Coach Brad Underwood made news by bringing in highly touted players from overseas, but most likely it will be the returnees who will determine if the No. 17 Illini have another successful season. Point guard Kylan Boswell from Champaign and Tomislav Ivisic are back, along with sharpshooters Jake Davis and Ben Humrichous, who have been given bigger roles this season. The four accumulated 45% of the Illini’s minutes, 41% of the team’s points and 43% of its rebounds last year. Their experience is needed to help the new Illinois players get acclimated to Underwood’s systems and his tough love approach to coaching.

Players to watch

Boswell, who is one of the Big Ten’s best on-ball defenders, came on strong at the end of last season, averaging nearly 17 points per game over the Illini’s final eight games.

Ivisic had an illness-plagued season last year, but still managed to average 13 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. The 7-1 Ivisic and his twin brother, 7-2 Zvonimir Ivisic, who are from Croatia, are dangerous outside shooters for big men.

Departures and arrivals

Illinois will miss one-and-done players Kasparas Jakucionis (15.0 ppg, 156 assists) and Will Riley (12.6 ppg), who were NBA draft picks. Also gone are Tre White (10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Morez Johnson Jr. (6.7 rpg), who transferred to Michigan. The transfer portal brought the Illini two stars from other conferences: Zvonimir Ivisic from Arkansas and Andrej Stojakovic from California, who averaged nearly 18 points per game last season. Freshman recruits Brandon Lee, a 2,000-point scorer out of New Jersey, and Keaton Wagler, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Kansas, will vie for playing time. Mihailo Petrovic (Serbia) and David Mirkovic (Montenegro) add to the international flavor.

Top games

The Illini will open Monday at home against Jackson State. Seven ranked teams are on their schedule, including three in less than three weeks on neutral courts: No. 15 Alabama on Nov. 19 at the United Center in Chicago; No. 4 UConn on Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden; and No. 18 Tennessee on Dec. 6 in Nashville. Illinois’ lone Big Ten game against No. 1 Purdue is on the road Jan. 24.

Facts and figures

Illinois is one of only four teams in the nation with six straight 20-win regular seasons and the only team with a winning Big Ten record in each of those seasons. … The Illini are one of 13 teams to play in the last five NCAA Tournaments.

DUSTY MAY’S NEW-LOOK, 7TH-RANKED WOLVERINES LED BY TRANSFERS YAXEL LENDEBORG AND ELLIOT CADEAU

No. 7 Michigan (27-10, 14-6 Big Ten)

Dusty May turned over most of the roster for his second season after a successful debut, extending the program’s Sweet 16 streak to six years after winning the Big Ten Tournament. He replaced eight departed players and one of the new arrivals is perhaps the top player in the transfer portal, former UAB star Yaxel Lendeborg, who is a preseason All-America player.

Players to watch

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Lendeborg can score, rebound and defend well enough to be regarded as one of the top players in college basketball. Point guard Elliot Cadeau led North Carolina in assists the previous two years and started 68 games over two seasons. Guard Roddy Gayle averaged nearly 10 points a game last year after transferring from Ohio State and has 107 games of experience, including 71 starts.

Departures and arrivals

Lendeborg averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds last season. He was a two-time first-team All-American Athletic Conference pick and two-time AAC defensive player of the year. Morez Johnson Jr., 6-9, 255-pound forward, averaged seven points and seven rebounds in 17-plus minutes last season for Illinois. Aday Mara, a 7-3 Spaniard, transferred from UCLA. Guard Trey McKenney, who won Michigan’s Mr. Basketball award last year, was the nation’s 21st-ranked recruit. Danny Wolf, Vladislav Goldin and Phat Phat Brooks departed as did Scottie Pippen’s son, Justin, after coming off the bench as a seldom-used freshman.

Top games

Michigan opens the season Monday at home against Oakland. The Wolverines are in the Players Era Championship, which also includes No. 2 Houston and No. 5 St. John’s. Home games include No. 22 Wisconsin (Jan. 10) and No. 22 Michigan State (March 8) in the regular season finale. Road games include the rival Spartans (Jan. 30), No. 1 Purdue (Feb. 17) and No. 17 Illinois (Feb. 27). A matchup with No. 6 Duke on Feb. 21 in Washington breaks up the Big Ten schedule.

Facts and figures

Michigan has its highest preseason ranking since it was No. 6 in 2021 and is a popular pick to finish second in the Big Ten behind the top-ranked Boilermakers. … Lendeborg joined Larry Bird (Indiana State) as the only players to have 600 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a college basketball season. … The Wolverines will raise Trey Burke’s No. 3 to the rafters at Crisler Center on Jan. 23 against Ohio State.

SMU GOES INTO 2ND ACC SEASON, AND 2ND WITH COACH ANDY ENFIELD, LOOKING TO END NCAA TOURNEY DROUGHT

SMU (24-11, 13-7 ACC)

Andy Enfield goes into his second season with SMU, which goes into its second ACC season. In their debuts with a new coach and in a new league, the Mustangs matched their most wins since the school-record 30 when making their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. They did get into the NIT last season. They return starters guards Boopie Miller and B.J. Edwards, and 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu from Turkey. SMU also brought in Conference USA player of the year Jaron Pierre Jr., a 6-5 guard from Jacksonville State.

Players to watch

Miller is going into his third ACC season, having transferred to SMU from Wake Forest. He averaged 13.2 points and 5.5 assists last season while starting all 28 of his games for the Mustangs, after 15.6 points and 3.5 assists in 35 games for the Demon Deacons.

Pierre, now with his fourth school in a five-season span, led C-USA with 21.6 points a game in his only season with Jacksonville State. He also had 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists a game.

Departures and arrivals

Pierre, 6-6 senior forward Corey Washington (Wichita State) and 6.9 forward Sam Walters (Michigan) all got to SMU in the transfer portal. Washington averaged 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds last season for the Shockers. Before one season at Michigan, Walters played in all 37 games as a freshman for NCAA Final Four team Alabama. The five true freshmen include 6-5 forward Jermaine O’Neal Jr. and 6-10 center Jaden Toombs. SMU’s two lost starters were double-figure scorers Chuck Harris and Matt Cross.

Top games

SMU plays its first seven games at home before four consecutive SEC opponents. The Mustangs go to Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, then play Texas A&M on the Texas-Arlington campus Dec. 7, and LSU at the home of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 13. Their ACC opener is at home against No. 25 North Carolina, a week before going to sixth-ranked Duke.

Facts and figures

SMU has what is considered the best recruiting class in program history. Enfield said there was a strategic decision to recruit freshmen, and he said they have to be ready to play since the bench will be mostly freshmen. … O’Neal and Toombs were teammates in the Dynamic Prep program, not far from the SMU campus and where they were coached by O’Neal’s father, six-time NBA All-Star Jermaine O’Neal. … The Mustangs won 86-71 in an exhibition game against Oklahoma State, the team they lost to in a second-round NIT game at home last March.

MIAMI HURRICANES BASKETBALL: A COMPLETE REBUILD WITH NEW COACH AND PLAYERS

Miami (7-24, 3-17 ACC)

The Miami Hurricanes are starting over in just about every way.: new coach, new assistant coaches and every single player on the roster was playing somewhere else last season. Jai Lucas, hired away from Duke to take over the program, comes to the Hurricanes with a glistening reputation as a recruiter. In the league’s preseason poll, the Hurricanes were picked eighth in a loaded 18-team conference.

Players to watch

Freshman forward Shelton Henderson originally was a Duke commit and flipped to Miami; it’s reasonable to think he will be the go-to player for the Hurricanes in a lot of situations. Another freshman, guard Dante Allen, is the son of Miami Heat assistant coach Malik Allen and has impressed throughout the preseason. Guard Noam Dovrat, a 23-year-old who has been playing in Israel, brings experience, albeit not at the college level.

Departures and arrivals

The departures are easy: Everybody left after last season, one where coach Jim Larrañaga stepped down early in the year and his longtime assistant Bill Courtney led the team the rest of the way. Lucas inherited a blank sheet of paper for a roster and had to find the right mix of freshmen and transfers. Tre Donaldson comes to Miami after stints with Auburn and Michigan, Marcus Allen transferred in from Missouri, Malik Reneau comes in from Indiana, Tru Washington played at New Mexico and Ernest Udeh Jr. — the biggest guy on this Miami roster — previously was at Kansas and TCU.

Top games

Miami plays defending national champion Florida in Jacksonville on Nov. 16 and plays a serious title contender in BYU at Orlando on Nov. 27. The Hurricanes then have to go to Ole Miss for the ACC-SEC matchup on Dec. 2. In conference play, Miami doesn’t play preseason favorite Duke at all, doesn’t go to Louisville (the Cardinals visit on March 7 to close the ACC schedule), doesn’t go to North Carolina (the Tar Heels visit on Feb. 10), and sees the likes of Virginia, N.C. State, SMU and Clemson only once each.

Facts and figures

Miami went to the Final Four in 2023 and started 15-7 the following season. The Hurricanes are 7-34 since. … The Hurricanes’ roster has about 2,800 points scored at the college level, with zero of those points scored at Miami. … Miami plays 14 games this year before New Year’s Day; 13 of them are in the state of Florida and 10 of them are at home. … The only ACC game Miami will play outside of the Eastern time zone is at SMU. No cross-country trip for the Canes this season; Stanford and Cal both come to Coral Gables.

PITT AND JEFF CAPEL HIT THE REBOOT BUTTON AGAIN AS PANTHERS EYE RETURN TO CONTENTION IN THE ACC

Pittsburgh (17-15 overall, 8-12 ACC)

Jeff Capel begins his eighth season with the Panthers, seemingly starting from scratch after just four scholarship players from last year’s group return. A season ago, Pitt hoped retaining a huge chunk of its roster from 2023-24 would pay dividends. After a hot start, the Panthers missed the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in nine seasons. Pitt isn’t particularly big, a problem that could be compounded if it can’t find consistent outside shooting after losing most of its contributors from behind the arc a year ago.

Players to watch

Cameron Corhen (senior, F, 11.0 ppg). The 6-foot-10 Corhen should get plenty of playing time as Pitt’s most experienced returning big man. Corhen shot 63.5% from the field last season, tops on the Panthers and the second-best mark in the ACC. Those numbers might tick down a bit only because Corhen will likely get more shots up this season.

Brandin Cummings (sophomore, G, 6.3 ppg, 37% shooting from 3). Cummings regularly provided a jolt off the bench last season. He’ll likely begin the season as a starter in a new-look backcourt alongside newcomer Damarco Minor.

Nojus Indrusaitis (sophomore, G). The Iowa State transfer may be the closest thing Pitt has to a volume shooter. The 6-foot-5 Lithuanian put up 12 shots in 27 minutes during an exhibition victory against Providence and added seven rebounds, a sure way to get on the floor.

Departures and arrivals

The Panthers lost their leading scorer from last season, guard Jaland Lowe, to Kentucky in the transfer portal. Twin 7-footers Jorge (Oregon State) and Guillermo Diaz Graham (San Francisco) also left. … Iowa State transfer Dishon Jackson, a 6-10 forward who averaged 8.5 points for the Cyclones last year, is out indefinitely while dealing with a medical condition. … Minor averaged 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists last year while starting at Oregon State.

Top games

Nov. 3 vs. Youngstown State (opener); Nov. 13 at West Virginia; Dec. 13 at Villanova; Feb. 9 vs. Duke; Feb. 14 at North Carolina.

Facts and figures

The Panthers lost four of their top five scorers, not ideal for a team that finished sixth in the ACC in scoring. They also lost six of their top seven rebounders, though that might not be a bad thing for a team that finished 12th in the ACC in rebound margin. … Roman Siulepa is a 6-6 guard from Australia who was a member of Australia’s junior national team. He also moonlighted as a rugby player, which might give the Panthers a welcome dash of ruggedness.

GEORGIA TECH ROSTER UNDERGOES SIGNIFICANT OVERHAUL WITH 10 NEW PLAYERS

Georgia Tech (17-17, 10-10 ACC)

Georgia Tech finished eighth in the ACC last year and were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament by Duke. The roster underwent significant turnover this offseason, only retaining four players from last year’s team. Baye Ndongo, Jaeden Mustaf, Kowacie Reeves Jr. and redshirt freshman Dyllan Thompson return for the Yellow Jackets alongside 10 newcomers. Georgia Tech is picked to finish No. 13 in the ACC preseason poll.

Players to watch

Ndongo is the team’s top returner, earning third-team All-ACC honors after leading the Jackets in points (456), rebounds (304) and blocks (39) last season. The junior forward was named to the preseason All-ACC second team.

Coach Damon Stoudamire said all six freshmen will see time at one point or another, but highly recruited freshman Mouhamed Sylla has the potential to be one of the best in the country.

Senior guard Lamar Washington is expected to make an immediate impact. The transfer from Pacific finished first in steals (55), third in total points (444) and second in rebounds (169) last season.

Departures and arrivals

Stoudamire had his work cut out for him after losing 10 players, five of whom transferred out. The Yellow Jackets lost Naithan George and Ibrahim Souare to ACC foe Syracuse. Duncan Powell, who received votes for ACC sixth-man of the year, departed for Providence.

Of the newcomers, six are freshmen: Brandon Stores Jr., Davi Remagen, Cole Kirouac, Sylla, Eric Chatfield Jr. and Akai Fleming. Stoudamire acquired four players through the transfer portal: Washington (Pacific), Peyton Marshall (Missouri), Chas Kelley III (Boston College) and Kam Craft (Miami, Ohio).

Top games

Georgia Tech opens the season at home on Nov. 3, hosting Maryland-Eastern Shore and the non-conference slate includes games against Georgia, DePaul and Mississippi State. Once conference plays begins, Georgia Tech will face three teams that landed on the preseason AP Top 25: No. 6 Duke (Dec. 31), No. 25 UNC (Jan. 31) and No. 11 Louisville (Feb. 21).

Facts and figures

Stoudamire enters his third year as coach of the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech finished 14-18 during the ‘23-24 season and improved to 17-17 in ‘24-25 under the former NBA Rookie of the Year. Stoudamire was named a finalist for the Ben Jobe award in 2025, given to the most outstanding minority coach in Division I men’s basketball.

EXPECTATIONS AND PRESSURE RISE IN SYRACUSE FOR COACH ADRIAN AUTRY TO RETURN ORANGE TO PROMINENCE

Syracuse (14-19, 7-13 ACC)

The Orange had the program’s lowest win total since 1970 and have failed to make the NCAA Tournament four straight years, an eternity for the storied program that puts pressure on third-year coach Adrian Autry. Athletic director John Wildhack said his expectation is for this year’s team playing “meaningful games” in March. Autry got a huge boost when senior J.J. Starling and highly regarded sophomore Donnie Freeman returned. The transfer portal class is highlighted by point guard Naithan George, last season’s ACC assist leader, and sharpshooter Nate Kingz. Autry landed top-50 recruits in Sadiq White Jr. and Kiyan Anthony. Improved defense is paramount. Syracuse allowed nearly 78 points a game, which ranked 314th nationally.

