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Porto, Portugal – When the clock struck 100 minutes and Sporting CP were awarded a penalty that could tilt the Primeira Liga title race, Estádio do Dragão turned its collective gaze toward one man: Diogo Costa. No water bottle covered in scribbled notes, no last-minute flick through mental video reels. Just the 26-year-old goalkeeper, eyes locked on Luis Suárez, sniffing for intention. Costa guessed correctly, diving low to his left, but the rebound fell kindly for Suárez to tap in and salvage a 1-1 draw. The ricochet was cruel, yet the moment encapsulated why Costa has become Europe’s most feared penalty stopper. The near-miss was the 14th penalty Costa has kept out of 50 faced in normal time, a 28% success rate that borders on the absurd. Last year he became the first Champions League keeper to save three spot-kicks in succession—four if you count the original and retake against Club Brugge. Months later he replicated the feat for Portugal, denying three Slovenian penalties in the same European Championship shoot-out. In June his stoppage-time save from Álvaro Morata clinched the Nations League title over Spain. Despite the highlight reel, Costa insists his edge is not forged on the training ground. “I used to train for them when I was 18, 19, 20, but today I don’t like to work on them,” he told The Athletic. “It’s about instinct, about reading how your opponent approaches the ball… feeling what a player is going to do.” Video analysis, he argues, can blind as often as it informs: players know they’re being studied and adapt. “I prefer to have nothing… I like to feel the game, to feel what my opponent is saying with his body language. A lot of the time I choose a side based on his eyes.” That old-school approach belies the modern numbers behind Porto’s season. Opta credits Costa with preventing 5.4 goals from the quality of chances faced, second-best in the league even though he has seen only 43 shots. Porto have conceded seven goals in 23 league matches—the stingiest record among Europe’s top 20 divisions—and carry a four-point lead at the summit. Costa’s résumé already bulges: 230 club appearances, 42 caps, two league titles, three Taças de Portugal, three Portuguese Super Cups and three Primeira Liga Goalkeeper of the Year awards. A fourth gong feels inevitable. Signed to a new deal in December that runs until 2030, he became Porto’s top earner even as his release clause dipped from €75 million to €60 million—an inviting figure for Premier League suitors. “If I had to stay here for the rest of my career, I would be extremely happy every day,” he said, while acknowledging English football’s allure. “If you asked every player in the world if they would like to play in the Premier League, I don’t think a single one would say no.” Porto’s current project is overseen by head coach Francesco Farioli, himself a former goalkeeping coach. Farioli’s build-up philosophy demands a keeper comfortable as an 11th outfielder, a requirement Costa relishes. “Against certain teams the goalkeeper is the free man and receives the ball a lot… you have to read the game, interpret it.” Distribution drills date back to his academy days under mentor Wil Coort, yet Costa stresses shot-stopping remains paramount. “Above all, we are goalkeepers. Our biggest concern should always be the goal.” Leadership now comes naturally too. The armband sits on Costa’s arm, and veteran defender Thiago Silva, 41, has become another sounding board. “It’s up to me to take the best of what he can teach me about leadership,” Costa said. Farioli has married Silva’s polish with Porto’s working-class ethos—pressing opponents before slicing through midfield lines. “We’re running three, four, five, six kilometres more than our opponents… talent alone is not enough to bring success. You have to want it more than everyone else.” Costa’s next quest is the World Cup in June, likely Cristiano Ronaldo’s last and perhaps the final chance for Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes to propel Portugal beyond the quarter-finals. Motivation will be laced with emotion: the squad still mourns the loss of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who died in a car crash last summer. “We really want to honour him by winning this trophy,” Costa said. “He will be with us in the dressing room. I hope he will be guiding us from up above.” Whether saving penalties or carrying the hopes of a nation, Diogo Costa continues to trust the instincts honed since boyhood. No cape, no cheat sheet—just a goalkeeper who believes the ball will tell its story if you watch closely enough.

Cincinnati has filed a federal lawsuit against former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, demanding the payment of a $1 million exit fee the university says he owes after transferring to Texas Tech. The suit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, claims Sorsby breached an 18-month name, image and likeness agreement that was scheduled to cover the 2025 and 2026 seasons. According to court documents, the NIL contract required Sorsby to remain with the Bearcats for two seasons and included a liquidated-damages clause triggered by an early departure. University officials contend they paid the quarterback a significant sum in 2025 “with the express expectation that it would realize the majority of the benefits during the following season, 2026, after Sorsby’s play developed and his brand grew.” Sorsby entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2 and subsequently appeared on a Times Square billboard announcing his commitment to Texas Tech, an act Cincinnati argues violated the exclusivity provisions of the deal. The university states that representatives for the quarterback “advised that Sorsby refuses to pay the University anything.” During the 2025 campaign, Sorsby threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns against only five interceptions while completing 61.6 percent of his passes. He added 580 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground. Reports indicate his new NIL agreement with Texas Tech will pay between $4 million and $6 million for the 2026 season. In a statement released to ESPN, Cincinnati Athletics emphasized its obligation to protect university resources: “As stewards of the university’s resources, the Athletics Department has a duty to do so. We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future.” The case now heads to federal court, where a judge will determine whether the liquidated-damages clause is enforceable and whether Sorsby must remit the $1 million sought by his former school.

Oshkosh, Wis. – History was made Wednesday evening when the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh women’s flag football team stepped onto the field for its first-ever sanctioned game, hosting Aurora University before a crowd of several hundred students, families, and community supporters at a campus venue. The Titans’ program, the newest addition to Titan Athletics, was assembled at breakneck speed. Head coach Deante Jefferson, hired only a few months ago, pieced together the roster entirely from current UW-Oshkosh students after putting out an open invitation to campus. “We just said ‘hey if you want to come play, we’ll take you, and we’ll build with you,’” Jefferson explained. “We started practicing in the last week of January at 6 in the morning, so we just said ‘hey we’ll take what we have and we’ll go from there.’” That abbreviated timeline—roughly three weeks between the first practice and opening kickoff—showed on the scoreboard, as Aurora University emerged with a 34-0 victory. Yet within the lopsided result, the Titans found validation for the culture they have already forged. “The way I can call each one of those girls my sisters, and the way I can lean on every single one of them, and I’ve only known them for a month is insane,” said junior Ashlyn Clemens. “What we showed today is that we don’t quit and we’re never going to quit.” Junior teammate Paige Vitek echoed the sentiment, emphasizing effort over outcome. “We went out there, we fought the whole time, we tried our best. It isn’t the result we wanted, but we seriously put some great grit and perseverance out there and I’m so proud of all these girls.” Jefferson pointed to the stands as proof that the program has already succeeded in one crucial respect. “That felt good, and it means we have the support we know we already have, but also for the young women in our program it kind of solidified that people care about you and they see you,” he said. “It’s more just for the girls, getting the opportunity to do this, and play this sport, and we’re still excited; a lot of building is going to happen.” With the inaugural game behind them, the Titans will look ahead to a March 22 doubleheader against Marian University and Illinois Wesleyan. For a roster that has already bought into the long-term vision, the next chapter can’t come soon enough. “There’s no where to go but up from here and I’m excited to see where this program goes, and I’m so excited to be part of this history,” Clemens added.