Players to watch

Starling (senior, G, 6-4, 17.8 ppg) and Freeman (sophomore, F, 6-9, 13.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg) must stay healthy. Starling missed seven games, while Freeman appeared in just 14 following a season-ending foot injury. The arrivals of George (junior, G, 6-3, 6.5 apg) and Kingz are just as big. The offense will run through George, who earned honorable mention All-ACC recognition at Georgia Tech. This should free Starling from ball-handling duties, and open things up for Kingz (Oregon State), who was 36th in the nation in 3-point percentage (44.3%). Anthony will draw attention since he is the son of Syracuse legend and Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.

Departures and arrivals

White, a 6-foot-9 forward, was regarded as a top recruit and known for tenacious defense. Two more transfer portal additions are 6-foot-9 William Kyle III (UCLA, senior) and 6-9 Ibrahim Souare (Georgia Tech, redshirt sophomore). Kyle is expected to play a big role defending the rim in replacing Eddie Lampkin, who contributed mightily on offense but was a liability on defense.

Top games

After opening with four winnable games, the Orange face a gantlet that could determine their postseason fate. In a Las Vegas showcase, Syracuse faces No. 2 Houston and No. 19 Kansas on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, with a potential matchup against another top team on Nov. 26. On Dec. 2, Syracuse hosts No. 18 Tennessee.

Facts and figures

Syracuse posted its second losing season in five years after previously not having any since 1969-70. … The Orange made just 33% of their 3-point attempts last season, ranking 224th in the country. Conversely, 55.7% of the offense came inside the 3-point line, 27th nationally. … Starling and Freeman played in only seven games together. … Starling suffered a broken finger over the summer but should be ready for the season opener Nov. 3.… Kyle was Summit League Defensive Player of the Year his sophomore season at South Dakota State.

STANFORD BEGINS KYLE SMITH’S 2ND YEAR WITH FAMILIAR FACES BUT WITHOUT TOP 3 SCORERS FROM LAST SEASON

Stanford (21-14, 11-9 ACC)

Stanford begins coach Kyle Smith’s second season with 11 returning players from a team that reached the second round of the NIT and established school records for made 3-pointers (294), free-throw percentage (.789) and fewest turnovers per game (10.5). The Cardinal lost their top three scorers, leaving redshirt junior guard Ryan Agarwal as the team’s leading returning scorer. He started 29 of 35 games last season, averaging 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds.

Players to watch

Freshman Ebuka Okorie was one of the highest-rated point guard recruits in the country, starring at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. Okorie averaged 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while shooting 54.5% overall and 38.5% from 3-point range as a senior.

Departures and arrivals

Maxime Raynaud, a 7-foot-1 center from France, was drafted 42nd overall by the Sacramento Kings after leading Stanford with 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Guard Oziyah Sellers played one season for Stanford and was the team’s second-leading scorer with a 13.7 average then declared for the NBA draft and entered the transfer portal, winding up at St. John’s for his senior season. Stanford’s roster features six newcomers, including four freshmen.

Top games

Stanford has a manageable non-conference schedule that includes games against Minnesota and UNLV before the ACC slate begins Dec. 30 at home against Notre Dame. The Cardinal welcome North Carolina and Duke in a three-day span in mid-January two weeks before a Sunshine State swing with games at Miami and Florida State.

Facts and figures

At 21-14 last season, Stanford notched its most wins since 2014-15 and matched a program-best with 17 home victories — going 9-1 at Maples Pavilion in conference play during the program’s inaugural ACC season. … Players returning accounted for an ACC-leading 52% of the program’s minutes played last season, the only ACC program with more than 50% of its minutes returning. … Associate head coach Eric Reveno will maintain that position while also taking on general manager duties. Smith named Amanda Leland assistant GM in July. She is the daughter of former Stanford and Pacific athletic director Ted Leland and spent the past 13 years at Pacific.

HUSKERS WILL LEAN HARD ON HEALTHY BIG MAN RIENK MAST AS THEY TRY TO CLIMB IN BIG TEN

Nebraska (21-14, 7-13 Big Ten)

The Cornhuskers finished last season on a high note, winning four games in a row to capture the College Basketball Crown title in Las Vegas. They still aren’t expected to crack the upper half of the Big Ten, but there is reason for optimism with the return of Rienk Mast. The versatile big man sat out last season after having surgery on his left knee. He’s a capable scorer in the post and on the perimeter.

Players to watch

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Mast raised eyebrows in his first appearance of the season, scoring 31 points and making 7 of 8 3-pointers in a 90-89 exhibition win over No. 8 BYU. He averaged 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in 2023-24. Big man Berke Büyüktuncel can score but his calling card is as a grinder. He led the Huskers in rebounds and was second in blocked shots a year ago. Pryce Sandfort will move from his bench role at Iowa to starter at Nebraska, where he gives the Huskers a floor-spacer with his 40% shooting on 3s.

Departures and arrivals

Four of the top five scorers are gone, with Associated Press All-Big Ten first-team pick Brice Williams (20.4 ppg) and Juwan Gary (14.6 ppg) the biggest departures. Sandfort, Kendall Blue (St. Thomas) and Ugnius Jarusevicius (Central Michigan) are transfers who are expected to contribute. Jamarques Lawrence was the Huskers’ starting point guard the first half of the 2023-24 season, spent last year at Rhode Island and returned to Lincoln for his senior season.

Top games

The Huskers open at home against West Georgia on Nov. 3. They play in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Missouri, against New Mexico on Nov. 20 and against Kansas State or Mississippi State on Nov. 21. No. 23 Creighton visits Lincoln on Dec. 7. Big Ten play opens at home against No. 24 Wisconsin on Dec. 10. The Huskers visit No. 7 Michigan on Jan. 27 and host No. 1 Purdue on Feb. 10.

Facts and figures

Coach Fred Hoiberg begins his seventh season at Nebraska, where he’s 84-108. … Four players who have made at least 15 starts for Nebraska are back as the Huskers bid for a third straight postseason appearance. … Nebraska has 44 wins over the past two seasons, the second-highest two-year total in program history. NU won 45 games spanning the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. … Nebraska posted consecutive 20-win seasons for the third time in school history and the first since the late 1990s.

THOUGH BIG TEN SCORING CHAMP MARTINELLI IS BACK, NORTHWESTERN HAS DIFFERENT LOOK

Northwestern (17-16, 7-13 Big Ten)

Big Ten scoring champion Nick Martinelli is back for his fourth season at Northwestern. Beyond him, there aren’t many familiar faces. The Wildcats lost four starters with Brooks Barnhizer, Jalen Leach, Ty Berry and Matthew Nicholson using up their eligibility. Barnhizer, Berry and Nicholson spent their entire careers at Northwestern and helped the Wildcats make the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and 2024 before getting hit hard by injuries last season. Even though he has just one starter back, coach Chris Collins likes his roster depth, particularly at guard and on the wing. He envisions a longer rotation after leaning heavily on his starters last year. He also expects a faster pace.

Players to watch

Martinelli (senior, F, 6-7, 20.5 ppg). Martinelli set the school’s single-season record for points (676) and made field goals (251) and posted Northwestern’s highest scoring average since Evan Eschmeyer scored 21.7 points per game in 1997-98. A second-team, all-conference pick, he averaged 6.2 rebounds while logging a Big Ten-leading 37.6 minutes per game. Martinelli threw his name into the NBA Draft pool but withdrew.

Departures and arrivals

Tre Singleton, a 6-foot-8 forward from Jeffersonville, Indiana, heads a highly touted freshman class. He led Jeffersonville to the 4A state championship as a senior.

Top games

Northwestern hosts Mercyhurst in the season opener on Nov. 3. There are nonconference games in the Greenbrier Tip-off against Virginia on Nov. 21 and South Carolina two days later, and against Oklahoma State at the United Center in Chicago on Nov. 27. Big Ten play begins at No. 24 Wisconsin on Dec. 3. Northwestern hosts No. 7 Michigan on Feb. 11 and top-ranked Purdue on March 4.

Facts and figures

Collins comes into his 14th season with a 194-190 record. This is his first head coaching job. … Northwestern has three straight winning seasons for the first time since a four-year run from 2008-09 to 2011-12 under former coach Bill Carmody.

USC REBUILDS ROSTER WITH 10 TRANSFERS AS COACH ERIC MUSSELMAN ENTERS SECOND SEASON

USC (17-18, 7-13 Big Ten)

Coach Eric Musselman and the Trojans had a rough first year in the Big Ten. One of the lone bright spots was a home win against eventual league champion Michigan State. Starting his second season in Los Angeles, Musselman has completely rebuilt the roster using the transfer portal. Ten of the 13 new players come from other schools. The Trojans are likely still a season or two away from being able to compete for a league championship, but if things break the right way, they could return to the NCAA Tournament.

Players to watch

The Trojans landed transfer Jacob Cofie from Virginia. He brings experience and will give the team a presence at 6-foot-10. Joining him are guard Rodney Rice (Maryland) and forward Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn). Newcomer Alijah Arenas, a son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, is out after getting hurt in a car accident and having knee surgery. Terrance Williams II (Michigan) transferred to USC last season, but was limited to seven games. If he returns to form, he could be an impact player.

Departures and arrivals

Guard Desmond Claude transferred to Washington. Among the newcomers are Ezra Ausar (Utah), 7-foot-5 Gabe Dynes (Youngstown State), Ryan Cornish (Dartmouth), EJ Neal Jr. (Sacramento State), Jaden Brownell (Samford) and freshmen Jerry Easter II and Patrick O’Brien. Amarion Dickerson (Robert Morris) arrives as last season’s Horizon League defensive player of the year. Jordan Marsh, the Big South newcomer of the year, arrives from UNC Asheville.

Top games

The Trojans open against Cal Poly at home on Nov. 3. They’ll play in the Maui Invitational during Thanksgiving week. They open Big Ten play Dec. 2 on the road at Oregon. Their league schedule includes hosting No. 1 Purdue on Jan. 17.

Facts and figures

Earl Boykins, who worked with Musselman at Arkansas and was coached by him in the NBA, joined the Trojans staff. … The Trojans won one game in the Big Ten Tournament before losing to Zach Edey and Purdue in the second round.

WASHINGTON HOPEFUL ROSTER OVERHAUL WILL LEAD TO MORE SUCCESS IN SECOND YEAR OF DANNY SPRINKLE ERA

Washington (13-18, 4-16 Big Ten)

The Huskies return two starters, both of whom were among their top six scorers from last season’s team that finished last in the Big Ten. It was Washington’s first season in the conference, and first under coach Danny Sprinkle. Back are guard Zoom Diallo, who was one of three Washington players to average at least 10 points per game, and 6-foot-11 center Franck Kepnang, who was limited by injuries. Improved post play, both in terms of depth and performance, is the goal for Washington this season. The Huskies struggled mightily in their own end, too, ranking 276th in the nation in scoring defense.

Players to watch

All eyes are on a pair of transfers and a highly regarded freshman forward. The Huskies added senior guard Desmond Claude and sophomore guard Wesley Yates III, both from USC, via the transfer portal. They were the Trojans’ two leading scorers in 2024-25, combining to average 29.9 points per game. Freshman forward Hannes Steinbach, meanwhile, should buoy the Huskies’ frontcourt in a big way. Steinbach helped Germany reach the final of the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, and averaged 17.4 points and 13 rebounds per game.

Departures and arrivals

Sprinkle was active in the portal. He added Claude (USC), Yates (USC), guard Quimari Peterson (East Tennessee State), forwards Christian Nitu (Florida State) Bryson Tucker (Indiana) and Jacob Ognacevic (Lipscomb), as well as center Lathan Sommerville (Rutgers). Peterson was the Southern Conference player of the year while Nitu, Tucker, Ognacevic and Sommerville should all enhance a frontcourt that did not feature a double-digit scorer in 2024-25.

Top games

The Huskies open against Arkansas Pine-Bluff in Seattle on Nov. 3. They should get a better feel during a three-game stretch against Baylor, Washington State and Southern in November. Their Big Ten schedule starts with No. 12 UCLA, USC, Indiana and No. 1 Purdue.

Facts and figures

Nine different players started for the Huskies last season as they shuffled through 12 different starting lineups. … Washington lost 12 players either via graduation or through the transfer portal. Sprinkle added 13 players to this year’s roster. … Kepnang blocked 16 shots over his final seven games of the 2024-25 season after missing most of the year due to injury. … BJ Roy, a freshman guard, is the son of Brandon Roy, a former consensus All-American. Roy was the 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year and sixth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by Portland.

____________________________________________________

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

NBA ROUNDUP: TYRESE MAXEY, 76ERS RALLY PAST WIZARDS IN OT

Tyrese Maxey scored 23 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers remained unbeaten after storming back from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 139-134 on Tuesday.

Washington led 126-116 with 2:41 remaining in regulation before the Sixers capped a 17-4 run with 10 straight points to tie the game on Quentin Grimes’ 3-pointer with 38.7 seconds left. After the Wizards scored the first five points in overtime, the Sixers answered with six straight points, and Philadelphia put the game away at the foul line in the final seconds.

Joel Embiid scored 25 points in 23 minutes for Philadelphia while Grimes scored 23. Maxey produced nine of the Sixers’ 13 points in overtime.

Alex Sarr paced Washington with 31 points and 11 rebounds while Kyshawn George scored 20 points.

Bucks 121, Knicks 111

Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his hot start by scoring 23 of his game-high 37 points in the second half, sparking Milwaukee’s comeback from a double-digit deficit to a win over visiting New York.

Antetokounmpo added eight rebounds and seven assists — including six rebounds and six assists in the second half. He is averaging 36.3 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists per game this season. Ryan Rollins scored a career-high 25 points for the Bucks, who trailed by 14 points in the second quarter.

Jalen Brunson put up 36 points for the Knicks, who have lost two straight after opening the season 2-0. Brunson played the final 6:13 with an apparent right leg injury. Mikal Bridges amassed 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Warriors 98, Clippers 79

Jimmy Butler III put up a game-high 21 points without shooting a free throw and Golden State, holding James Harden scoreless in the second half, blitzed Los Angeles in San Francisco.

On a night when the Clippers were called for just five fouls, the Warriors overcame a 3-for-4 night at the free-throw line by burying 17 of 45 (37.8%) from beyond the arc. Butler hit nine of his 12 shots overall and three of his four 3-point attempts. Stephen Curry chipped in with 19 points.

With Harden scoring all 20 of his points, the Clippers overcame an early 15-point deficit to take a 49-46 halftime lead. But Los Angeles, which had beaten the Warriors seven straight times, added just 30 points over the final 24 minutes.

Thunder 107, Kings 101

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points as Oklahoma City overcame a 10-point deficit and beat visiting Sacramento to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Gilgeous-Alexander had seven points and an assist during the final six minutes to finish 14 of 26 from the floor with nine rebounds. Aaron Wiggins and Mitchell produced 18 points each for the Thunder, who were without Chet Holmgren (back).

Zach LaVine put up 23 points, DeMar DeRozan added 19 and Domantas Sabonis had 10 points and 18 rebounds for the Kings, who have dropped three of their four games.

Heat 144, Hornets 117

Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored a season-high 28 points off the bench to lead Miami past visiting Charlotte for its third win a row.

Bam Adebayo added 26 points and Andrew Wiggins scored 21 for the Heat. Pelle Larsson scored a career-best 17 points after being promoted to the starting five following Norman Powell’s late withdrawal due to a groin strain sustained at the morning practice.

LaMelo Ball scored 15 of his 20 points in the first quarter for the Hornets. He finished with nine assists and eight rebounds but shot just 6-for-18 from the floor. Kon Knueppel hit 5 of 11 3-point attempts and put up 19 points.