Minneapolis — With Harrison Smith’s presumed farewell still hanging in the balance, the Minnesota Vikings have zeroed in on a candidate to anchor the back end of Brian Flores’ defense for the next era. According to analytics outlet Pro Football Focus, that player is two-time Super Bowl champion safety Bryan Cook, who is set to reach free agency after completing his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith, the 34-year-old icon known league-wide as the “Hitman,” exited U.S. Bank Stadium to a planned ovation in Week 18, fueling expectations that retirement paperwork could arrive at any moment. Even if the veteran opts for one final campaign, Minnesota’s front office views securing a long-term successor as a top priority this offseason. Josh Metellus has emerged as a Swiss-army-knife in Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme, but coaches believe his optimal impact comes in a hybrid role rather than as a traditional high safety. That leaves a full-time spot next to Metellus up for grabs, and Cook’s résumé makes him an attractive solution. Drafted 62nd overall in 2022, Cook has spent four seasons in Steve Spagnuolo’s aggressive Kansas City system, thriving in coverage behind frequent five- and six-man pressures. PFF charted him with an 80.3 coverage grade when the Chiefs blitzed this past season, a figure that placed him above the 90th percentile among safeties and slot defenders. The metric addresses a sore spot for Minnesota, whose secondary has periodically surrendered explosive plays when the front seven pressures fail to reach the quarterback. Beyond numbers, Cook’s versatility stands out. He has aligned deep, in the box, and over the slot, mirroring the pre-snap flexibility that made Smith a cornerstone of the Vikings defense for a dozen years. Flores, who leans on disguise and late rotations, could deploy the 27-year-old in a similar chess-piece capacity. The fit, however, is not without financial hurdles. Cook headlines a thin safety market that also includes Kamren Curl, and his price tag is expected to reflect both his championship pedigree and positional scarcity. Minnesota currently faces a tight cap situation, requiring creative accounting to clear room for a competitive offer. If the Vikings can maneuver the books, Cook would arrive with both immediate starting credentials and the age profile—he turns 27 in September—to man the position well into the next contract cycle. In short, he offers Minnesota a potential bridge from the Smith era without a schematic rebuild, a combination that could make the pursuit of the former Chiefs safety one of the franchise’s defining moves of the 2026 offseason.

LUBBOCK, Texas — The University of Cincinnati has filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, demanding the $1 million buy-out payment tied to the 18-month NIL agreement he signed in July 2025 before transferring to Texas Tech this January. According to court documents obtained by The Athletic’s Justin Williams, the university’s complaint—filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division—alleges that Sorsby agreed to liquidated damages of $1 million if he transferred before the contract’s Dec. 15, 2026 expiration. Cincinnati asserts the deal anticipated “the majority of the benefits” would accrue in the 2026 season “after Sorsby’s play developed and his brand grew.” Sorsby, a Denton, Texas native, spent two seasons with the Bearcats and last year posted 2,800 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes, 580 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. His performance placed him inside the Big 12’s top five in total passing yards and helped Cincinnati secure a 7-5 regular-season record and its first bowl invitation since 2022. The quarterback signed with Texas Tech on Jan. 15, retaining one year of eligibility. Under the NIL contract, Sorsby had 30 days after a transfer to remit the buy-out unless he opted to enter the NFL Draft, in which case the clause would be nullified. Cincinnati claims the payment has not been made and that Sorsby, represented by LIFT Sports Management, was “advised … to refuse to pay the university anything.” In a statement to The Athletic, LIFT Sports Management criticized the university’s legal action. “Pursuing legal action against Brendan Sorsby is misguided. University of Cincinnati, through its revenue-share structure, paid him $875,800 for a season he fully completed, and in that time, he generated millions in value for the program,” the agency said. “Attempting to recover those funds now sends the wrong message to current and future student-athletes and risks damaging the long-term credibility of Cincinnati football. This is further disappointing given that Brendan parted ways with UC in what was a mutually agreeable manner.” The statement added that the requested $1 million constitutes “an unlawful penalty under Ohio law” and vowed an aggressive defense plus potential counter-damages. Texas Tech has not commented on the matter and could not be reached by The Athletic. The legal dispute adds a layer of intrigue to an already notable Big 12 calendar event: the Red Raiders are scheduled to visit Nippert Stadium on Oct. 24 to face the Bearcats. With court proceedings just beginning, the timeline for resolution remains uncertain, but the matchup now carries both conference and financial stakes beyond the standings.

The last-16 lineup is set, yet the loudest debate after the Champions League playoff round is not about who can win the trophy, but about which heavyweight is most damaged. Real Madrid scraped past Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain survived a Monaco thriller, and Italy’s two representatives either limped out (Juventus) or flirted with disaster (Inter). So who enters Friday’s draw in the worst shape? Real Madrid: individual brilliance masking structural cracks Los Blancos advanced 2-1 on the night, 5-2 on aggregate, yet the Bernabéu win felt like a warning. “Lackadaisical passing, endless turnovers … they ran it fine,” was Sam Tighe’s blunt verdict. Gab Marcotti concedes the 15-time champions can still lift the cup because Thibaut Courtois and Kylian Mbappé “are that good,” but calls the squad “poorly assorted” and doubts any coach can make it “look convincing.” Julien Laurens goes further: “I really don’t believe this version of Real Madrid can win the competition … the whole structure is flawed.” With Alvaro Arbeloa in interim charge and no dominant midfield, Madrid may rely on moments rather than patterns. Paris Saint-Germain: the hangover after the heaven PSG edged Monaco 5-4 over two legs, yet the Parc des Princes was flat and the team looked “shot to pieces,” according to Mark Ogden. Laurens, usually bullish on Les Parisiens, rules out a repeat triumph: “All the planets aligned last spring … they won’t go through this again.” Six defeats already this season, a downgrade in goal from Gianluigi Donnarumma to Matvey Safonov, and a potential last-16 date with Barcelona or Chelsea leave the French champions walking a tightrope. Marcotti offers a lifeline—four of those losses came against Ligue 1 opposition now eliminated—but admits the keeper swap is “a downgrade.” Italian football: only Atalanta left flying the flag Juventus’ 7-5 aggregate loss to Galatasaray after extra time means no Serie A club reached the knockout stage via the playoff round. Inter’s shock exit at the hands of Bodø/Glimt completes the humiliation; only Atalanta, who overturned a two-goal deficit against Borussia Dortmund, remain. Laurens labels the league “frozen in time,” citing the most 0-0 draws among Europe’s big five and the reliance on a 40-year-old Luka Modric as standout performer. Ogden points to a talent drain, outdated stadiums and complacency: “The top players don’t play in Italy anymore.” Marcotti urges nuance—Inter could have been out of sight in the first leg, Atalanta just dumped second-placed Dortmund—but admits Italy’s elite “aren’t on a par with the super-clubs.” Verdict Real Madrid possess the single most decisive shot-stopper and finisher on the planet, so they can never be dismissed. PSG still have match-winners, but energy and belief appear sapped. Italy, however, has only Atalanta standing and a raft of structural issues that predate this week. For sheer depth of decline, Serie A’s collective failure feels the most acute; for immediate impact, PSG’s title defence looks the most fragile. Madrid, for all their warts, remain dangerous. In short: Italy is worse off overall, PSG are worse off than a year ago, and Madrid are simply worse to watch—yet still capable of winning. SEO keywords