MICHAEL JORDAN APPALLED BY ‘LOAD MANAGEMENT’

Michael Jordan offered his unflinching thoughts on NBA players taking games off for “load management” in his latest appearance on NBC’s coverage of the league Tuesday night.

Jordan, appearing for the second time on the “Insights to Excellence” segment, aired after the Bucks-Knicks broadcast, said he’s not buying the need for players to rest for the sake of rest.

“It shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,” Jordan said. “You know, I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove — it was something that I felt like, you know, the fans are there that watch me play. I want to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his ass off to get a ticket or to get money to buy the ticket.”

Jordan played 70-plus games in nearly every season of his career. The only exceptions were his second pro season, when he suffered a broken foot and was held out longer than he wanted as a precaution, and in 1995, when he tried his hand at retirement.

At the height of his popularity, Jordan and the Bulls were a traveling circus and a virtually impossible ticket at home and on the road.

“You have a duty that if they’re wanting to see you and as an entertainer, I want to show, right?” Jordan said. “So if the guys are coming to watch me play, I don’t want to miss that opportunity. Physically, if I can’t do it, then I can’t do it. But physically, if I can do it and I just don’t feel like doing it, that’s a whole different lens.”

Jordan was visibly perturbed discussing other players sitting out during the recording of the documentary “The Last Dance,” a Netflix production that captured the final seasons of the Bulls’ dynasty.

Kobe Bryant, the late Lakers star, shared a similar position on “load management.” He played through injuries and told teammates to rest on days when the team isn’t scheduled to play because “it’s your job to perform.”

________________________________________________________________

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

NHL ROUNDUP: CONNOR BEDARD’S 1ST HAT TRICK POWERS BLACKHAWKS

Connor Bedard netted his first career hat trick as part of a four-point night as the host Chicago Blackhawks topped the Ottawa Senators 7-3 on Tuesday.

Spencer Knight stopped 21 shots to earn his third straight win and help the Blackhawks build momentum entering a season-high six-game road trip.

Louis Crevier and Frank Nazar each had a goal and assist as Chicago improved to 5-1-1 in its past seven games. Colton Dach and Ryan Donato also scored, and Nick Foligno and Andre Burakovsky collected two assists apiece.

Tim Stutzle logged a goal and an assist for the Senators, whose three-game winning streak ended. Jake Sanderson and Michael Amadio also tallied, Drake Batherson posted two assists and Linus Ullmark stopped 19 shots.

Avalanche 8, Devils 4

Victor Olofsson produced his first career hat trick and Colorado ended New Jersey’s eight-game winning streak with a victory in Denver.

Nathan MacKinnon posted two goals to move into fourth place on the franchise list and added an assist for the Avalanche, who snapped a four-game skid (0-1-3). Parker Kelly had a goal and an assist, Zakhar Bardakov and Martin Necas also scored and Cale Makar had four assists.

The Devils nearly erased Colorado’s 5-0 lead with four goals — from Stefan Noesen, Dougie Hamilton, Dawson Mercer and Jack Hughes — in a span of 4:04 in the second period. Jacob Markstrom returned from a six-game injury absence but allowed eight goals on 42 shots.

Jets 4, Wild 3 (OT)

Kyle Connor scored 46 seconds into overtime to lift Winnipeg over Minnesota in Saint Paul, Minn.

Gabriel Vilardi, Vladislav Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter also scored for the Jets. Mark Scheifele and Logan Stanley finished with two assists apiece, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 33 of 36 shots.

Brock Faber notched a goal and an assist to lead the Wild. Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Johansson finished with one goal apiece, Marco Rossi registered two assists, and Filip Gustavsson allowed four goals on 22 shots.

Golden Knights 6, Hurricanes 3

Jack Eichel scored twice in the final five minutes to go with an earlier assist and Pavel Dorofeyev posted two first-period goals as Vegas defeated Carolina in Raleigh, N.C.

Eichel’s first goal of the night came with 4:59 left to break a tie following a mishandled puck by the Hurricanes, and he tacked on another with 2:24 remaining. Dorofeyev, with nine goals, has the most through 10 games in Golden Knights history — one more than Eichel’s eight.

Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Martinook each scored their first goals of the season and Logan Stankoven also found the net for the Hurricanes.

Maple Leafs 4, Flames 3

Max Domi’s second goal of the game broke a tie late in the third period as host Toronto defeated Calgary.

Domi and Matthew Knies (two goals, one assist) provided all of the scoring for the Maple Leafs. The pair combined for the game-winning tally as Knies set up Domi to give Toronto the lead with 2:04 remaining. Anthony Stolarz held things down on the other end of the ice with 26 saves.

Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee scored the Flames’ first two goals, while Samuel Honzek put away his first career goal with 5:11 left in the game to tie the game at 3. Dustin Wolf contributed with 33 saves.

Bruins 5, Islanders 2

Boston scored three goals in less than four minutes during the second period to erase an early two-goal deficit on the way to a win over visiting New York.

David Pastrnak, Michael Eyssimont and Elias Lindholm recorded a goal and an assist apiece while Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie also scored for Boston, which has won two of its past three games. Eyssimont scored the game-winning goal at 7:48 of the second.

Boston’s Charlie McAvoy added two assists and Joonas Korpisalo made 33 saves, stopped all 15 shots he faced in the third period. Bo Horvat had a goal and an assist, Kyle Palmieri also scored and Ilya Sorokin turned aside 17 shots for Islanders, who took their first regulation loss in a six-game span (4-1-1).

Rangers 2, Canucks 0

Mika Zibanejad scored a first-period goal and Jonathan Quick stopped 23 shots for his first shutout of the season as New York snapped a three-game skid with a victory at Vancouver.

Quick continued his mastery of the Canucks, earning his sixth shutout to match his highest total against any club. Sam Carrick added an empty-net goal and leading point-scorer Adam Fox had two assists for the Rangers, who improved to 1-1-0 on a four-game road trip.

Thatcher Demko stopped 23 of 24 shots for the Canucks, who wrapped up a 1-2-0 homestand and took their fourth loss in five games.

Stars 1, Capitals 0

Jake Oettinger made 24 saves for his first shutout of the season and Dallas beat visiting Washington.

Tyler Seguin scored in the second period for the Stars, who have won three straight. Oettinger logged his 13th career shutout as he improved to 6-0-0 with two shutouts in his career against Washington.

Logan Thompson made 18 saves for the Capitals, who have scored a total of one goal while losing their past two games after winning six of the previous seven.

Flyers 3, Penguins 2 (SO)

Bobby Brink scored a dazzling shootout goal, providing the difference in Philadelphia’s action-packed win over visiting Pittsburgh.

Travis Konecny scored his 200th career goal — all with the Flyers — while Brink also scored in regulation for the hosts. Samuel Ersson made 24 stops through overtime and then denied two of the Penguins’ three attempts in the shootout.

Justin Brazeau and Sidney Crosby scored regulation goals for the Penguins, who are 5-0-2 in their past seven games. Arturs Silovs finished with 32 saves.

Canadiens 4, Kraken 3 (OT)

Cole Caufield had two goals — including the winner 44 seconds into overtime — and an assist as Montreal responded after blowing a three-goal lead to defeat host Seattle.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Alex Newhook also scored for Montreal while goaltender Jakub Dobes made 18 saves to improve to 6-0-0 this season. Nick Suzuki recorded three assists and Noah Dobson registered two helpers for the Canadiens, who wrapped up a 3-1-0 road trip. Suzuki extended his point streak to 10 games (two goals, 14 assists), the longest in the NHL this season.

Brandon Montour had two goals and an assist and Shane Wright also scored for the Kraken, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Joey Daccord stopped 17 of the 21 shots he faced.

Blue Jackets 4, Sabres 3 (OT)

Miles Wood scored off a deflection to forge a tie in the third period, then converted from the doorstep 2:53 into overtime to fuel visiting Columbus to a victory over Buffalo.

Wood made his return to the ice following a five-game absence caused by an eye injury. Yegor Chinakhov collected a goal and an assist, Zach Werenski converted on the power play and Jet Greaves made 35 saves for the Blue Jackets.

Buffalo’s Josh Doan and Ryan McLeod each scored a goal in the second period while former Blue Jackets center Josh Dunne netted his first NHL goal in the third. Alex Tuch notched two assists and Alex Lyon turned aside 35 shots for the Sabres, who lost in overtime for the second straight game.

Ducks 3, Panthers 2 (SO)

Troy Terry and Mason McTavish scored in the shootout to help Anaheim stave off a late rally from Florida and secure the win in Sunrise, Fla.

The Ducks relied on their special teams in the second period, with Leo Carlsson scoring short-handed and Cutter Gauthier adding a goal on a 5-on-3 power play to give Anaheim a 2-0 lead. Lukas Dostal stood tall with 31 saves.

Anton Lundell got the Panthers on the board with 8:48 left in the game and scored their lone shootout goal. Sam Reinhart tied things up with 3:06 remaining, while backup goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves.

Oilers 6, Mammoth 3

Connor McDavid scored twice while Leon Draisaitl and Mattias Ekholm both collected one goal and one assist as host Edmonton rode a five-goal second period to a victory over Utah.

Isaac Howard and Ty Emberson also scored for the Oilers. Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard notched three assists while Adam Henrique and Jake Walman collected two helpers each. Stuart Skinner made 20 saves.

Logan Cooley, JJ Peterka and Barrett Hayton scored for the Mammoth, who blew a two-goal lead and saw their winning streak end at seven games. Karel Vejmelka stopped 19 shots.

Lightning 5, Predators 2

Zemgus Girgensons scored his first two goals of the season and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 18 shots to beat Nashville for a 10th straight time as visiting Tampa Bay prevailed.

Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored his first career goal while Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov tallied a goal and an assist each for the Lightning. Anthony Cirelli and Pontus Holmberg assisted on two goals each.

Luke Evangelista posted a goal and an assist, Filip Forsberg scored and Erik Haula notched two assists for the Predators. Juuse Saros stopped 25 of the 29 shots he faced.

Red Wings 5, Blues 2

Dylan Larkin scored two goals and earned an assist as visiting Detroit defeated St. Louis for the second time in four days.

Alex DeBrincat added a goal and an assist for the Red Wings. Ben Chiarot and Elmer Soderblom also scored, Lucas Raymond had two assists, and John Gibson made 20 saves.

Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou scored and Jordan Binnington made 15 saves for the Blues, whose winless streak reached five games (0-4-1). Philip Broberg logged two assists.

Kings 4, Sharks 3

Brandt Clarke scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:40 left to help Los Angeles recover after blowing a three-goal lead at San Jose.

Clarke and Corey Perry each had a goal and an assist, Jeff Malott and Drew Doughty also scored, and Joel Edmundson had two assists for the Kings, who extended their point streak to six games (4-0-2) despite getting outshot 40-14. Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves.

Alexander Wennberg and Philipp Kurashev had a goal and an assist, Will Smith also scored, and Yaroslav Askarov stopped 10 shots for the Sharks, who have lost 10 straight at home (0-8-2) dating to last season.

____________________________________________________________

++++++++++GOLF NEWS++++++++++

GOLF’S ABILITY TO CREATE STARS IS IMPERATIVE NO MATTER WHAT A NEW PGA TOUR LOOKS LIKE

Outgoing commissioner Jay Monahan has used a form of this word — regenerate — twice in the last two years. It got lost amid topics like private equity investments and a pathway back for LIV Golf players, and even turning over the helm to a new CEO.

But it’s what the PGA Tour can’t afford to lose as it tries to create a bold, new model.

“We consistently as an organization regenerate talent and create stars,” Monahan said at The Players Championship in 2024, when negotiations with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf were still ongoing with far more hope for a deal than there is now.

And then in August at the Tour Championship, where Monahan held his last press conference while introducing Brian Rolapp as the CEO, he mentioned 11 first-time winners on the PGA Tour and paused ever so briefly for emphasis.

“Further proof that talent regeneration is alive and well on the PGA Tour,” he said.

That number is now up to 15 first-time PGA Tour winners this year. The latest was Michael Brennan, perhaps the most unlikely of them all.

The Wake Forest graduate was looking forward to the Korn Ferry Tour after winning three times on the PGA Tour Americas (the equivalent of Double-A baseball) this summer. The big leagues was another year away at best.

And then he received a sponsor exemption to the Bank of Utah Championship, unleashed his powerful swing and won in his PGA Tour debut as a pro to earn a two-year exemption.

Was a star born?

Talent is discovered more than it is created. It needs a little more time and a small dose of context. The stars are in hibernation at the moment. Brennan wasn’t holding off Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, but Rico Hoey and Pierceson Coody.

It was no less impressive, and Brennan will now have a bigger stage. He gets into at least one $20 million signature event next year — the RBC Heritage, replacing Sentry as the portal for winners — and he has a reasonable chance of finishing the year in the top 50 in the world (he’s at No. 43) to get into the Masters.

It’s all about opportunity, and that’s what the Futures Competition Committee should keep in mind as it figures out what 2027 will look like.

Rolapp announced this committee in August, and it formally met for the first time last week.

Tiger Woods is the chairman of a committee that includes five players — Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay, Camilo Villegas, Maverick McNealy and Keith Mitchell — and three business advisors that include progressive thinker Theo Epstein.

Rolapp got attention when he said, “The goal is not incremental change. The goal is significant change.” He mentioned a clean sheet of paper, being “as aggressive as we can.”

The idea is to make every tournament meaningful, and 2026 — effectively a bridge year — will feature as many as 46 events. About 30 of those events are more like “opportunities.”

But that opportunity is what generates stars.

Will a new tour model include someone like Brennan? Yes, because he played Black Desert on a sponsor’s exemption. Those are still available.

And there remains a pathway from the Korn Ferry Tour that has produced the likes of Scheffler and Schauffele over the last decade, and players like David Duval and Justin Thomas before them. The best players always find their way. Some get there quicker.

Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth both narrowly missed out at the second stage of Q-school in 2012. Spieth received sponsor exemptions, earned a card and then a trophy, and played in the Presidents Cup a year later. Koepka started on the Challenge Tour in Europe and it took a little longer. But he now has five majors.

There are indications a new model will cater to the stars in a bid to get them playing against each other more often. That’s what makes meaningful competition. The other word Rolapp used was “scarcity,” when less means more.

It’s not hard to imagine a tour schedule of signature events, along with The Players Championship, four majors and the FedEx Cup playoffs. That effectively would create two tours, which is not too much different than what exists now.

However it looks — and there is a lot of work ahead for the committee — the key is to allow for enough movement from the “opportunities” to the “meaningful tournaments” to regenerate.

That might be the biggest difference between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, and the key issue that kept the Saudi-funded league from being recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking. LIV starts and ends its season with the same 54 players (except for an occasional alternate).

Chris Gotterup got his opportunity in Myrtle Beach, and then he cashed in by taking down Rory McIlroy a year later in the Scottish Open. There are just as many stories about players making good on their opportunity and not lasting very long against tougher competition.

Still to be determined are how Brennan and other recent newcomers — Jake Knapp, Ryan Gerard, Andrew Novak — will fare against a steady diet of golf’s best players.

Rolapp is still relatively new to golf after his long tenure at the NFL. But while he is remembered for talking about parity, scarcity and simplicity, he also brought up the most important word in golf — meritocracy.