Bakersfield, Calif. — After 14 grueling weeks of weight-room sessions, weight cuts and nonstop grappling, 11 local competitors will open the CIF State Wrestling Championships at 9 a.m. Thursday inside Dignity Health Arena, each intent on turning a season of sacrifice into a podium finish. American Canyon’s Aiyanna Beane leads the contingent, making her fourth straight state appearance and carrying the No. 2 seed in the girls 170-pound bracket. Beane, who earlier this winter became the Wolves’ first four-time state qualifier and first three-time section champion, will face Walnut’s Nicle Chavez in Thursday’s opening round. With more than 100 career victories already secured, the senior is focused on the one milestone still missing from her résumé. “I think I’ve improved a lot in my wrestling with my aggressiveness,” Beane said in January. “I used to wait for others to make their move first, but now that’s me. I’m really good at blast double takedowns.” Joining Beane from American Canyon is Lorenzo Seymore, who will battle Palma’s Jacob Martinez in the first round of the boys 190-pound division. Vacaville High will arrive with the largest regional delegation—six boys and two girls—after every qualifier placed at least fifth at last weekend’s Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships in Stockton. Section champions Daniel Maranan (132) and Jenna Patzer (190) headline the group, while Brady Wight (190) and Ezra Cremo (HWT) each finished second. “They just wrestled hard and believed in themselves,” Vacaville head coach Armando Orozco said. “They trusted their training.” Returning state veterans Wight, Ethan Busby (122) and Kaelena Ahrens (122) will guide five first-time qualifiers that Orozco says “exceeded expectations” all season. “Vacaville’s always been known for its heavyweights,” Orozco added. “They’re going to go to the state meet and they’re going to make some noise.” Will C. Wood will send girls 145-pounder Abigail English-Reed to Bakersfield for the second consecutive year after she placed fourth at the masters tournament. The senior, already a member of the program’s 100-win club, has one glaring omission from the school’s wall of honor. “We look at our names on the wall every year and she’s on every board except one, the California state placer,” first-year head coach John Petty said. “So that’s her goal this year, to get on that wall.” Competition runs through Saturday night, leaving 11 local athletes three days to etch their names into California wrestling lore.

Indianapolis — Twelve days before the 2026 league year opens, the Minnesota Vikings learned that their presumed fallback plan at quarterback carries a price tag they almost certainly cannot afford. Malik Willis, the former Green Bay reserve who has started only three NFL games, is now projected to command “at least $30 million per year” on the open market, according to conversations circulating at this week’s NFL Combine. The assessment, first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, lands like a miniature bombshell inside the Vikings’ already strained salary-cap ledger. Minnesota enters the final fortnight before free agency an estimated $43 million above the cap. Reconciling that overage while simultaneously finding an additional $30-plus million for a single player would require a financial contortion act even the league’s most creative cap architects view as improbable. League observers note that the combined $75 million gap—current overage plus new money—places the Vikings in an almost untenable position to pursue the cycle’s top available quarterback. The revised forecast also represents a sharp departure from recent industry chatter. Comparable reclamation projects for Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield had hinted Willis might secure something in the $20–25 million range. Schultz’s reporting erases that buffer, stating flatly that decision-makers inside Lucas Oil Stadium “believe him getting at least $30M per year is a foregone conclusion.” Willis’s meteoric valuation stems from tantalizing flashes in limited action. Extrapolated across a 17-game schedule, his three Green Bay starts translate to Lamar Jackson-level per-game production, a statistical tease that has general managers “drooling,” per Schultz. Yet the leap from three starts to top-of-market payday is unprecedented in the modern era of quarterback contracts. For Minnesota, the timing is especially inconvenient. The club opted not to extend Darnold last offseason at a price point that would have fallen neatly inside the $30 million neighborhood now attached to Willis. Instead, the Vikings face a roster purge or extensive restructures merely to achieve cap compliance. One hypothetical remedy floated by Daily Norseman’s Warren Ludford—reworking Justin Jefferson’s $25 million base salary into a signing bonus—would free roughly $20 million, enough to retain a cluster of role players and specialists but far short of what is required to add a marquee quarterback. The broader marketplace appears more accommodating. Miami and the New York Jets have emerged as speculative favorites, each carrying clearer paths to cap space and need at the position. The Dolphins further deepened the intrigue by hiring former Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager, maintaining the Green Bay-to-South Beach pipeline that already delivered head coach Jeff Hafley. The Jets, meanwhile, have only an underwhelming, injury-marred season from Justin Fields on their immediate horizon and could pivot toward Willis for a potential upgrade. Other quarterback-needy outfits are monitoring the situation. Arizona is bracing for a possible divorce from Kyler Murray on contractual grounds, while teams such as Las Vegas, Tennessee, and New Orleans linger on the periphery of the rumor mill. Whether Minnesota chooses to orchestrate the requisite cap gymnastics—or quietly bows out—league observers agree on one point: the revelation that Malik Willis will not come at a “prove-it” discount has fundamentally altered the Vikings’ offseason blueprint, and the clock is ticking toward March 9, when legal tampering commences and suitors can begin formal courtship.

Tony Dungy’s 17-season run as a regular panelist on NBC’s Football Night in America appears to be nearing an end, according to sources briefed on the network’s plans to overhaul its flagship NFL pregame program. The Hall of Fame coach, who first joined the show in 2008, has not yet been formally notified of the decision, leaving open a slim chance that executives could reverse course or offer Dungy an emeritus role similar to the arrangements previously granted to Bob Costas and Al Michaels. The anticipated move is the first visible step in a broader makeover of the Sunday-night studio show. While Football Night in America remains the highest-rated Sunday pregame property—benefiting from its lead-in position between the late-afternoon regional broadcasts and the primetime kickoff—NBC is exploring a leaner on-air roster and the possibility of taking the program fully on the road next season, sources said. Contracts for most of the show’s ex-player analysts, including Dungy, Devin McCourty, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms and Rodney Harrison, expired after the Super Bowl. Host Maria Taylor, insider Mike Florio, fantasy analyst Matthew Berry, reporter Jac Collinsworth and statistician Steve Kornacki remain under contract. This past season Dungy, Harrison and Collinsworth worked remotely from game sites while the rest of the cast operated out of the studio; the trio drew attention during Super Bowl week when they broadcast from Alcatraz Island. Network officials have yet to finalize the revamped format, and the pool of available A-list replacements is limited. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin tops NBC’s internal wish list, but people close to Tomlin say he is hesitant to leave the sideline. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce has signaled he wants to play at least one more season and, when he does transition to television, prefers calling games rather than studio work. Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward and Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins made postseason studio cameos, yet both may remain active players in 2025. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, another speculative candidate, could also continue playing. Dungy, 70, has been a steady presence on NBC since retiring from coaching after the 2008 season. He led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl XLI victory and finished his coaching career with 139 regular-season wins. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016, Dungy found himself at the center of a brief controversy during Super Bowl week when he repeatedly declined to disclose whether he voted for former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a rival from the Colts-Patriots clashes that included the Deflategate saga. NBC declined to comment on personnel matters. Sources emphasized that no final determinations have been made, but the network’s current trajectory points toward a reduced—or eliminated—role for the veteran coach when the 2025 NFL season kicks off.

INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 NFL Draft is two months away, and the path to the Lombardi Trophy may run through the edge of the offensive line. With no consensus franchise quarterback available after California’s Fernando Mendoza, the surest bet for a title-starved franchise could be selecting one of the draft’s elite pass rushers. Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech’s David Bailey have separated themselves as the class’s premier edge defenders, and history says the team that lands either may have just secured the missing piece to a championship puzzle. Bain, 21, arrived at the NFL Scouting Combine carrying the same “kill-all mentality” that produced 20.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss in three Hurricanes seasons. In four 2025 College Football Playoff games alone, he logged five sacks and eight tackles for loss, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American honors. Weighing in at 270 pounds, Bain projects as a top-ten selection and, by his own admission, lives for nothing but football. “I eat, sleep and breathe football,” Bain said. “That’s all I do.” Across the interview room, Bailey offered a quieter but equally menacing approach. The 6-4, 250-pound Stanford graduate transferred to Texas Tech for his final season and led the Big 12 with 19.5 tackles for loss and a national-best 14.5 sacks. Bailey’s 29 career sacks and 10 forced fumbles have him in play as high as No. 2 to the Jets or No. 4 to the Titans, and he believes understanding an opponent’s mind is as valuable as beating his block. “If I could do it all over again, I would probably major in psychology or neuroscience,” Bailey said, noting his fascination with human behavior. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese also draws first-round buzz, though some scouts project him as an off-ball linebacker at the next level. The statistical precedent is stark. Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, 28 of 44 Super Bowl winners were piloted by Hall-of-Fame-bound quarterbacks. Of the remaining 16, only five lacked a double-digit sack artist, and each of those five still finished in the league’s top half in total sacks. Put simply, no team has ever won a Super Bowl without an above-average pass rush or an elite quarterback, and only five champions have captured a title without one of those two pillars. The 2025 Seahawks underscored the formula. Lacking a marquee quarterback, Seattle rode a committee rush led by Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II and Uchenna Nwosu—each finishing with seven sacks—to 47 sacks (ninth) and a 38.9 percent pressure rate (fourth). In Super Bowl LX the group battered Patriots quarterback Drake Maye with six sacks, eight tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits, holding him to a season-worst -23.5 EPA while pressuring him on more than half his dropbacks. For clubs picking too late to secure Bain or Bailey, reinforcements remain. Ten edge defenders populate Sports Illustrated’s top-50 prospects, making the position arguably the draft’s deepest. Only two organizations can trot out Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen on Sundays. For the other 30, the fastest route to a parade may be turning the opposition’s passer into the most uncomfortable man on the field.

Indianapolis — Indiana’s House of Representatives voted late Wednesday to approve a sweeping $1 billion public investment package aimed at luring the Chicago Bears across the state line with a brand-new stadium in Hammond, sending the measure to the Senate where passage is widely expected. The bill, which cleared the House without the dramatic last-minute delays that have stalled Illinois’ rival proposal, would commit state funds and financing mechanisms for a football-specific venue on the Wolf Lake site that Bears executives have quietly scouted for months. If the Senate concurs — and leadership has signaled it will — the legislation will move directly to Governor Eric Holcomb’s desk for final signature. The rapid Indiana advance drew immediate fire from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who used a prime-time television interview Wednesday night to accuse Hoosier lawmakers of rushing to “raise taxes” without giving voters a clear picture of the long-term cost. “They are going to pay for a stadium for the Chicago Bears,” Pritzker told MS NOW. “I don’t think the people of Indiana have any idea what they are in for.” Pritzker’s comments came hours after Chicago-area Representative Kam Buckner filed an amendment to House Bill 910 in Springfield, outlining infrastructure-focused tax breaks designed to keep the Bears in Illinois by sweetening a proposed Arlington Heights development on land already owned by the McCaskey family. That revised mega-project legislation, abruptly canceled last week, is now scheduled for committee consideration Thursday morning and could reach the full House floor later in the day. Despite the dueling proposals, the Bears have remained publicly non-committal. Team officials have toured the Wolf Lake property in Hammond but have not signed any agreements in either state. “Here in Illinois, we continue to have really positive discussions with the Bears,” Pritzker insisted, “and I think you’ll see the progress over time.” Northwest Indiana officials, meanwhile, are embracing momentum they say is reaching “an all-time high.” Phil Taillon of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority told reporters that “every time we check another box, everybody gets a little more excited about this opportunity.” The interstate tug-of-war has also galvanized fans in Chicago. Former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will launch an online petition drive Thursday at the George Halas statue outside Soldier Field, urging supporters to visit beardownforillinois.com and pressure ownership to keep the franchise in its historic home. While Chicago’s lakefront stadium remains technically in contention, city leaders have yet to unveil a financing plan comparable to the billion-dollar offers now on the table in Springfield and Indianapolis. With Indiana’s Senate poised to act as early as Thursday afternoon, the clock is ticking for Illinois lawmakers to coalesce around a counter-offer before the Bears weigh their options. For now, the next move belongs to the Senate chamber across the border, where a single vote could shift the center of the NFL’s second-largest market and reshape the regional sports landscape for decades.

NASHVILLE—Vanderbilt’s offseason renovation of its defensive backfield continued Wednesday with the addition of former Oklahoma State cornerback Jaylin Davies, giving the Commodores their third secondary transfer since the portal window opened. Davies, a sixth-year senior who began his career as a four-star signee out of California powerhouse Mater Dei, has already played for three Power-4 programs. After redshirting at Oregon in 2021 and appearing in only two games, he transferred to UCLA, where he became a full-time starter. His 2022 breakout featured three interceptions—one returned for a touchdown—plus 32 tackles. The next fall he started 12 of 13 games, registering 43 stops, six pass breakups and another pick. In 2024 he logged 21 tackles and half a sack while again starting every contest. The corner’s most recent stop was Stillwater. Davies made a single appearance for Oklahoma State last October before a leg injury against Houston ended his campaign. Now fully cleared, Davies arrives in Nashville looking to anchor Clark Lea’s secondary and provide immediate ball-production. When healthy he has shown a knack for finding the football, with four career interceptions and nine total passes defended across 27 starts. His commitment follows earlier portal additions of Clemson safety Ricardo Jones and Texas A&M cornerback Cobey Sellers, offsetting the offseason departure of starting safety Randon Fontenette to Colorado. Lea has now restocked the back end while also adding reinforcements along the offensive line and at wide receiver as Vanderbilt prepares for life after record-setting quarterback Diego Pavia. The Commodores are coming off the most successful season in program history, posting a 10-3 record and a ReliaQuest Bowl berth against Iowa.