“Whatever we do, wherever we end up on a competitive model, let’s just make sure that I can earn my way into it,” he said. “And if I earn my way into it, I deserve to be there.”

For now, Michael Brennan knows the feeling.

_________________________________________________________

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

+++++++++INDIANA HS FOOTBALL++++++++++

INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST INSIDER 2025 – SECTIONAL QUARTERFINALS

NEWS AND NUGGETS

Mooresville’s Mike Gillin announced his retirement after nine years and 47 years overall. The Indiana Football Hall of Famer was 68-40 with the Pioneers and 373-157 overall. He is currently the third winningest coach in Indiana behind Sheridan’s Bud Wright (464 wins) and Russ Radtke (423 wins) of Knox.

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers’ Kyle Lindsay picked up his 100^th career win with the Knights’ 38-7 decision over Delta on October 24.

Knox’s Myles McLaughlin became Indiana’s new single season rushing leader with his program-best 469 yards on 42 carries with seven touchdowns in the Redskins’ 50-21 win over Jimtown on October 24. He now has 309 rushes for 3,603 yards with 55 scores, surpassing the previous high of 3,536 yards by Markell Jones of Columbus East in 2014. For his career, McLaughlin has 10,596 yards with 158 touchdowns and is just 271 yards behind Charlie Spegal of New Palestine, who accumulated 10,867 yards.

In Eastbrook’s 37-36 overtime victory over Alexandria, Bodie Howell threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Matt Slater on an untimed down at the end of regulation following a penalty and then connected with Miles Brown for the two-point conversion. In overtime, Howell scored a two-yard touchdown and then followed with the two-point conversion.

Triton Central’s Zeke Robertson hauled in the game-winning 20-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds left in the Tigers’ 22-19 win over Centerville.

Devin Craig of Lapel threw for his 100^th career touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 32-0 blanking of Winchester. In the contest, he was 18-of-26 for 302 yards with four scores.

Lapel and Riverton Parke are 10-0 for the first time in program history.

Mount Vernon (Fortville), South Central, and West Vigo finished 0-10 for the first time in program history.

POST-SEASON SUCCESS

Adams Central, Heritage Hills, and Providence are on a seven-game winning streak.

New Palestine has won six straight contests.

Brownsburg and Decatur Central have captured five straight wins.

Here is the last time these teams were unbeaten.

Adams Central (10-0-2023), Brownsburg (9-0-2023), Brownstown Central (10-0-2024), Cascade (10-0-2024), Crown Point (9-0-2024), Eastbrook (10-0-2021), East Noble (10-0-2019), Evansville Memorial (9-0-2024), Frontier (10-0-1987), Knox (10-0-2023), Lapel (10-0-first time), New Palestine (9-0-2024), Penn (9-0-2016), Riverton Parke (10-0-first time), Springs Valley (10-0-1992).

Here is the last time these teams finished winless (Bolded teams still active)

Bellmont (0-10-2024), Benton Central (0-10-2024), Blackford (0-10-2023), Cambridge City Lincoln (0-10-2022), Evansville Bosse (0-10-2024), Fort Wayne Wayne (0-10-2019), Frankfort (0-9-2024), Hammond Central (0-9-first time), Mount Vernon (Fortville) (0-10-first time), New Albany (0-9-first time), North Vermillion (0-10-1974), Perry Central (0-10-1981), Pike Central (0-10-2019), Portage (0-9-2023), Prairie Heights (0-10-2023), South Central (0-10-first time), Terre Haute North (0-9-2023), West Vigo (0-10-first time).

LONGEST CURRENT WINNING STREAKS

Adams Central has won 24 games in a row

New Palestine is on a 23-game winning streak.

Brownsburg is on a 14-game winning streak.

Brownstown Central, Cascade, Eastbrook, East Noble, Frontier, Knox, Lapel, Riverton Parke, and Springs Valley have won 10 games in a row

Crown Point, Evansville Memorial, and Penn have claimed nine consecutive wins.

Andrean, Gibson Southern, Lafayette Jeff, Lawrenceburg, Mishawaka, and Rochester are on an eight-game winning streak.

Decatur Central, Floyd Central, Griffith, Indianapolis Lutheran, and Paoli have claimed seven straight victories.

Concord, Eastside, Eastern (Greentown), Merrillville, Seeger, and Whiteland are on a six-game winning streak.

Bloomington North, Carmel, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Evansville North, Franklin County, North Central (Farmersburg), Pendleton Heights, Rensselaer Central, Southridge, and Sullivan have run off five consecutive wins.

Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Heritage Hills, Hobart, LaVille, Providence, South Adams, Terre Haute South, and Triton Central have come up with four wins in a row.

Danville, Evansville Reitz, Fremont, Greenfield-Central, Guerin Catholic, Indianapolis Roncalli, Lewis Cass, Northeastern, South Putnam, Tecumseh, Tri, Twin Lakes, and Westfield have won three straight contests.

Avon, Beech Grove, Bluffton, Brebeuf Jesuit, Center Grove, Charlestown, Columbia City, Columbus East, Clarksville, Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Evansville Harrison, Garrett, Greensburg, Heritage Christian, Homestead, Indian Creek, Indianapolis Ben Davis, Indianapolis Tech, Jasper, Jay County, Manchester, Milan, Mississinewa, Southmont, Tipton, Triton, Warsaw, West Central, West Noble are on a two-game winning streak.

LONGEST CURRENT LOSING STREAKS (Bolded teams still active)

Bellmont has lost 42 games in a row.

Frankfort has lost 28 straight contests.

Benton Central and Evansville Bosse have dropped 21 consecutive games.

Cambridge City Lincoln has 18 straight losses.

Blackford has lost 16 consecutive contests.

New Albany is on a 15-game losing streak.

Christel House Manual and Pike Central has suffered 13 losses in row.

Mount Vernon (Fortville) and Terre Haute North have dropped 12 consecutive contests.

Fort Wayne Wayne, Hammond Central, North Vermillion, Perry Central, Prairie Heights, South Central, and West Vigo are on a 11-game losing skid.

Portage, Wawasee and Whitko have dropped nine straight games.

Evansville Central, Noblesville, and Union County have suffered eight loses in a row.

Anderson and Indianapolis Tindley have dropped seven consecutive contests.

Batesville, Fairfield, Highland, John Glenn, Perry Meridian, and Whiting are on a six-game losing streak.

Crawford County, Eastern (Pekin), Hammond Bishop Noll, Jennings County, McCutcheon, North Knox, North White, and Southern Wells have lost five straight games.

Attica, Delta, Edgewood, Forest Park, Greenwood, Madison-Grant, North Central (Indianapolis), Princeton, South Bend Washington, Tri-County, and Vincennes Lincoln have a four-game losing skid.

Boonville, Clinton Prairie, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Blackhawk, Fort Wayne Concordia, Franklin Central, Goshen, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, New Castle, New Haven, Northwestern, Owen Valley, Parke Heritage, Silver Creek, South Newton, South Spencer, Union City, Warren Central, Woodlan, and Zionsville have dropped three consecutive games.

Chesterton, Covenant Christian, Covington, Edinburgh, Fort Wayne North, Hamilton Heights, Heritage, Indianapolis Scecina, Irvington Prep Academy, Lafayette Central Catholic, Lake Station, Lawrence Central, Leo, Maconaquah, North Montgomery, Oak Hill, Purdue Poly Englewood, Richmond, Rushville, Salem, Seymour, Southport, and Winamac are on a two-game losing skid.

WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACHES

Russ Radtke (Knox) 423, John Hart (Brownsburg) 358, Jeff Adamson (Eastbrook) 329, Reed May (Brownstown Central) 322, Eric Moore (Center Grove) 311, Bart Curtis (Warsaw) 265, Craig Buzea (Crown Point) 265, Kevin O’Shea (Twin Lakes) 257, Tim Able (Triton Central) 244, Dave Pasch (Indianapolis Lutheran) 237, Darrin Fisher (Whiteland) 210, Herb King (Fountain Central) 209, Kirk Kennedy (Kankakee Valley) 208, Chris Meeks (Rensselaer Central) 203, John Hochstetler (Monroe Central) 189, Phil Mason (Griffith) 179, Steve Stirn (North Decatur) 178, Chad Zolman (Homestead) 173, Bud Ozmun (Oak Hill) 170, Kevin Wright (Carmel) 167, Michael Mosser (Adams Central) 165. Kurt Tippmann (Fort Wayne Snider) 161, Andy Dorrel (Culver Academy) 161, Steve Cooley (New Albany) 158, John Hurley (Evansville Memorial) 157, Andy Thomas (Angola) 156, Tom Dilley (Guerin Catholic) 156, Kyle Ralph (New Palestine) 150, Doug Hurt (Castle) 149, Aaron Tolle (Tipton) 149, Bill Peebles (Indianapolis Cathedral) 146, Jayson West (Franklin Central) 144, Brian Crabtree (North Vermillion) 143, Nick Hart (Gibson Southern) 142, Ryan Knigga (Lawrenceburg) 138, Nate Andrews (NorthWood) 136, Monte Mawhorter (West Noble) 135, Brian Oliver (Linton-Stockton) 133, Jason Hawkins (Clarksville) 131, Scott Buening (Southridge) 128, Shane Fry (West Lafayette) 127, Doug Dinan (Carroll Fort Wayne) 125, Ryan Langferman (Milan) 123, Josh Edwards (Eastern Greentown) 121, Mike Wilhelm (Yorktown) 119, Todd Wilkerson (Heritage Hills) 119, Chris Coll (Franklin) 117, Greg Barrett (Terre Haute South) 117, Justin Pelley (Western Boone) 114, Curt Funk (Fishers) 113, Mark Raetz (Northview) 113, Brandon Baker (Northfield) 112, Justin Bogunia (Bremen) 111, Ron Qualls (Indianapolis Shortridge) 106, Brad Seiss (Merrillville) 103, Travis Nolting (Greenfield-Central) 102, Kyle Lindsay (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers) 100, Mark Peterson (Chesterton) 98, Pete Gast (Alexandria) 98, Jed Richman (Pendleton Heights) 98, Adam Berry (Pioneer) 97, Waylon Schenk (North Posey) 95, Rob Doyle (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) 95, Desson Hannon (Southmont) 95, Tim Miller (Lapel) 94, Kyle Enright (Decatur Central) 88, Paul Sade (Churubusco) 88, Scott Snodgrass (Hagerstown) 88, Grant Moser (South Adams) 87, Chris Skinner (Andrean) 86, Pat Shanley (Lafayette Jeff) 84, Mike Jones (Winchester) 84.

__________________________________________________________

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

COLTS RELEASE UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART FOR WEEK 9 GAME VS. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

OFFENSE

WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Ashton Dulin
LT: Bernhard Raimann, Luke Tenuta
LG: Quenton Nelson
C: Tanor Bortolini, Danny Pinter
RG: Matt Goncalves, Dalton Tucker
RT: Braden Smith, Jalen Travis
TE: Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory
WR: Josh Downs, Anthony Gould
WR: Alec Pierce, Adonai Mitchell
QB: Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard
RB: Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Goodson OR DJ Giddens, Ameer Abdullah
Taylor had 12 carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns, as well as two receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown, in the Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Pittman led the Colts with eight receptions for 95 yards on Sunday. He also scored his sixth touchdown of the season in the win.
Jones was 21-of-29 for 272 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday; he averaged 9.4 yards per attempt and finished the game with a passer rating of 136.

DEFENSE

DE: Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, JT Tuimoloau
DT: DeForest Buckner, Neville Gallimore, Adetomiwa Adebawore
NT: Grover Stewart, Eric Johnson II
DE: Laiatu Latu, Samson Ebukam
WLB: Germaine Pratt, Segun Olubi, Buddy Johnson
MLB: Zaire Franklin, Chad Muma, Austin Ajiake
CB: Johnathan Edwards
FS: Camryn Bynum, Rodney Thomas II
SS: Nick Cross, Reuben Lowrey III, Trey Washington
N: Kenny Moore II
CB: Mekhi Blackmon, Chris Lammons
Lammons snagged his first interception of the season (and second of his career) on Sunday.
Moore recorded five tackles and half of a sack against the Titans.
Pratt led the team with eight tackles.

SPECIALISTS

P: Rigoberto Sanchez
PK: Michael Badgley
H: Rigoberto Sanchez
LS: Luke Rhodes
KR: Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin
PR: Anthony Gould, Josh Downs
Badgley made a 43-yard field goal and all five PATs against the Titans.

______________________________________________________

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

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT MAVERICKS

The Pacers (0-3) wrap up a three-game road trip on Wednesday in Dallas against the Mavericks (1-3).

The injuries continue to pile up for the Pacers, who began the year with four players out, lost two in the season opener on Thursday, two more in Saturday’s game in Memphis, and then saw forward Obi Toppin leave Sunday’s game in Minnesota with a sore right leg.

The embattled Blue & Gold are searching for their first win of the season, but still have capable players on the roster. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam has been excellent to start the year, averaging 26 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.3 steals over the first three games. Siakam had 33 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals against Minnesota.

“His effort tonight was amazing,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said about Siakam after the game. “It was very tough to get him out of the game, but he got very tired because he was putting so much into it, and we played last night. So look, the guy is a great player and he’s a great leader. And we need his leadership and his skill now more than ever.”

The Mavericks are opening the season with a six-game homestand, but have only managed one win in their first four games, a 139-129 victory over Toronto on Sunday.

Cooper Flagg — the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — scored 22 points in that win on 8-of-14 shooting. But Flagg struggled on Monday on the second half of the first back-to-back of his career, managing just two points on 1-of-9 shooting in a loss to Oklahoma City. Flagg also injured his left shoulder against the Thunder and his status for Wednesday is uncertain.

While Flagg is the future in Dallas, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis is the Mavs’ current best player. Davis has gotten off to a strong start to the season, averaging 25 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Slowing down Davis will be a tough assignment for the Pacers’ big men.

Projected Starters

Pacers: G – Ben Sheppard, G – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, F – Isaiah Jackson, C – Jay Huff

Mavericks: G – Cooper Flagg, G – Max Christie, F – Klay Thompson, F – P.J. Washington, C – Anthony Davis

Injury Report

Pacers: Taelon Peter – doubtful (right groin strain), Johnny Furphy – out (left foot bone bruise), Tyrese Haliburton – out (right Achilles tendon tear), Kam Jones – out (lower back stress reaction), Bennedict Mathurin – out (right great toe sprain), T.J. McConnell – out (left hamstring strain), Andrew Nembhard – out (left shoulder strain), Obi Toppin – out (right foot stress reaction)

Mavericks: Anthony Davis – probable (bilateral Achilles tendinopathy), Brandon Williams – questionable (personal reasons), Daniel Gafford – doubtful (right ankle sprain), Dereck Lively II – doutbful (right knee sprain), Dante Exum – out (right knee injury management), Kyrie Irving – out (left knee surgery)

Last Meeting

March 19, 2025: Andrew Nembhard hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 16.1 seconds remaining to lift the Pacers to a 135-131 win over Dallas at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Indiana trailed 112-101 with six minutes to go, but rallied to come away with the win.

Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Bennedict Mathurin added 23 points and seven rebounds, while Nembhard tallied 22 points and eight assists.

P.J. Washington had 26 points for Dallas, Naji Marshall added 20, and Spencer Dinwiddie finished with 17 points and 12 assists.

Noteworthy

The Pacers signed guard Mac McClung on Tuesday and waived center James Wiseman. McClung, a three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, has played for four NBA teams over the past four years while playing primarily in the G League. Wiseman appeared in one game this season, tallying four points, four rebounds, and one block on Saturday in Memphis.

Carlisle coached the Mavericks from 2008-21, winning 555 games and an NBA championship in 2011.

The Mavericks will visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Feb. 22.

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

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

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

Tickets

The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks for an NBA Cup game on Friday, Oct. 31 at 7:00 PM ET

___________________________________________________________

++++++++++INDY FUEL++++++++++

FUEL FACE CINCINNATI IN FIRST ROAD GAME OF SEASON

FISHERS– The Fuel will head to Cincinnati to take on the Cyclones in a rare Thursday night game. They will look to even the score against the Cyclones after losing to them 5-4 in overtime last week.

LAST TIME OUT

The last time these two teams played was last Saturday when the Cyclones came to Indy and took home a 5-4 overtime win. Kevin Lombardi had two goals, including the late-game go-ahead goal for the Fuel, however the Cyclones came back even later to tie it up again. Sahil Panwar also had one goal on six shots to help the Fuel in that game.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

After three straight home games to start the season and a preseason game at home, the Fuel will hit the road for the first time. While it is one of the shorter bus rides of the season for Indy, the Cyclones home venue is an intimidating one. The Fuel will look to pull motivation from their traveling fans and the urge to win their first game of the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL PLAYERS

Through three games, the Fuel have allowed five power play goals and two shorthanded goals and a total of thirteen goals. Special teams have clearly played a big role in their games thus far. Capitalizing on the power play and staying out of the box will be important for Indy as they look to minimize the amount of goals allowed.

_____________________________________________________

++++++++++INDY ELEVEN+++++++++

QUINN WINS USLC GOLDEN PLAYMAKER AWARD

The USL Championship announced its Golden Awards for the 2025 regular season, honoring captain Aodhan Quinn as the Golden Playmaker winner after he led the league in assists. Quinn is the first Indy Eleven player in franchise history (NASL and USLC) to win a statistical category.

Quinn earned the Golden Playmaker award for the first time as the latest achievement in his remarkable USL Championship career by recording a franchise-record 11 assists. The league’s all-time leader in regular season minutes (24,198) recorded his 11th assist of the campaign in the regular-season finale on Saturday. The San Diego native is the first player in league history to record double-digit assists in a season for a third time, having previously accomplished the feat in 2018 with Orange County SC and 2021 with Phoenix Rising FC.

The 33-year-old’s 61 regular season assists ranks second in USLC history, while Quinn stands as the only player in league history to have recorded at least 50 goals and 60 assists in regular season play.

In 2025, Quinn led the Boys in Blue in assists (11), chances created (40), and crosses (143), and he tied for team honors in goals+assists (14). He finished eighth in the USLC in crosses and tied for 15th in chances created.

_____________________________________________________

++++++++++INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

NEW COACH DARIAN DEVRIES AND AN OVERHAULED ROSTER RENEW OPTIMISM IN INDIANA BASKETBALL

After missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, the Hoosiers fired coach Mike Woodson and hired Darian DeVries from West Virginia. Only two players remain from the Woodson era and each has played only one game with the Hoosiers. DeVries has a history of making quick turnarounds. His team won 20 games in his first season at Drake despite having the second-fewest returning letterwinners in Division I. And last season, he nearly led West Virginia to the NCAA Tournament last season after taking over a 9-23 team. Indiana fans hope that first-year trend continues in Bloomington.

Players to watch

Tucker DeVries (redshirt senior, F, 14.9 points) is the coach’s son. The two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year returns from a shoulder injury that limited him to just eight games last season at West Virginia. Lamar Wilkerson (redshirt senior, G, 20.5 points) was one of 19 Division I players to top 20 points per game and Reed Bailey (senior, F, 18.8 points, 6.1 rebounds).

Departures and arrivals

This long list may be almost unprecedented in school history. Ten players transfers into the program including Tucker DeVries, Wilkerson (Sam Houston State) and Bailey (Davidson). The Hoosiers also added double-digit scoring guards Tayton Conerway (Troy) and Jason Drake (Drexel). DeVries will be reunited with his former Drake teammate, guard Conor Enright (DePaul). Guard Jasai Miles and Josh Harris forward each scored in double digits at North Florida last season, and forward Sam Alexis left Florida after winning the national championship.

Top games

Indiana opens the season Nov. 5 against Alabama A&M. Four days later, the Hoosiers face Marquette in Chicago. The non-conference schedule also includes matchups with Kansas State in November as well as No. 11 Louisville in Indianapolis and at No. 9 Kentucky. They’ll play No. 22 Michigan State twice, visit No. 12 UCLA in late January and have a three-game stretch in February against No. 24 Wisconsin, Oregon and No. 17 Ilinois before facing No. 1 Purdue.

Facts and figures

Tucker DeVries also was the MVC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 2024, too. … Conerway was last season’s Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. … Bailey, Miles, Reed and Wilkerson also earned all-conference honors last season and Harris made his league’s all-freshman team. … G Nick Dorn (Elon) was one of six Division I players to average at least 15.0 points per game while making at least 70 3s and 90 free throws in fewer than 1,000 minutes. … Freshman F Trent Sisley is one of three Indiana natives on the roster. He grew up in Santa Claus, Indiana. … The Hoosiers have two overseas players — G Aleksa Ristic (Serbia) and C Andrej Acimovic (Serbia). Both are freshmen.

________________________________________________________

++++++++++PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

3 RETURNING STARTERS BEGIN ANOTHER QUEST TO BRING NO. 1 PURDUE THAT ELUSIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 1 Purdue (24-12, 13-7 Big Ten)

Purdue had big expectations coming into this season long before being tabbed No. 1. They have their top three scorers back, plenty of depth, a new backcourt scoring threat and three players listed at 6-foot-11 or taller. Plus, Matt Painter is one of the steadiest coaches in America. The Boilermakers will be motivated after failing to win a Big Ten title and then falling to Houston 62-60 in a Sweet 16 game. Purdue has hopes of winning its first national championship a short drive from campus in Indianapolis.

Players to watch

Preseason All-American Braden Smith (senior, G, 15.8 points, 8.7 assists) could be the nation’s top point guard and will be paired for a fourth straight season with Fletcher Loyer (senior, G, 13.8 points). Trey Kaufman-Renn (senior, F, 20.1 points, 6.5 rebounds) led the Boilermakers in scoring last season. The return of 7-foot-4 Daniel Jacobsen (sophomore, C) from a broken leg could give Purdue its more traditional look.

Departures and arrivals

The Boilermakers remain the exception in an era where players come and go en masse. Two backups — G Myles Colvin and C Will Berg — left the program for Wake Forest and Wichita State, respectively. But Purdue also plucked the nation’s top-rated transfer 6-11 center Oscar Cluff (senior, C, 17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds) from South Dakota State and Liam Murphy (senior, F, 13.0 points) from North Florida. Purdue’s top freshman could be guard Omer Mayer, who averaged 20.0 points on Israel’s U19 FIBA World Cup team last summer.

Top games

The Boilermakers have another tough schedule after hosting Evansville in the Nov. 3 opener. They visit No. 15 Alabama, host No. 16 Iowa State and Marquette, and play No. 20 Auburn in Indianapolis in December. Purdue faces No. 24 Wisconsin and rival Indiana twice in Big Ten play. But the Boilermakers catch a break by hosting No. 17 Illinois, No. 7 Michigan and No. 22 Michigan State.

Facts and figures

Smith was a unanimous All-American and was the preseason selection at Big Ten Player of the Year. Kaufman-Renn also received votes for the All-American team. … Smith holds the school’s career record with 758 assists and needs 133 to break the conference record for career assists. … Smith and Loyer have started all 110 games of their college careers. Kaufman-Renn has started 75 straight games. … Cluff and Kaufman-Renn were the only Division I players to average at least 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 59.0% from the field last season. … Murphy was 19th in the nation with 103 3s last season. That total would have led the Boilermakers. … Jacobsen played just two games last season.

______________________________________________________________

++++++++++NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL+++++++++++

MOORE NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD

Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, which honors college football’s top defensive back.

Moore has made a statement thus far in the 2025 season, earning seven midseason first-team All-America honors, including by The Associated Press, The Sporting News, CBS Sports, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and Athlon Sports. He has also been named a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, honoring the nation’s top defensive player based on play and character.

In just five games played this season, Moore has posted three interceptions. His clip of 0.60 interceptions per game ranks second among all Power 4 players, and fourth among all FBS players. He is tied for the lead among all Power 4 players in Pro Football Focus coverage grade (89.7).

Moore, in addition to his three interceptions this season, has posted five passes defended, 15 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in just five games played. With Moore’s help, Notre Dame ranks third in the nation in total interceptions (13) and sixth in the country in turnover margin (1.14).

Two of Moore’s interceptions came in the same game vs. Boise State, a career-best performance. For his performance that week, he was named the Walter Camp FBS Defensive Player of the Week and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week. He became the first Notre Dame player to have multiple interceptions in the same game since 2023 (Xavier Watts).

The 2024 FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, Moore entered the 2025 season with several accolades, as he was named to the Preseason All-America First Team lists by Walter Camp, The Sporting News, the Associated Press, The Athletic, ESPN, CBS Sports, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He has also been named to patch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.

____________________________________________________

++++++++++NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL++++++++++

IRISH WELCOME #8 LOUISVILLE TO TOWN FOR ACC NETWORK CLASH

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Volleyball team, coming off a dominant sweep over Duke last Sunday, welcomes eighth-ranked Louisville for an unique Wednesday night matchup inside Purcell Pavilion at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on ACC Network.

Tomorrow night’s game will be the first of a home-and-home week for Notre Dame and Louisville. The Irish will trek south on Saturday for a clash with the Cardinals inside the KFC Yum! Center at 3 p.m.

Notre Dame sits at 5-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play this season, which is tied for seventh in the conference. Four of those five wins have been in straight sets for the Irish.

In Sunday’s win at Duke, Morgan Gaerte had 14 kills while Sydney Helmers tacked on 12 of her own. Notre Dame hit an impressive .317 in the win.

Louisville is the fourth top-10 opponent the Irish have faced this season (#4 Stanford, #6 Pitt, #8 SMU) and the fifth ranked opponent (#21 North Carolina). Notre Dame took both #6 Pitt and #21 North Carolina to five sets, winning the first two sets against both nationally ranked programs.

HISTORY VS. LOUISVILLE

This is the 50th and 51st meetings all-time between Notre Dame and Louisville. The Irish trail the series 23-26.
Notre Dame’s last win was on September 25, 2020 when the Irish won in three sets, 27-25, 25-22, 26-24.
The last win in South Bend against Louisville was on November 16, 2018. The Irish won in five sets, 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-11.

THE GAERTE PARTY

The All-ACC Preseason Selection broke the school record for kills in a match against Illinois with 34. Kathy Cunningham’s record of 33 kills had stood for over 37 years. Those 34 kills are tied for the most in a single match so far this season in the country with Racquel Frazier of Hampton.
She is the just the third player in Irish history to have three consecutive games of 20 or more kills. She has four total games of 20 or more kills this season after her 22 kills at #21 North Carolina
Gaerte is fourth in the conference and 28th nationally with 4.35 kills per set. In points per set, she is fourth in the ACC and 24th in the country with 4.95
The sophomore has had double-digit kills in every single game so far this season (18-consecutive)

FRESH FACES

The Irish have five freshmen to the team, bringing the Irish to a roster size of 20.
The freshman class consists of Maya Baker (S), Maya Evens (DS/L), Mae Kordas (OH/O), Chichi Nnaji (OH), Sophia Thornburg (OH).
Baker, who was a two-time Max Preps All-American, leads the team with 339 assists, is fourth on the team with 92 digs and has 13 aces. She had a career-high 31 assists (10.33 assists per set) in the sweep over Duke.
The Irish pair a duo of former high school teammates in the incoming freshman class. Maya Evens and Mae Kordas both played together at Cathedral Catholic High School in Carlsbad, California. The duo was part of two Open State Championships (2022, 2024).
Evens has played in 63 sets as libero and leads the team with 226 digs on this season. She also has 62 assists.
Kordas had the best game of her early career at California. In her home state, she had nine kills, five digs and five blocks in the three set sweep over the Golden Bears. She also had back-to-back games with 10 kills against Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Chichi Nnaji and Sophia Thornburg were high school teammates in Dallas, Texas at the Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Thornburg was named to the Prep Volleyball Top 100 National List for the Class of 2025 while both spent time working with the USAV National Team Development Program.
Nnaji has made an impact from game one. She is third on the team with 76 kills and has 34 total blocks for 93.5 points.
The Irish added one player from the portal, outside hitter Sydney Helmers from Texas. She was a member of the 2023 National Champion team as a freshman for the Longhorns. The junior has 168 kills, 110 digs and is tied for second on the team with 19 service aces this season.
Against Virginia and Virginia Tech, Helmers had 36 kills, 17 against Virginia and a career-high 19 versus Virginia Tech.

KEY RETURNERS

The Irish return 14 to the roster; 5 outside hitters, 3 defensive specialist/liberos, 3 middle blockers, 2 setters and 1 opposite.
Notre Dame returns all three middle blockers; Mallory Bohl, Anna Bjork and Grace Langer for their sophomore seasons.
Langer and Bjork have been a dominant presence in the middle for Notre Dame. Langer leads the team with 79 blocks with Bjork behind her at 74. Offensively, Langer has 73 kills to Bjork’s 60.
In a homecoming match at Colorado State, Langer tallied nine kills on a career-best .600 hitting percentage to go along with 4.0 blocks.

________________________________________________

++++++++++BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++

BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DEFEAT TAYLOR 95-63 IN EXHIBITION

INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women’s basketball team defeated the Taylor Trojans 95-63 on Tuesday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field and saw nine student-athletes score in the contest.

Six players reached double figures against the Trojans to pace the BU offense. Addison Baxter nearly posted a triple double recording 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

BU went inside to score 56 points in the paint and their defense turned 20 Taylor turnovers into 20 points.

UP NEXT

Butler will open the 2025-26 regular season on Monday November 3 as the Bulldogs welcome Wright State to Hinkle Fieldhouse marking the start of the regular season. Tip is scheduled for 11 a.m. as Butler will host its annual Kids Day game. A link to live stats and a live stream can be found on Butlersports.com.

___________________________________________________

++++++++++++IU INDY VOLLEYBALL+++++++++++

JAGUARS DOMINATE MASTODONS IN TUESDAY SWEEP

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IU Indianapolis volleyball team continued its strong Horizon League play with a commanding sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne (25-13, 27-25, 25-12) on Tuesday night at the Gates Sports Center. The Jaguars hit an impressive .521 as a team—marking one of their most efficient offensive performances of the season—while holding the Mastodons to just .219.

IU Indy (14–10, 8–4 Horizon) jumped out to a fast start in the opening set, using early aces from Ninah Miranda and strong swings from Morgan Ostrowski and Elle Patterson to build a double-digit lead. The Jaguars’ offense was unstoppable, hitting .500 in the frame with 15 kills and no errors to take the set 25–13.