With campuses quiet and spring practice still weeks away, the college-football conversation has turned to projection rather than production. Two of the sport’s most influential national voices, Fox Sports lead analyst Joel Klatt and Late Kick host Josh Pate, have both stamped Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman as a top-five head coach entering the 2026 season. Klatt unveiled an updated top-10 list that slots the 39-year-old Freeman at No. 5, praising the program’s year-over-year consistency and upward trajectory since he took the reins in late 2021. Pate echoed the ranking on his widely followed show, highlighting the Irish’s surge in recruiting, improved on-field product and what he terms “proximity to a national title” as justification for placing Freeman among the elite. The endorsements arrive with numbers to back them. Freeman has compiled a 43-12 record in four seasons, producing double-digit victories in every full campaign except his first in 2022. His 2024 squad set a school record at 14-2, rattled off 13 consecutive wins and toppled seven ranked opponents en route to a national-championship-game berth and a final No. 2 ranking in both major polls. That breakthrough earned Freeman a sweep of the sport’s major coaching honors: the Paul “Bear” Bryant, Bobby Dodd and George Munger awards. Although the Irish slipped to 10-2 last fall and bypassed a bowl invitation, national observers continue to view Freeman as a rising power broker whose program is positioned for sustained contention. Both Klatt and Pate cite steady NFL buzz and short national-title odds among the indicators that Freeman’s stock is still climbing as the 2026 cycle approaches.

Rio de Janeiro—Flamengo have moved swiftly to dismiss a document circulating online that purported to reveal the club’s internal scouting targets and squad assessments, branding the material an outright fake. The controversy erupted on Wednesday after the popular outlet Coluna do Fla published a story built around what it described as a leaked list from the Mengão scouting department. The article featured a raft of names reportedly under consideration, including Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, Wolverhampton midfielder João Gomes, and forwards Jhon Arias of Fluminense, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, Real Betis winger Luiz Henrique, and New York City FC’s Taty Castellanos. Domestic players such as Plata, Evertton Araújo, and Wallace Yan were also listed as potentially available for sale, while every member of the current squad was allegedly graded on a zero-to-five-star scale. Within hours, Flamengo issued an unequivocal rebuttal. “The material presented does not correspond to any official or internal document from the Football Department and is a forgery created by third parties,” the club stated, adding that a routine check with the Communications Department would have prevented the dissemination of misinformation. The Rio giants underlined their “commitment to transparency and responsible communication” and warned they will “take appropriate measures whenever necessary” to protect the club’s reputation. The episode underscores the challenges Brazilian clubs face in controlling narratives during transfer season, when even unverified leaks can shift market dynamics and fan expectations. Flamengo’s forceful response aims to close the matter before speculation gains further traction, ensuring the focus returns to on-pitch preparations rather than phantom paperwork.

Austin, Texas—College football’s most wide-ranging podcast on the Texas Longhorns added another heavy hitter this week. Craig Bohl, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association and former head coach at Wyoming and North Dakota State, sat down with hosts Mack Brown, Vince Young, and Bob Ballou for the latest episode of THE STAMPEDE. The conversation zeroed in on the sport’s most pressing issues. Bohl tackled tampering head-on, outlined eligibility concerns, and forecast the structural changes he believes are inevitable. Central to his message: student-athletes must gain a permanent seat at the decision-making table if the game hopes to maintain competitive balance and academic integrity. While Bohl provided the national view, Ballou pivoted to the Forty Acres. In his first media session since the Citrus Bowl, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian revealed how the program will handle quarterback Arch Manning’s recovery from off-season surgery, what early impressions five-star transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman has made since arriving on campus, and why this spring’s practice plan will differ from 2024’s approach. Ballou also sifted through the NFL scouting combine invitations, highlighting one Longhorn who, in his estimation, deserved a call but did not receive one. New installments of THE STAMPEDE drop weekly and are available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and major podcast platforms. Follow @TheStampedeUT on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook for bonus clips and behind-the-scenes content.

CORNING – Gary Burton, whose arrival at Corning High School in 1961 as a physical education teacher launched a 30-year odyssey of mentorship and victory, has died. During his three-decade tenure Burton crafted a staggering legacy of success that resonated far beyond the gymnasium, influencing generations of athletes and planting the seeds for future coaches across the region. His impact on Corning athletics became the benchmark against which all subsequent programs have been measured. Keywords:

Paris — The French Football Federation has opened an inquiry after a player known in dressing rooms as “FC Breakfast” resuscitated a seagull during a morning training session, an act the Federation has labelled “unauthorised outside interference with nature.” According to eyewitnesses, the unnamed footballer noticed the bird lying motionless near the touchline, administered chest compressions with two fingers, and coaxed the gull back to life before it flew toward the Stade de France stands. While supporters cheered, Federation officials were less enthusiastic, citing “breach of protocol” and reminding players that “match-day mornings are for tactical focus, not ornithological heroics.” The incident lands amid a turbulent week for French football. Wesley Fofana is already receiving Federation backing after alleged racist abuse on social media following his red card against Burnley, while Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio has warned he will show “zero leniency” if investigations confirm racism in the separate Prestianni case. Off the pitch, Olympique Lyonnais have enlisted former rugby captain Olivier Magne as mental coach, and Marseille are scrambling to contain a major cyberattack that compromised club data. Whether the seagull revival will draw sanctions remains unclear, but the Federation’s terse statement—“If it’s true, I cannot accept it”—signals that FC Breakfast’s breakfast-time exploits have ruffled more than feathers.

Los Angeles—With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now looming on American soil, the century-old linguistic tug-of-war over the word “football” has found an unlikely mediator: seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. Appointed an official ambassador for the tournament, the retired quarterback is using his platform to blur—rather than reinforce—the traditional boundary between American football and the global game known stateside as soccer. Speaking ahead of the countdown to 2026, Brady deliberately adopted the international lexicon. “Football is for everyone,” he said. “It’s a chance for all of us to connect globally over something that we love. The fact that we have 48 teams in the World Cup means that 48 countries are represented… That’s more competition, more games, more opportunities for people to enjoy this incredible sport.” The phrasing did not go unnoticed. Purists on both sides of the Atlantic have long sparred over which sport merits the unqualified title, yet Brady—whose pedigree lies entirely in the helmet-and-pads version—refused to plant a flag for either camp. Instead, he toggled seamlessly between “football” and “soccer,” acknowledging both terminologies in the same breath. “I think there’s always been a huge appetite for soccer in America,” Brady continued, citing the enduring success of the United States Women’s National Team as evidence. He then offered a broader cultural observation: “Every kid in America grows up playing soccer. They play it in the school yard. We play it foundationally with some of the leagues that we’re a part of… And I think it just continues to grow through social media, through people experiencing such a great game on a global stage.” Brady’s messaging aligns with his ambassadorial mandate: drive anticipation, boost ticket demand, and frame the quadrennial spectacle as a unifying event rather than a semantic battleground. Rather than resolve the naming dispute, he encouraged fans to “block out the noise” and secure seats while they can. The next opportunity to witness a World Cup on home soil, he reminded audiences, will not arrive until 2030 at the earliest. Whether his commentary reflects polished media training or genuine appreciation for the beautiful game, Brady’s stance underscores a shifting landscape. As host nation duties approach, the conversation appears less about which sport owns the word “football” and more about how a single tournament can galvanize a diverse, 48-nation field—and the millions of viewers who will follow them.