The second set proved to be the most competitive, featuring nine ties and multiple lead changes. Purdue Fort Wayne held set point at 24–22, but back-to-back aces from Grace Purichia erased the deficit, and a final service ace by Patterson capped a 27–25 comeback to give the Jaguars a 2–0 match lead.

IU Indy closed the door in dominant fashion, racing to an early advantage in the third and never looking back. Ostrowski and Jillian Tippmann each delivered timely kills, and middle blocker Amanda Stephens sealed the sweep with three straight points to end it 25–12.

Ostrowski led the Jaguars with 14 kills on .778 hitting, while Tippmann added 12 kills at a .524 clip. Patterson chipped in 10 kills and two aces, and Miranda contributed nine kills, two aces, and eight digs. Purichia orchestrated the attack with 46 assists, 12 digs, and two aces. Stephens anchored the defense at the net with three blocks.

The Jaguars finished with 54 kills, seven aces, and five blocks while never committing more than four attack errors in any set.

The Jags will next travel to Cleveland State for back-to-back matches this weekend.

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+++++++++++BALL STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

SOCCER PLAYING AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON WEDNESDAY IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

The Ball State soccer team is set to wrap up its regular season with a road match at Northern Illinois at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) on Wednesday.

Links to the video stream and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page.

Ball State (9-6-2, 6-4-1 Mid-American Conference) fell 2-1 to Miami on Sunday in the home finale, but the Cardinals had already clinched a spot in the upcoming MAC Tournament, which begins on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

Northern Illinois (4-9-3, 2-6-2 MAC) lost 3-2 at Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon for its fourth loss in a row.

The Huskies are in their fourth season under the direction of head coach Michael O’Neill and were picked to finish eighth in the 13-team MAC preseason poll.

Northern ranks 12th in the league in scoring offense (0.50 goals per game) and 11th in goals-against average (1.63).

Junior forward Tyra King and sophomore forward Alyssa Stephens are tied for the team lead in goals (two) and points (five), while sophomore Lauren Pearson has made 41 saves as the team’s primary goalkeeper this season.

MAC TOURNAMENT SEEDING: Ball State will be either the No. 4 seed or No. 5 seed to begin the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Columbus, Ohio based on league standings.

The Cardinals will face either Kent State or Miami (OH) at 4 p.m., on Saturday at Historic Crew Stadium in the first round.

DOUBLE 20: Senior Delaney Caldwell’s goal in the first half of Sunday’s game against Miami was her fourth of the season and career goal No. 20.

The forward joined Addie Chester having 20 goals each at Ball State for their respective careers.

CHESTER REWARDED WITH ANOTHER RECOGNITION: Senior Addie Chester scored one goal each in the Oct. 16 match vs Toledo and Oct. 19 at Bowling Green to be voted the MAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this year.

The Muncie, Ind., native also was recognized with the honor on Aug. 26 and Sept. 9. She joined Avery Fenchel as the second player in program history to score double digit goals in multiple seasons. Fenchel had 11 in both 2022 and 2023, while Chester had 10 in 2024 and currently stands at 10 this season.

Chester paces the Mid-American Conference in goals (10), points (24) and game-winning goals (four) so far this year. She also leads the league in goals per game (0.59) and points per game (1.41).

Chester has upped her career totals to 22 goals (20 at Ball State) and 20 assists (12) and ranks fifth and eighth in those categories, respectively, in program history.

ROAD RUNNERS: Ball State improved its record in road contests to 7-2 thanks to the 1-0 decision at Bowling Green.

The Cardinals are the only team in the MAC with more than six wins in away games this year.

CALDWELL CAREER MILESTONE LOOKOUT: Delaney Caldwell recorded goals in the season opener vs Purdue on Aug. 17, on Sept. 18 vs Central Michigan and Sept. 25 at Buffalo, but is within striking

distance of setting a program record in another category.

Caldwell is three assists away from tying Ehren Reagor’s program record of 18 in a career, while she is two goals away from cracking the Top 5 in that career category as well.

________________________________________________________________

++++++++++++BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL+++++++++++

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WELCOMES IU EAST WEDNESDAY IN EXHIBITION ACTION

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State women’s basketball team will make its second appearance of the 2025-26 season Wednesday night at 6:30 pm ET in Worthen Arena when the Cardinals host IU East in exhibition play.

Head coach Brady Sallee, who begins his 14th year, returns junior Tessa Towers, along with sophomores Zuri Ransom and Grace Kingery from the 2024-25 historic season that saw Ball State women’s basketball earn the regular season and tournament title along with the programs’ second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. All three logged minutes to help last year’s championship team achieve their goals. Junior Ashlynn Brooke will re-enter the lineup as well after recovering from an injury that occurred in 2024.

Our fans will see a lot of new faces as well this season with the additions of transfers Karsyn Norman (Butler) and Bree Salenbien (Gonzaga). The Cardinals also bring in true freshmen Zhen Verburgt, Violeta Rojas, Alba Caballero, Giorgia Gorini, Brooke Winchester, Aniss Tagayi and Laura Martinez.

On Oct. 18, the Cardinals won their first open scrimmage against Purdue Fort Wayne which gave the Cardinals the opportunity to display their new talent in Worthen Arena.

After Wednesday, Ball State will officially open its season on the road at Arkansas State on Nov. 3 at 8 pm ET for the first of two games in the MAC-SBC Challenge. This is the third year for the event between the two leagues with Ball State owning a 3-1 record.

The Cardinals’ highly anticipated home opener will be a contest against Northern Kentucky on Nov. 12 at 6:30 pm ET and you can buy single-game and or season tickets now by visiting the link BUY TICKETS or by calling 888.BSU.TICKET.

_____________________________________________________________

++++++++++BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL+++++++++

VANOORT’S 2,000TH KILL HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SWEEP OF MIAMI

MUNCIE, Ind. – – Tuesday was a milestone night for graduate outside Noelle VanOort who blasted her 2,000th collegiate kill to help guide the Ball State women’s volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-15) sweep of Miami inside Worthen Arena.

Entering the match with 1,997 collegiate kills, with 1,724 coming at Indiana Tech (2021-24) and 273 before first serve tonight with the Cardinals (15-9; 11-1 Mid-American Conference), VanOort reached the magic mark at 12-6 in the second set when she forced the RedHawks (11-13; 5-7 MAC) to call its second timeout. She would finish the night with seven total markers, raising her total to 2,004.

“Noelle certainly works hard, and in the short amount of time she’s been with us, she’s made a huge impact on our program,” head coach Kelli Miller Phillips said. “As a person, as a player, and in all the different ways she can make an impact in the game. Not just attacking, but on defense, serving and leadership. I am so happy for her and proud of her. It’s a big milestone, and hopefully, there will be many more kills to come after tonight.”

Along with VanOort’s effort, sophomore outside Carson Tyler led the Ball State attack with a match-high 13 kills and chipped in 12 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. She also tied for match-high honors with three service aces, including the match-ending point.

Junior middle Gwen Crull also turned in a solid performance, smashing 10 kills and hitting a match-best .692 (10-1-13). It was her eighth match with double-digit kills this season and went along with a pair of blocks.

Speaking of blocking, junior middle Camryn Wise turned in another solid effort at the net with a match-high seven total blocks. It was her fourth #MACtion match this season with seven total blocks, which is a season high. She also smashed six kills and served up an ace, while hitting .364 (6-2-11).

Rounding out the Ball State attack were redshirt freshman opposite Riley Whitlock and sophomore opposite Tiffany Snook with five kills apiece. Freshman setter Reese Axness and junior setter Lindsey Green combined to set the BSU attack to a .295 (46-18-95) rate of success, dishing out 21 and 17 assists, respectively.

Sophomore libero Sophie Ledbetter led all players with 16 digs.

Overall, the Ball State defense limited Miami to a season-low 23 kills, with its .057 (23-18-87) attack percentage tying as its lowest mark of the year. Lauren Coyne managed a team-high seven kills, while Anna McClure registered a team-high eight digs.

The Cardinals also held a 42 to 26 lead in total digs and a seven to five advantage in service aces.

Up next for the Ball State women’s volleyball team is a two-match series at Kent State. The teams will play at 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday.

_______________________________________________________

++++++++++INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL+++++++++

SYCAMORES CONTINUE ROAD SWING AT NO. 4/5 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State remains on the road this weekend as the Sycamores head to Brookings, S.D. and No. 4/5 South Dakota state to continue Missouri Valley Football play. Kickoff inside Dana J. Dykehouse Stadium is set for 3 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

Notes

About the Matchup

South Dakota State leads the all-time series with the 10-2 advantage over the Sycamores dating back to the teams’ inaugural matchup in the 2008 season. The Jackrabbits have won eight consecutive games in the series dating back to the 2012 season, following the programs’ last contest in 2022.

Indiana State is 1-5 all-time in Brookings, S.D. following the last trip in the 2022 season. The Sycamores fell to the Jackrabbits at Dana J. Dykehouse Stadium, 49-7, as SDSU scored in each of their first seven offensive drives in securing the Valley win. Harry Van Dyne recorded an acrobatic 25-yard touchdown reception, while Geoffrey Brown went 29 yards on a fake punt to highlight the Indiana State offensive efforts on the day.

The Sycamores feature just two players who recorded statistics against South Dakota State while wearing an Indiana State uniform with Lance Rees (one catch, four yards) and Harry Traum (two punts, 34.5 avg) in the 2022 matchup.

Last Time Against South Dakota State

South Dakota State scored on their first seven offensive drives in claiming the Missouri Valley Football win over the Sycamores back on October 29, 2022. Indiana State was unable to limit the Jackrabbits balanced offensive attack on the day as SDSU posted 409 total offensive yards (247 passing, 162 rushing) in the game.

Cade Chambers went 11-of-24 through the air for 114 yards and a touchdown to lead the Sycamore offense before a targeting call took the Sycamore quarterback out of the game in the third quarter. Gavin Screws closed out the game going 2-of-8 for 40 yards as the Sycamores targeted eight different receivers in the loss. Dante Hendrix led ISU’s receiving efforts in the game with a team-high four receptions for 41 yards. Harry Van Dyne made it back-to-back games with a receiving score on his way to finishing with three catches for 39 yards in the loss. Justin Dinka was ISU’s leader in the backfield with 16 carries for 52 yards

Rylan Cole led the Sycamores’ defensive efforts with a team-high seven tackles (five solo), while Michael Lufile added six stops (four solo) on the afternoon. Casey Miller and Tony Roberts both added tackles for loss.

Sycamores Against Ranked Opponents

Indiana State football is no stranger to facing ranked opponents as members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Sycamores are currently slated to face eight teams currently ranked or receiving votes in both major FCS national polls, including the current No. 1 overall North Dakota State Bison, No. 4/5 South Dakota State, and No. 8/10 North Dakota, as well as Top 25 opponents Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Montana, and Youngstown State.

The Sycamores are 1-9 in their last 10 games against ranked opponents dating back to the 2022 season. Indiana State recorded their last win against a ranked opponent last season at home when the Sycamores topped then-No. 15 North Dakota on November 2, 2024, 35-31.

Scouting South Dakota State

South Dakota State heads into the weekend sitting No. 5/T-4 in the STATS FCS and AFCA Coaches polls as announced by the organization on Monday morning. The Jackrabbits sit 7-1, 3-1 in MVFC play following their 38-7 loss this past weekend to No. 1 North Dakota State in Brookings, S.D.

The Jackrabbits picked up Valley wins this fall against Youngstown State (35-30), Northern Iowa (31-3), and Murray State (35-14). SDSU has posted a 4-1 record at home with wins over Sacramento State (20-3), Drake (37-21), and Mercyhurst (51-7), as well as picking up the conference win over Northern Iowa on October 11.

South Dakota State features a balanced team approach on the field sitting in the top 30 in scoring offense (30.8, 30th) and scoring defense (17.5, 14th). The Jackrabbits are second in the FCS in turnovers gained (19) and turnover margin (+1.63). SDSU is ninth overall in FCS in time of possession (32:51).

Defense has been key to South Dakota State’s success on the season with the Jackrabbits sitting sixth in the country in red zone defense (68.4%), 13th in team sacks (2.75), and 15th in third-down conversion percentage defense (32.0%).

Quarterback Chase Mason runs the South Dakota State offense with the senior sitting among the national leaders in passing efficiency (156.5), yards per completion (12.78), yards per game (202.7), and points per game (12.9). Running back Julius Loughridge is the team’s rushing leader averaging 94.0 yards per game with six touchdowns, while wide receiver Alex Bullock has a team-high 42 catches for 527 yards and two scores.

Defensively, Cullen McShane has a team-high 62 tackles to go with 6.5 tackles-for-loss,1.0 sacks, and a forced fumble. Joe Ollman is among the national leaders with three forced fumbles to go with 47 tackles, while Dawson Ripperda and Chase Van Tol both have a team-high 4.0 sacks.

Sycamores On the Road (2025 edition)

Indiana State football closes out a nearly 4,000-mile road trip that encompassed three states as the Sycamores travel to Carbondale, Ill. this upcoming weekend. The Sycamores’ 2025 schedule is slightly unique with Indiana State traveling to six different states on the year without any repeat ventures heading to Indiana, Montana, Southern Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota State, and Youngstown State. Overall, Indiana State will make three flights in the 2025 season and will span 8,118 total miles over the course of the year.

2025 Road Trips (Miles Traveled)

Sept. 12 – Indiana State at Indiana (113 miles)

Sept. 20 – Indiana State at Montana (3,420 miles)

Oct. 4 – Indiana State at Southern Illinois (386 miles)

Oct. 25 – Indiana State at North Dakota (1,828 miles)

Nov. 2 – Indiana State at South Dakota State (1,529 miles)

Nov. 16 – Indiana State at Youngstown State (842 miles)

2025 Indiana State Single Game On Sale Now

Indiana State single game tickets went on sale in mid-July starting at $15 for adults, $5 for kids, and group rates of $5 for 15+ attendees. Single game rates are higher for the 2025 Homecoming Game against South Dakota on October 11 with prices rising to $18 for adults, $8 for kids, and a group rate of $8.

Indiana State will employ mobile ticketing as the default option for all home games during the 2024 football season, enabling contactless entry into athletics venues. Offering greater convenience and safety, fans can access their ticket online and transfer to family and friends. Fans will also have the option to get their tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.

______________________________________________________________

++++++++++INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER+++++++++

SYCAMORES CLOSE REGULAR SEASON WITH DETERMINING MATCH VS. MURRAY STATE

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamores continue their march through Missouri Valley Conference play this Thursday, October 30, when they host the Murray State Racers at Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and live stats provided via GoSycamores.com.

Indiana State (8-4-6, 4-1-3 MVC) enters the contest with momentum following a decisive 1–0 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds last weekend. The lone goal, delivered from the penalty spot by senior Brooklyn Woods midway through the second half, lifted the Sycamores into a tie for second place in the MVC standings at 15 points, now sharing that position with Murray State.

Murray State arrives in Terre Haute with 9-4-4, 4-1-3 MVC. Their balanced form underscores their legitimacy as a contender, and ISU knows that securing three points against such a foe would make a significant statement in the MVC race.

For the Sycamores, Thursday’s match represents an opportunity to build on recent success and solidify their standings as one of the top contenders at the Missouri Valley Conference. Indiana State’s strength has been its ability to combine defensive resilience with just enough attacking spark at key moments. Maintaining that standard against a strong opponent like Murray State will be crucial. With the Racers so closely matched in the standings, this contest could tip the balance in the Sycamores’ favor.

__________________________________________________________

++++++++++++PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++++

PURDUE FORT WAYNE FINISHES #HLWSOC PLAY AT IU INDY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s soccer will finish their season at IU Indy on Wednesday (Oct. 29).

Game Day Information
Who: IU Indianapolis Jaguars
When: Wednesday, October 29 | 7 PM
Where: Indianapolis, Ind. | Michael A. Carroll Stadium
Live Stats:Link
Watch:Link

Know Your Foe

IU Indy is 3-11-3 on the season, 2-5-2 in Horizon League play. The Jaguars are second in the HL in shots on goal (7.3) per game during league play. 2024 All-Horizon League Second Team selection Caroline Kelley leads the Horizon League in shots (3.44) and shots on goal per game (1.89) during league play. Sophomore Keilah Muldrow leads IU Indy on the offensive end after being a member of the Horizon League All-Freshman Team, scoring three goals and collecting a pair of assists this season. Sarah Bambrick has started 15 matches in net for the Jaguars this season.

Series History

The Mastodons and Jaguars are tied at 8-8-5 in their series history. The ‘Dons won last season’s contest 3-0 at the Hefner Soccer Complex, with Scarlett Webster scoring two goals.

Assisted By Gallagher

Following Morgan Gallagher’s two assist match in the 6-0 victory over Indiana Tech (Sept. 3), she climbed to sixth in program history for career assists with 9. The junior assisted on her third goal of the season, 10th in her career, in a 3-1 loss at Oakland.

3. 11 – Tylar Allison (2009-12)

4. 10 – Morgan Gallagher (2023-25)

10 – Shacina Hersey (2000-03)

10 – Kelsey Gallagher (2019-03)

7. 9 – Morgan Reitano (2019-23)

Count ‘Em

Jordan Imes secured her eight shutout of her career against Indiana Tech (Sept. 3). The keeper continues to scale the program record book, needing only one more shutout to be tied for third. The grad student finished last season with six shutouts, tied for second in program history for a single-season.

1. 17 – Samantha Castañeda (2020-23)

2. 10 – Sam Pavlika (2012-14)

3. 9 – Shannon Lynn (2004-06)

4. 8 – Jordan Imes (2023-25)

Imes also breached the program’s top 10 career saves list after claiming four in the Party at the Pitch contest against Ball State (Sept. 10).

8. 194 – Lorah Pund (2018-20)

9. 180 – Jordan Imes (2023-25)

10. 148 – Haley Lydon (2015-18)

Fab 50

Head Coach Jason Burr secured his 50th victory with the Mastodons after the win over Indiana Tech (Sept. 3). 24 of the victories have came within the last four seasons.

Imes On The Prize

Jordan Imes was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 18) after the first week of the season. The keeper earned her first shutout of the year against Akron (Aug. 14), the only Horizon League keeper to refuse a goal in the first week of play.

New Challenge

The Purdue Fort Wayne or Indiana Fort Wayne student who attends the most Mastodon home athletics events this year will win an iPad at the end of the 2025-26 school year! Make sure to check in and get your QR code scanned at the game to start tracking your attendance.

Last Time Out

The Mastodons secured a 2-1 senior day victory over Detroit Mercy (Oct. 25). Cyan Retzloff scored in the 15th minute and assisted on Bella Masse’s 61st minute goal.

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+++++++++++PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL+++++++++

MYA PLEMONS SHINES IN LOSS TO IU INDY

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Mya Plemons hit .750, but Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball fell to IU Indianapolis 3-0 (25-13, 27-25, 25-12) on Tuesday night (Oct. 28).

The sophomore from Huntington, Indiana finished with a team-high nine kills on 12 swings for her .750 hitting percentage. She is hitting .365 this season, the best by a Mastodon since 1997.

Unfortunately for the Mastodons, the most efficient hitter in the Horizon League was on the other side of the net, as IU Indy’s Morgan Ostrowski had 14 kills on a .778 clip. Fort Wayne native Jillian Tippman chipped in 12 kills for .524.

The first and third sets were controlled by the Jaguars. The second set saw the Mastodons pull away late with kills from Plemons and Jena Medearis to go up 24-21. The Jaguars answered with three aces and three kills to come from behind to take the set.

IU Indy finished the match with a .521 hitting percentage. Purdue Fort Wayne hit .219 with a .500 second set.

Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 3-20, 1-11 Horizon League. IU Indy improved to 14-10, 8-4 HL. The Mastodons will make a trip to Milwaukee this weekend for two more Horizon League contests.

__________________________________________________________

++++++++++++EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER++++++++++

SOCCER SET FOR SEASON FINALE AT EVANSVILLE

Valparaiso (4-8-4, 1-3-3 MVC)

Thursday, Oct. 30 – at Evansville (7-6-2, 3-4-1 MVC) – 1 p.m.

Next Up in Valpo Soccer: The Valpo soccer team wraps up the 2025 campaign on Thursday afternoon as it makes the trip for an in-state matchup at Evansville.

Previously: Valpo split a pair of matches last week, as the Beacons downed Belmont 1-0 behind a Molly O’Rear goal and 10 saves from Kate Sheridan before falling on Senior Day to Murray State by the same 1-0 final.

Following the Beacons: Thursday’s match will be carried on ESPN+. All home matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+ as part of The Valley on ESPN, while select road fixtures will also have live video available.

Head Coach John Marovich: In his 18th season at the helm of the Valpo program, John Marovich holds a 140-139-53 (.502) record both overall and at Valpo as a head coach. The 2014 Horizon League Coach of the Year and the head of the 2022 MVC Coaching Staff of the Year, Marovich is Valpo’s all-time leader in victories.

Series Notes: Evansville enjoys a 10-5-6 advantage in the all-time series over Valpo, but the series has been dead even since Valpo joined the MVC – 3-3-4 in 10 matchups. Last season, the two sides played to a thrilling 3-3 draw on Brown Field, with the Purple Aces finding the last equalizer in the 89th minute.

Scouting the Opposition: The Purple Aces enter Thursday’s match at 7-6-2 on the season and are 3-4-1 in MVC play – their 10 points have them inside the tournament field entering the final match day. Evansville split its road swing through the state of Iowa last week, beating UNI, 2-0, before falling to Drake, 1-0. 11 different players have combined for the Purple Aces’ 20 goals, led by four from Taylor Wehrer, while Brielle LaBerge has tallied a team-best five assists. Three-time MVC Goalkeeper of the Week Allie Lammers owns a 0.82 GAA and an .833 save percentage.

Coming to a Close: The loss to Murray State on Sunday erased the Beacons’ chances at making the six-team MVC Tournament this season. Valpo currently has six points, while sixth-place Evansville sits out of reach on 10 points.

Wrapping Up Careers: Valpo bade farewell to a quartet of players on Senior Day Sunday at Brown Field, as Molly O’Rear, Kennedy Hill, Kate Sheridan and Hannah Gabriel were all recognized. O’Rear, Hill and Sheridan were members of Valpo’s MVC regular season championship side in 2022, while Gabriel joined the program prior to the 2023 season which saw the Beacons claim the MVC Tournament title and go to the NCAA Tournament. All four players started on Sunday – Gabriel made her first career start, while Hill started for just the second time.

One Final Time for O’Rear: A four-year starter in the Beacons’ midfield, Molly O’Rear has seen action in 72 matches and started 65 times entering her final career match on Thursday. An MVC All-Freshman Team honoree as a rookie in 2022 when she scored four goals and tallied two assists, she has enjoyed her finest statistical season this year, recording five goals and three assists – most recently scoring the match-winner last Thursday against Belmont, the third match-winning goal of her career. O’Rear is tied for sixth among MVC players this season in both goals and points.

Sheridan With the Shutout: After biding her time behind Nikki Coryell her first two seasons, Kate Sheridan has been a regular in goal for the Beacons the last two years. She has dropped her goals against average over a full goal from last season to this season, entering Thursday’s contest with a 1.58 GAA this year. She posted a clean sheet in last Thursday’s win over Belmont, making 10 saves – the second-highest total of her career. With three shutouts, Sheridan is tied for 10th on the Beacons’ career chart in the category.

Good as Goddard: Freshman Martha Goddard picked up her team-high fourth assist of the season, tied for fifth-most among MVC players, against Belmont as she set up O’Rear for the match-winner. Goddard owns the most assists by a Valpo freshman since Keegan Maris tallied four as a rookie in 2017. Three of Goddard’s helpers came in consecutive matches early in the season, making her the first Valpo player since Grace Rogers in 2017 with an assist in three straight fixtures. Goddard has seven total goal involvements this season, as she has found the back of the net three times as well.

Desiderio Delivers: Freshman Kiara Desiderio has found hte back of the net six times this year, tied for the fifth-most goals by a freshman in Valpo history. Her six goals are good for third in the Valley, are the most of any MVC freshman and are tied for ninth-most nationally by a freshman. She also ranks sixth among Valley players with 13 points.

More on Kiara: Desiderio has been honored twice by the MVC this season, being named MVC Player of the Week Sept. 16 and MVC Freshman of the Week Aug. 26. She was the first Valpo freshman to earn one of the non-freshman weekly awards from the MVC since Nikki Coryell was a two-time Defensive Player of the Week in the spring of 2021 as a rookie. She owns a pair of braces this year, striking for two goals apiece in wins over Western Illinois and Purdue Fort Wayne.

A Youthful Side: For the second straight season, the Beacons have the vast majority of minutes being played by underclassmen. 83.5% of the minutes played by field players this year have come from players in one of their first two seasons of eligibility, including 41.2% by Valpo’s freshman class.

Weekly Awards: Valpo has three MVC weekly award winners this year, as Desiderio’s pair of honors are joined by Goddard’s Freshman of the Week award Sept. 2. It is the first time Valpo has had multiple different players named MVC Freshman of the Week in the same season since Abby White, Dana Fish and Addy Joiner earned the honor once apiece during the 2021 season – that trio would go on to be instrumental in the 2022 MVC regular season championship side and the 2023 MVC Tournament championship team.

Valley Adjustments: The round-robin Missouri Valley Conference slate has been shortened by one match this season, as with the departure of Missouri State, the MVC has a nine-game conference schedule for its 10 teams. In addition, the conference tournament will feature the top-six teams in the regular season standings, an adjustment from what was previously an eight-team field.

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+++++++++++EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL++++++++++

EVANSVILLE TAKES EXHIBITION WIN OVER ROOSEVELT

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team hit the floor for the first time this season on Tuesday night for an exhibition game, taking a 68-63 win over Roosevelt. Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) had a big night offensively for the Purple Aces, pouring in a game-high 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including a 3-for-3 mark from three-point range.

The Aces and Lakers went back-and-forth through the first five minutes of play, with Evansville taking a 5-4 lead at the 5:04 mark in the first quarter. However, the Aces got hot to close the period, going on a 12-0 run to close the quarter. Avery Kelley (Evansville, Ind./Memorial) led the charge during the run, scoring six points.

The Purple Aces maintained their lead throughout the second quarter, taking a 32-25 lead into the half. Luebbers Palmer led the Aces in scoring in the period, contributing five points.

Luebbers Palmer continued to fill up the stat sheet in the beginning of the third quarter, scoring nine of Evansville’s first 13 points in the period to help the Aces stretch the lead to nine. After being held to three points in the first half, reigning MVC Freshman of the Year Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) got going in the third quarter, knocking down a three to push the lead to 12 before sinking four free throws to help the Purple Aces remain in front 54-47 through three quarters.

Luebbers Palmer led the Aces once again early in the fourth quarter, using a layup and three-pointer to move past the 20-point mark and give her team a 12-point lead. After the Lakers fought back late in the quarter, Kelley helped the Aces secure the win, making five of six free throws in the final 31 seconds as Evansville secured a 68-63 win.

The Aces open the regular season next Thursday, traveling to SEMO to take on the Redhawks. Tip-off is set for 11 AM. Evansville opens the regular season home slate on November 20, hosting IU Indy at Meeks Family Fieldhouse for a 6 PM tip.

_____________________________________________________

+++++++++++VALPO FOOTBALL+++++++++

VALPO FOOTBALL TO FACE NATIONALLY-RANKED PRESBYTERIAN ON SATURDAY

Valparaiso (1-7, 0-4 PFL)

at No. 25/22 Presbyterian (7-1, 3-1 PFL)

Game #9 Saturday, Nov. 1, Noon CT

Bailey Memorial Stadium (6,500) – Clinton, S.C.

This Week in Valpo Football: The Valparaiso University football team will face perhaps its toughest test of Pioneer Football League play on Saturday as the Beacons battle a No. 25/22 Presbyterian team that has spent the majority of the season ranked in the Top 25 in both national polls. The Blue Hose are in rebound mode after a surprising lopsided loss at Dayton last week wreaked havoc on the PFL standings as four teams have one loss or fewer in league play, led by 4-0 Drake.

Previously: Bad luck on the injury front played a significant factor in a 17-13 Homecoming loss to Morehead State last week at Brown Field. Chris Gundy became the program’s first 100-yard receiver in two years with a career-high 108 receiving yards on five catches. Dawaiian McNeely and Rowan Keefe both had rushing touchdowns, while Nic Lendino led the team defensively with eight tackles. Valpo finished the game with eight players unavailable who were projected as starters going into the season plus the second and third quarterbacks were also sidelined, among others.

Glancing Ahead: Valpo will play its penultimate home game of the year against Pioneer Football League preseason favorite San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 8 at noon.

Series Notes: Presbyterian is back on the Valpo schedule after a two-year hiatus. These two programs have met only twice since the Blue Hose joined the PFL in 2021 with Valpo winning by a basketball score of 65-55 in 2021 at Brown Field before Presbyterian prevailed 41-21 the following year in Clinton, S.C.

Following the Beacons: All 12 games this season will be streamed nationally, with 10 on ESPN+, one on Midco Sports Plus (at St. Thomas) and one on FloSports (at Butler). Saturday’s game will air on ESPN+. The homecoming radio call of the game will air on WVUR, 95.1 FM Valparaiso with Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Brandon Vickrey (analyst) on the call. For in-game updates, follow @valpoufootball on X. Links to live video and stats can be found on ValpoAthletics.com.

Scouting the Blue Hose

Have gone well above and beyond expectations as they were picked seventh in the preseason poll.

Own a pair of wins over FCS scholarship opponents, beating No. 11 Mercer and RV Furman in nonconference road games.

Started league play with victories over Morehead State (41-0), Butler (31-25) and Stetson (42-7) before a loss at Dayton (35-19) last week.

Prior to the loss at Dayton, ranked No. 19 by Stats Perform FCS and No. 16 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. That marked the PFL’s highest ranking in the coaches poll since 2009 and tied for the league’s highest ever ranking by Stats Perform FCS.

Part of an all-out war atop the PFL standings with Drake at 4-0, Dayton at 4-1, Presbyterian at 3-1 and Butler at 3-1.

Went 4-4 in the PFL last season, 2-6 two years ago and 0-8 three years ago before this season’s surge.

Currently ranked No. 25 by Stats Perform FCS and No. 22 by the AFCA Coaches Poll.