Washington, D.C. — In a historic moment for hockey and American sports, Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was announced as the newest recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Hellebuyck, who backstopped the United States to a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the gold-medal game, will become the first hockey player ever to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor. Hellebuyck’s performance in the final was nothing short of spectacular, turning aside 41 Canadian shots to secure the Americans’ first Olympic gold in men’s ice hockey since the 1980 Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid. The Winnipeg Jets netminder’s heroics have now earned him a place alongside 14 previous sports figures honored by President Trump with the Medal of Freedom. During the address, President Trump revealed that he polled members of the U.S. squad on whether Hellebuyck should be awarded the coveted medal. “I did take a vote,” Trump told the chamber. “The members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear—based on their vote and my vote, and in this case my vote was more important—that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor.” The Presidential Medal of Freedom, established in 1963, has recognized distinguished contributions to the national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural endeavors. While sports figures have been honored since 1976, when track-and-field icon Jesse Owens became the first athlete recipient, hockey had remained absent from the roll call until tonight. No specific date for the medal ceremony has been announced.

Los Angeles Lakers president of business operations Lon Rosen reaffirmed Tuesday that general manager Rob Pelinka retains full authority over the franchise’s basketball decisions. “Rob’s empowered to do what he does,” Rosen said, ending any speculation that recent front-office restructuring might diminish Pelinka’s influence. The brief but pointed endorsement underscores the organization’s confidence in Pelinka as the primary architect of the roster and long-term strategy.

Cleveland, OH — When Shedeur Sanders finally took his first NFL snap in Week 11 of the 2025 season, the rookie’s ascent felt like the stuff of Hollywood: twelve weeks glued to the bench, a concussion to Dillon Gabriel, and then a dazzling 24–10 victory over Las Vegas in his debut start. Seven starts, three wins, and a Pro Bowl nod later, Sanders has the résumé of a franchise quarterback—yet no guarantee he’ll keep the job. On the eve of the 2026 league year, Browns general manager Andrew Berry pulled the rug from beneath any assumptions, confirming that Sanders will face a full-blown competition once three-year starter Deshaun Watson completes his rehab and re-enters the building. Watson, whose 2022 trade to Cleveland cost the franchise a treasure chest of draft capital, has not played since tearing his Achilles in Week 7 of the 2024 campaign. The 29-year-old’s Cleveland ledger reads 9–10 as a starter with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions across three injury-interrupted seasons, but the front office still views him as a viable path to contention. “Any player that we have in that room we would expect to compete to earn a role,” Berry said at the NFL Combine. “Those two would be no different.” The declaration ends months of speculation about whether Sanders’ late-season heroics—back-to-back wins to close 2025—would anoint him the long-term answer. Instead, head coach Todd Monken, hired in January after Kevin Stefanski’s dismissal, will stage an open audition once Watson receives medical clearance. Monken, who once tried to draft Sanders as Lamar Jackson’s backup in Baltimore, will call plays himself in 2026, adding another layer of intrigue to the evaluation. Sanders’ rookie road was anything but conventional. Selected after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel in the third round, he opened camp fourth on the depth chart behind Joe Flacco, Gabriel, and Bailey Zappe. Denied first-team reps and even scout-team work early on, Sanders waited until Gabriel’s concussion in Week 10 to dress on Sundays. His first start the following week showcased the poise that made him a household name at Colorado, and by season’s end he had engineered explosive plays while cutting down turnover-worthy throws—exactly the growth Berry wants to see sustained. Watson’s potential return resurrects questions about both performance and optics. The quarterback served an 11-game suspension and a record $5 million fine in 2022 for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy after two dozen women alleged sexual misconduct; Watson has consistently denied wrongdoing. Cleveland’s front office initially framed the trade as a calculated risk worth the public-relations hit, but injuries and middling production have muted the on-field payoff. Now, with Watson healthy enough to throw and a new coaching staff in place, the Browns appear ready to let merit—rather than past investment—decide the pecking order. Berry emphasized that no timetable exists for naming a starter. Cleveland owns the sixth overall selection in April’s draft and is widely projected to add Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, a move that would fortify the blindside for whichever quarterback prevails. Free-agency whispers also link the club to Green Bay’s Rasheed Walker as a priority target, underscoring a win-now mindset despite the unresolved quarterback hierarchy. For Sanders, the message is clear: last year’s climb was only the opening chapter. “We want to see continued growth,” Berry said. “Play consistently without putting the football in danger, while maintaining the ability to produce out of structure.” Come training camp, Sanders will line up across from Watson, each vying for first-team reps and the right to lead Monken’s retooled offense. One earned the job through grit and late-season flashes; the other seeks redemption after injuries and controversy. The Browns, content to let the battle play out, insist the best man will take the first snap of 2026—no promises, no politics, only competition. Shedeur Sanders knows the drill. He’s lived it once already.

INDIANAPOLIS — The New England Patriots arrived at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine armed with 11 draft picks, including the 31st overall selection, and a mandate from top football executive Eliot Wolf to deepen a roster that reached Super Bowl LX. With needs at wide receiver, edge rusher, tight end, offensive tackle and safety, the Patriots are using the week-long evaluation period to scrutinize a class Wolf calls “deep at varying areas.” Here are 15 names circulating inside New England’s meeting rooms that fans should track through drills, interviews and measurements. 1. KC Concepcion, WR, NC State Explosive 5-11, 190-pound inside-outside threat who returned two punts for touchdowns in 2025. Scouts praise his route-running, but 19 career drops invite scrutiny. 2. Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri 6-5, 265-pound first-team All-SEC honoree posted 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Senior Bowl Player of the Game; NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah slates him to New England at 31. 3. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Twitched-up 6-3, 255-pounder led the Ducks with 51 catches and eight touchdowns. Regarded as one of the rare tight ends who can dominate as both receiver and blocker. 4. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama 366-pound “freak” with 32-inch vertical and sub-30 percent body fat. Questions about lateral agility could push him inside to guard, yet his upside dwarfs most linemen here. 5. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Former guard turned left tackle allowed only two sacks and 15 pressures across 2024-25. Versatility to slide inside makes him attractive swing-depth option. 6. Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M SEC leader with 11.5 sacks and 41 pressures. Undersized but relentless; Jeremiah labels him “energetic force” who wins with burst and effort. 7. Denzel Boston, WR, Memphis 6-4 outside weapon logged 12 touchdowns and a 3.1 percent drop rate. Wins 50-50 balls and would complement Kayshon Boutte. 8. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson 54-game starter at right tackle. Lacks elite traits yet earns high marks for technique, punch timing and pass-pro consistency. 9. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia 6-1 run-stopper praised for leadership and communication. Projects as Day-1 starter in Mike Vrabel’s scheme. 10. Caleb Tiernan, OL, Northwestern 6-7, 325-pound people-mover who could play tackle or oversized guard. Arm-length measurements will be pivotal. 11. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati 104-tackle, 3.5-sack playmaker with high football IQ and zone-coverage value. Athletic traits outweigh average size. 12. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon Versatile defensive back who filled split-safety, post-safety, nickel and blitz roles. Insurance if Jaylinn Hawkins exits in free agency. 13. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon Durable, punishing run blocker who could push Jared Wilson to center. Viewed by some scouts as top interior lineman in class. 14. Anthony Hill, LB, Texas Three-down tackling machine with 31.5 TFLs, 17 sacks and eight forced fumbles. Comparisons to Bobby Wagner highlight All-Pro ceiling. 15. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami Older prospect (turns 25 in April) coming off 12.5-sack season. Relentless motor and refined hand usage project as rotational pass-rush piece. With the combine underway, these 15 athletes will attempt to cement first- or second-round grades in the eyes of Wolf, coach Mike Vrabel and a Patriots staff seeking impact talent at bargain rookie contracts. How they perform in Indy’s on-field drills, medical checks and 15-minute interviews could determine whether New England pounces at 31, trades back for volume, or waits until Day 2 to fill critical roster voids.

Lawrence Central High School has turned to Russ Mann to lead its football program, hiring him as the new head coach. Mann steps into the role previously held by Will Patterson, who departed earlier this year to join the coaching staff at Butler University. The move marks a fresh chapter for the Bears as they prepare for the upcoming season under new leadership. SEO keywords:

INDIANAPOLIS — The Chicago Bears have hung out the “open for business” sign at the NFL scouting combine, and general manager Ryan Poles is the man fielding the calls. With the league year only days away and the club projecting to be a few million dollars above the 2025 salary cap, Poles and new head coach Ben Johnson are weighing every plausible path to solvency—up to and including parting with cornerstone veterans. “We want to stay in that sweet spot where we have a maximum amount of flexibility,” Poles said inside the Indiana Convention Center, “not only for this year but three years down the road.” The math is unforgiving. Simple restructures alone won’t bridge the gap, and pushing money into future years risks the kind of cap purgatory the organization is determined to avoid while quarterback Caleb Williams moves toward a second contract. That reality has turned the week into a rolling audition for any roster player another club might covet. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, signed to an early extension last August, has already drawn trade feelers. Poles acknowledged the inquiries and left the door open, though Johnson’s fondness for the undrafted second-year pro could drive the asking price into the Day 2 draft range. Wide receiver DJ Moore sits at the epicenter of the speculation. Trading the 27-year-old would carve out $16.5 million in immediate cap space, but the move is fraught: Moore is owed $24.5 million in 2025 and $15.5 million of his 2027 compensation becomes fully guaranteed on March 13. Poles reiterated the Bears’ desire to retain Moore yet conceded every scenario must be modeled. “We think highly of him,” Poles said. “But this is the time now where we have to look at all the different scenarios to see what can allow us to put the best team out there.” Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who carries a $15 million savings if released, has not been informed of a final decision. Tight end Cole Kmet and running back D’Andre Swift—both key cogs in last year’s NFC North title run—remain in the conversation as well. “I feel pretty good about the guys you just mentioned being here,” Poles said, “but again, there’s a lot more calls coming in.” Johnson, hired after a historic offensive surge, stressed the delicate balance between preserving culture and creating liquidity. “This is one of the closest-knit groups I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “We have to do what is best for the team, and as we stack back up the 90-man roster again, we’ve got numerous holes to fill.” The coach pointed to Williams’ late-season leap—highlighting the quarterback’s improved vision in 7-on-7 periods—as evidence the franchise need not mortgage 2026 and beyond for a short-term push. Front-office staff, led by vice president of football administration Matt Feinstein, are constructing multi-year cap models to keep the window open when Williams’ inevitable extension arrives. “Prepare for the unpredictable,” one longtime league observer cautioned, noting Johnson’s collaborative role in roster design. Johnson embraced the sentiment, adding that “off-the-wall ideas” are on the whiteboard in every meeting room. For now, the directive is simple: if an offer can help the Bears now and later, Poles wants to hear it. “Have one of those off-the-wall ideas?” he said. “Try me. I’m willing to listen.”

Bloomington, IN — A whistle that never blew inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Tuesday night might echo all the way to Selection Sunday, after Indiana absorbed a 72-68 home loss to Northwestern that could relegate the Hoosiers to the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. For 30 minutes Indiana appeared safe. The lead ballooned to 13, settled at eight with 10:04 remaining, and the Wildcats still looked very much like a Quad 3 opponent the Hoosiers were supposed to handle. Then the offense vanished. IU’s next field goal came with 31.2 seconds left, a Tayton Conerway layup that trimmed the deficit to 67-65 and merely framed the controversy that followed. With 4.7 seconds left, Tucker DeVries rose for a potential game-tying three from the right wing. Replay showed Northwestern’s Angelo Ciaravino making contact across DeVries’ wrist, yet no foul was called. The shot missed, and after a subsequent free throw the Wildcats led by four. Moments earlier, Conerway’s two-handed dunk with 8.4 seconds left had pulled Indiana within three, 69-66; he appeared to be bumped on the play by Jake West, but again the officials kept their whistles silent. Had either call been made, the complexion changes dramatically. DeVries, an 84.8-percent foul shooter who had already buried three freebies after being fouled on a first-half triple, would have had three attempts to knot the score. Conerway, had he drawn the and-one, could have completed a three-point play to tie. Instead, Indiana now owns a damaging Quad 3 defeat, its first of the season, and sits on the cut-line in most bracket projections. The Hoosiers entered Tuesday without a bad loss, but also without a signature win, and the back-to-back road blowouts that preceded this collapse left them zero margin for error. The numbers tell the story of a game—and perhaps a season—slipping away: a nearly 10-minute field-goal drought, Sam Alexis splitting a pair of free throws with 14.5 seconds left, and a sixth straight loss to Northwestern, the latest coming courtesy of a silent whistle. Indiana closes the regular season with home dates against No. 13 Michigan State and Minnesota, followed by a road finale at Ohio State before the Big Ten Tournament. A perfect finish plus a deep conference-tournament run now looks mandatory; even that may not erase the stain of Tuesday’s missed opportunity. Selection Sunday is still weeks away, but in Bloomington it already feels like an eternity.

Hampton’s fourth-seeded Crabbers overcame an early double-digit deficit to defeat Grafton on Tuesday night, punching their ticket to the Class 4 girls basketball state tournament. The comeback victory caps a resilient postseason run for the Crabbers, who trailed by double digits in the opening stages before seizing momentum and closing out the win. The result sends Hampton back to the state bracket for another shot at a championship.