Valpo vs. Ranked Foes

This marks Valpo’s second game against a ranked opponent this season after falling 58-7 at No. 16/17 North Dakota on Sept. 20.

This will mark Valpo’s first ranked conference opponent since hosting RV/No. 23 St. Thomas on Nov. 5, 2022.

The closest Valpo has come to knocking off a ranked opponent was Nov. 5, 2022 vs. No. RV/23 St. Thomas. Recent matchups with ranked opponents are listed below.

Date Rank Opponent Result

9-20-25 16/17 at North Dakota L 58-7

9-7-24 23/25 at Youngstown State L 59-25

11-5-22 RV/23 vs. St. Thomas L 34-7

9-11-21 5/4 at North Dakota State L 64-0

9-3-16 8/10 at Illinois State L 50-13

9-3-15 17 at Eastern Kentucky L 52-10

Gundy’s Career Day

Chris Gundy accrued a career-high 108 receiving yards on five catches in Valpo’s 17-13 Homecoming loss to Morehead State on Oct. 25.

He became Valpo’s first 100-yard receiver since Solomon Davis on Sept. 23, 2023 vs. Marist (175).

Gundy added to his big day with a 41-yard kickoff return to start the first Beacon possession of the second half.

His longest grab of the afternoon was a 43 yarder.

Avoiding Penalties Like the Plague

The Beacons committed only one penalty for 10 yards on Oct. 25 vs. Morehead State. That marked Valpo’s first game with a single infraction since Nov. 12, 2022 at Marist.

Valpo has been tagged with 250 penalty yards this season, the sixth fewest nationally in FCS and fewest in the PFL. The team is third nationally (Lindenwood, William & Mary) and leads the PFL with just 31.25 penalty yards per game.

Valpo has committed more penalties than the opponent just once in eight games this season.

In five different games, the Beacons were flagged three times or fewer (vs. Adrian, at North Dakota, vs. Dayton, at St. Thomas, vs. Morehead State).

Notes Wrapping Up Oct. 25: Morehead State 17, Valpo 13

Redshirt freshman Wyatt Little made his first career interception.

Dawaiian McNeely had his fourth rushing touchdown of the season and the sixth of his career.

Rowan Keefe scored with his legs for the second time in his career, both this season.

Redshirt sophomore Nic Lendino led the team with eight tackles, while Anthony Feltrinelli and De’Andre Wilborn contributed seven apiece. This was the fourth game in which Lendino has notched eight or more stops this season.

The defense recorded seven tackles for loss, tied with the previous week at St. Thomas for the team’s most in league play this season.

Redshirt freshman Noah Long had a team-high 59 rushing yards on nine carries with a long of 31.

The Beacons had 339 yards of total offense, the team’s highest total since the Aug. 30 season opener vs. Virginia Lynchburg. They outgained Morehead State by eight yards in Saturday’s game.

Valpo had 195 passing yards to Morehead State’s 158, outpassing the opponent for the first time all season.

This marked Valpo’s second loss by four points or fewer in 2025 and was the sixth one-score game in the last eight matchups between Valpo and Morehead State.

Top Tacklers

Redshirt freshman Anthony Feltrinelli and redshirt sophomore Nic Lendino are the team’s top tacklers this season.

Feltrinelli leads the way with 57 tackles through eight games, while Lendino is close behind with 56.

Feltrinelli’s nine vs. Dayton marked his second-highest total of the season and the third time in the first six games that he had at least eight.

Lendino notched 21 of his tackles in the first two PFL games against Drake and Dayton. He has five stops or more in seven straight contests and has at least eight on four occasions this season.

Lendino reached a career milestone at St. Thomas, recording his 100th tackle. He is also the lone Beacon with multiple interceptions this season, owning two of the team’s five picks.

True freshman Micah Markley is third on the team with 41 stops despite missing a game.

Top Targets

Redshirt freshman Ryan Ricketti holds the team lead with 24 receptions and is second on the squad in receiving yards with 230.

Redshirt junior Chris Gundy has amassed a team-high 265 yards on 18 receptions.

Marietta transfer Jay Melchiori is third on the team with 18 receptions and 208 receiving yards.

Melchiori reached the 100-reception milestone for his collegiate career in the Oct. 11 game vs. Dayton. He made 85 catches during the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Marietta.

Ricketti redshirted and played in four games last season, but has enjoyed a breakout surge in 2025 after not having a collegiate catch prior to this year.

Getting Off the Field

Valpo opponents are just 31-of-98 on third down this season, good for just 31.6 percent.

The Beacons rank 14th nationally in FCS in third-down defense.

Third-down defense was also a strength of Marietta’s last season, when current Valpo head coach Andy Waddle and defensive coordinator Zach Feltrop helped the Pioneers lead the NCAA Division-III nation in that statistical category at .250.

House Calls

Chris Gundy ripped off a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on Oct. 18 at St. Thomas, the second house call by a Beacon this season.

Ryan Ricketti returned one 100 yards for a score in the game at Western Illinois.

Gundy’s kickoff return touchdown was the first of his career and his fourth overall score.

This marks the first time since 2018 that Valpo has boasted two kickoff return touchdowns in the same season, both of those by Bailey Gessinger.

This marks the first time in program history that two different kickoff return men have taken one to the house in the same season.

Valpo became the first Division-I team nationally (FBS or FCS) this season with two different players with a kickoff return of 90+ yards.

Notes Wrapping Up Week 8: St. Thomas 55, Valpo 17

Caron Tyler had his first rushing touchdown of the season and the fourth of his career.

Luke Scoma’s 39-yard field goal was his fifth make of the season.

The team’s top tackler was O.C. Nurse, who accrued eight stops. He over doubled his tackle total for the season as he had seven all year prior the game in St. Paul.

Michael Mansaray raced for 121 yards on 20 carries to lead the team. He had his highest rushing total since the season opener vs. Virginia Lynchburg (134).

Ryan Ricketti was the team’s top receiver with a career-high five catches including three on the opening drive. He finished with 64 yards through the air, also a personal best.

Redshirt sophomore Nic Lendino had five tackles in the game, helping him cross the 100-tackle milestone for his collegiate career.

The Beacons were hurt by turnovers, losing two fumbles and throwing two interceptions.

Valpo scored first in a game for the first time since Week 1 vs. Virginia Lynchburg.

Campbell Trophy Semifinalist

Redshirt senior De’Andre Wilborn earned a high honor on Sept. 24 as he was named a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award presented by the National Football Foundation.

Celebrating its 36th year, the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. He is one of 44 semifinalists from FCS programs, one of three from the Pioneer Football League and one of 177 overall.

Wilborn, who earned NFF Hampshire Honor Society recognition in 2025, is pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration at Valpo after graduating from Georgetown in December 2023 with a degree in government and minor in sociology. Wilborn was a member of the Patriot League academic honor roll from 2021-2023 before earning a place on the Pioneer Football League academic honor roll in 2024.

A Valpo football team leader, Wilborn’s off-the-field endeavors include working as part of the Valpo Athletics gameday staff, completing an internship with Jason Friedman running for Congress Illinois 7th District in summer 2025 and participating in “Dressed for School Valparaiso.” While at Georgetown, he was a member of Black Student-Athlete Coalition and a FlagStar football coach/intern from 2020-2023, teaching youth and low-income students how to play football.

The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 36th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.

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+++++++++++SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL++++++++++

EAGLES TAKE THE SWEEP AGAINST TTU

COOKEVILLE, Tenn.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball stretched its win streak to five with a sweep (3-0) at Tennessee Tech University in a midweek Ohio Valley Conference match Tuesday night.

The Screaming Eagles have taken five conference wins in a row to move to 8-3 in OVC play, and 12-11 overall, for the first winning record they’ve had this season.

Set 1: USI 25, TTU 18

The first set was decided by the service line, led by the Screaming Eagles, with four aces and one missed serve compared to Tennessee Tech’s one ace and five errors. Senior Bianca Anderson and freshman Carley Wright led the USI offense with three kills each. The Screaming Eagles, who rank second in the NCAA in digs per set, picked up 20 digs, led by sophomore Audrey Small.

Set 2: USI 25, TTU 19

The first ten points were a back-and-forth challenge, but USI regained control by the twelfth point and built a lead. Junior outsides Ashby Willis and Leah Coleman led the offense with four kills each. As a team, the Screaming Eagles put together two total blocks. Small added another four digs, for 10 total for the team in the set.

Set 3: USI 25, TTU 17

After a six-point serving run from Willis, which included an ace, USI pulled away with a comfortable lead. Willis added seven kills, hitting a .250 percent with just two kills, to help the Screaming Eagles close out the set. Small picked up nine digs to help hold Tennessee Tech to their least efficient hitting set of the game at .043 percent. Anderson and Coleman helped the defensive effort by each adding a solo and assisted block.

For the game, freshman setter Aysa Thomas continued her double-double streak with 28 assists and 10 digs, moving to 16 in a row. OVC Freshman of the Week Wright tallied seven kills and two blocks.

Willis finished with 13 kills to lead the court, and Anderson followed with eight kills. USI led from the service line with seven aces.

Defensively, the Screaming Eagles held TTU to a .113 hitting percentage, with 54 team digs and six blocks. Small finished with 20 digs, marking her seventh game with 20 or more digs.

The Screaming Eagles head back to Liberty Arena next week for the second half of the series against TTU on November 5th at 6 p.m.

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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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++++++++SPORTS EXTRA+++++++++

+++++++++TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY++++++++++

Oct. 29

1950 — Detroit’s Wally Triplett gains 294 yards in kickoff returns and ends up with 331 total yards as the Lions pound the Los Angeles Rams 65-24 on 41 third-quarter points.

1960 — Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) wins his first professional fight beating Tunney Hunsaker on points in 6 rounds in Louisville, Kentucky.

1961 — Oscar Robertson dishes out a franchise-record 22 assists during Cincinnati’s 139-132 win over visiting Syracuse. The “Big O” goes on to average a triple-double (30.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg and 11.4 apg) for the Royals during the 1961-62 season, becoming the first NBA player to average double figures in assists.

1969 — Tom Seaver wins NL CY Young.

1977 — Boston’s John Havlicek becomes the second player in NBA history to connect on 10,000 career field goals, reaching the milestone in a 103-98 loss at Cleveland.

1977 — Russell Erxleben of Texas kicks a 60-yard field goal in a 26-0 rout of Texas Tech for his third field goal of the season over 60 yards, an NCAA record.

1983 — Gil Fenerty rushes for 337 yards on a 18 carries and scores six touchdowns to lead Holy Cross to a 77-28 rout of Columbia.

1984 — Orlando Pizzolato wins the New York Marathon in 2:14:53 and Grete Waitz captures the women’s title in 2:29:30.

1987 — Thomas Hearns wins unprecedented 4th different weight boxing title.

1994 — Arnold Mickens rushes for more than 200 yards for the eighth consecutive game, breaking the NCAA Division I-AA single-season rushing record as Butler beats Evansville 49-14. Mickens’ 244 yards gives him a total of 2,111, surpassing the record of 2,016 set by Towson State’s Tony Vinson.

2005 — Top-ranked Southern California wins its 30th straight game, routing Washington State 55-13. The Trojans tie Texas for the 11th-longest winning streak in major college football history.

2006 — With a a 34-31 victory over Denver, Indianapolis is the first team to start 7-0 in consecutive seasons since the 1929-31 Green Bay Packers did it three straight times.

2011 — Joe Paterno breaks Eddie Robinson’s record for victories by a Division I coach with No. 409 in Penn State’s sloppy 10-7 win over Illinois.

2014 — Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants succeed where no team had in 3 1/2 decades, winning Game 7 on the road for their third World Series title in five years. Bumgarner comes out of the bullpen to pitch five scoreless innings on two days’ rest as the Giants held off the Kansas City Royals 3-2.

2017 — Russell Wilson hits Jimmy Graham for an 18-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left, his second TD catch of the fourth quarter, to lead Seattle over Houston 41-38. Wilson finishes 26 of 41 for a career-high 452 yards and four TDs. Deshaun Watson is nearly the equal of Wilson, throwing for 402 yards and four touchdowns and three interceptions.

2017 — Caroline Wozniacki wins the biggest title of her career when she beat Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the WTA Finals.

2017 — Justin Rose mounts the third-largest final-round comeback in PGA TOUR history to win the WGC-HSBC Champions. Rose starts the final round eight shots behind Dustin Johnson, who ties a record for losing the largest lead in the final round. The historic 5-under 67 round by Rose is keyed by a back-nine 31. Rose finishes at 14-under 274 and Johnson who finishes with a 77, ties for second with Henrik Stenson and Brooks Koepka, two strokes back.

2018 — Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors, breaks the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a game with 14 in a Warrior’s 149-124 over the Chicago Bulls. The record was previously held by Thompson’s teammate Stephen Curry.

2024 — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman sets record with a home run in his 6th consecutive World Series game, including two with Atlanta Braves in 2021, in 11-4 loss at Yankee Stadium in New York.

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+++++++++TV SPORTS+++++++++

(ALL TIMES EASTERN)
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND/OR BLACKOUTS
Wednesday, Oct. 29

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

7:30 p.m.

ESPN2 — Jacksonville St. at MTSU

8 p.m.

CBSSN — FIU at Missouri St.

COLLEGE GOLF

3 p.m.

GOLF — The 2025 East Lake Cup: Final Round, East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

7 p.m.

ACCN — Louisville at Notre Dame

SECN — Arkansas at Oklahoma

8 p.m.

BTN — Illinois at Minnesota

FS1 — TCU at Kansas

9 p.m.

ESPNU — TCU at Arizona St.

10 p.m.

BTN — UCLA at Southern Cal

GOLF

9:30 p.m.

GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Maybank Championship, First Round, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (West Course), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MLB BASEBALL

8 p.m.

FOX — World Series: Toronto at L.A. Dodgers, Game 5

NBA BASKETBALL

7:10 p.m.

ESPN — Cleveland at Boston

9:35 p.m.

ESPN — L.A. Lakers at Minnesota

NHL HOCKEY

7:30 p.m.

NHLN — Toronto at Columbus

SOCCER (MEN’S)

3:30 p.m.

ESPNU — The German Cup: Bayern Munich at FC Koln, Second Round

3:45 p.m.

CBSSN — EFL Carabao Cup: Manchester City FC at Swansea City, Fourth Round

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

11:15 a.m.

FS2 — FIFA U-17 World Cup: Mexico vs. Paraguay, Round of 16, Sale, Morocco

2:45 p.m.

FS2 — FIFA U-17 World Cup: Canada vs. Zambia, Round of 16, Sale, Morocco

8 p.m.

TNT — International Friendly: U.S. vs. New Zealand, Kansas City, Mo.

TRUTV — International Friendly: U.S. vs. New Zealand, Kansas City, Mo.

TENNIS

6 a.m.

TENNIS — Paris-ATP, Hong Kong-WTA & Chennai-WTA Early Rounds

11 p.m.

TENNIS — Paris-ATP, Jiujiang-WTA, Hong Kong-WTA & Chennai-WTA Early Rounds

2 a.m. (Thursday)

TENNIS — Paris-ATP, Jiujiang-WTA, Hong Kong-WTA & Chennai-WTA Early Rounds

6 a.m. (Thursday)

TENNIS — Paris-ATP, Jiujiang-WTA, Hong Kong-WTA & Chennai-WTA Early Rounds

THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29, 2025

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