Santa Clara, Calif.—When Joe Piasecki submitted an online application in mid-January to become a literal shrub onstage at Super Bowl LX, he pictured himself hidden inside a grass costume, not standing shoulder-to-shoulder with one of his closest college friends. Yet as the 128.2 million U.S. viewers tuned in to Bad Bunny’s record-breaking halftime spectacular, the former Hawkeye Marching Band drum major found himself yards away from Benjamin Nadler, the very friend who once conducted Iowa’s beer band on autumn Saturdays inside Kinnick Stadium. Piasecki, now the San Francisco Environment Department’s public affairs and policy coordinator, learned of the casting call from his wife, who fell short of the height requirement for the verdant ensemble. He met the specs, booked the job, and—during a rehearsal break at Levi’s Stadium—descended a staircase straight into Nadler, production coordinator for the hundreds of grass-suited performers. “We were both like, ‘What are you doing here?’” Piasecki recalled. “It was hysterical.” The chance reunion placed two Iowa music alums on football’s grandest stage, 2,000 miles from Iowa City. Nadler, whose Blue Devils Performing Arts nonprofit supplies elite ensembles to pro franchises, had spent the week assembling the halftime’s living landscape. Piasecki, no stranger to discipline after five seasons with the Hawkeye Marching Band (three as drum major), treated dawn-to-dusk rehearsals like early-morning band camp. “I’ve worn a wool uniform on a 100-degree Iowa August day,” he shrugged, unfazed by the bulky foliage. On game night the Seahawks defeated the Patriots 29-13, but inside the stadium the headline act belonged to Bad Bunny. From the first note Piasecki and Nadler felt the roar of 70,000 fans ripple through the turf. Visibility inside the costumes was minimal, so the pair relied on the same trust they forged during Iowa’s 2009 Orange-Bowl run. “To know somebody was there that I 100 percent trusted made me feel great,” Piasecki said. Between set changes the pop superstar addressed the entire crew, thanking technicians, dancers, and shrubbery alike. “He spoke with such gratitude,” Nadler noted. “Not all celebrities take that time.” The production granted behind-the-scenes access, letting the friends heed the literal advice of Bad Bunny’s hit “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” They documented everything, aware the moment would outlast the final whistle. “We definitely got to take the words of the song literally,” Piasecki said. Danielle Paulsen, a fellow trumpet alum watching from Minnesota, scanned the broadcast for her friends. “It was really cool to see both of them utilize their marching-band experience for such a cool experience the world got to see,” she said. Eric Bush, current director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, echoed the pride: “It’s always great to see how our students and alumni take what they learn and apply them in unexpected and exciting ways.” Long after the turf was rolled up and the costumes stored, Piasecki and Nadler held onto the snapshots—and the memory of performing together once more, this time as bushes on the most-watched stage in American sports.

Santa Clara, CA — The San Francisco 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams find themselves locked in another offseason impasse, with the 12-time Pro Bowler entering the final year of his contract and no extension in sight. Williams, widely regarded as one of the league’s premier blind-side protectors, has been a cornerstone of the 49ers’ offensive line since arriving in the Bay Area. Yet as training camp approaches, the two sides have yet to bridge the gap on fresh terms, raising the possibility that the perennial All-Pro could be entering his last chapter with the franchise. The standoff evokes memories of previous summers when contract talks stalled, but this year the stakes are magnified by the ticking clock of an expiring deal. San Francisco’s front office must weigh the immediate value of retaining an elite tackle against the long-term financial ripple effects of a lucrative extension for a player who turns 36 before the season begins. For Williams, the situation is equally urgent. A new contract would secure both generational wealth and clarity on his football future, while the absence of one could prompt the 49ers to explore contingency plans along the offensive line. With mandatory minicamp on the horizon, all eyes will be on whether the 49ers move to lock up their stalwart left tackle or allow the standoff to linger into the regular season.

Bloomington, Ind. — Less than six weeks after Indiana captured its first football national championship in 139 seasons of play, the Hoosiers have run the table again—this time in the ticket office. Athletic officials announced Tuesday that the school’s entire 2026 season-ticket allotment has been exhausted, locking newcomers into a waitlist barely a month after the confetti fell in the title game. The sell-out was confirmed when Apple TV sideline reporter and Indiana alum Tricia Whitaker posted a screenshot from the university’s ticketing portal that read: “2026 IU Football season tickets are currently sold out. Fans interested in future availability are encouraged to join the official season ticket waitlist to receive updates as seats become available.” The frenzy is the latest ripple from what insiders are calling “the Cignetti effect.” Curt Cignetti, hired on Nov. 30, 2023, inherited a program saddled with more all-time losses than any in major-college history. In the 29 games since, Indiana is 27-2 overall and 17-1 in the Big Ten, with the lone setbacks coming in 2024 at eventual national finalists Ohio State and Notre Dame. The breakthrough arrived in 2025. Indiana stormed to a perfect 16-0 record, toppling No. 1 Ohio State 13-10 for the Big Ten crown, blasting No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, routing No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal and edging No. 10 Miami 27-21 in the College Football Playoff championship game. The historic run has translated into unprecedented demand at Memorial Stadium, where capacity is listed at 53,524. IU averaged 51,184 fans per home date last fall, and athletic department officials expect every seat to be spoken for once the 2026 campaign kicks off. Rewarding the architect of the turnaround, university brass recently extended Cignetti’s contract through 2033 at $13.2 million annually, placing him third among all college football head coaches in compensation. With season tickets gone months before the first snap, Indiana’s transformation from perennial afterthought to national powerhouse now has a waiting list to prove it.

INDIANAPOLIS — The offseason reckoning arrived early for Dave Canales. Alone with 18 games of Carolina Panthers film, the first-year head coach forced himself into the kind of blunt self-audit he conducts every winter: what worked, what failed, where talent was maximized, and where it was wasted. Somewhere amid the rewind-and-pause sessions, a single conclusion crystallized—his own voice needed to be heard less on game day. Sources close to the process say that moment of candor became the catalyst for Carolina’s most significant schematic shift of 2025: Canales will cede play-calling duties to an offensive coordinator whose identity the club will formalize once the staff restructures are complete. The move, confirmed by team officials here at the league meetings, ends the coach’s tenure as the Panthers’ primary play-caller before it ever officially began. Canales, who has never lacked confidence in his offensive vision, ultimately decided the franchise’s path forward required a broader vantage point from the sideline—one that prioritizes game-management, in-game adjustments, and overall culture-building over the weekly chess match at the line of scrimmage. The decision, described by one Panthers source as “uncomfortable but necessary,” underscores the young coach’s willingness to confront hard truths in pursuit of a sharper, more balanced attack when Carolina returns for voluntary workouts this spring.

Orchard Park, N.Y.—Less than a week after being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach, Joe Brady has already delivered a ringing endorsement to wide receiver Keon Coleman, the player at the center of an unexpected draft-day controversy. Brady’s vote of confidence comes on the heels of remarks made last month by Bills owner Terry Pegula. During a press conference originally called to address the departure of former head coach Sean McDermott, Pegula volunteered that Coleman—selected 33rd overall in the 2024 draft—was “not originally the organization’s main choice,” adding that the pick had been driven by the previous coaching staff. The unsolicited commentary caught both the media and fan base off guard and raised questions about Coleman’s long-term future in Buffalo. Coleman, who split his college career between Michigan and Florida State, flashed potential during his first two seasons with the Bills, recording several explosive receptions. Yet his production was modest early on, a trajectory some analysts attribute to the natural learning curve facing any young receiver transitioning to the NFL. Speaking to NFL on ESPN this week, Brady sought to extinguish any lingering uncertainty. “I told Keon, ‘The best thing that’s ever going to happen to Keon Coleman is that I got named head football coach,’” Brady said, punctuating the statement with unmistakable enthusiasm. The declaration signals that Coleman will remain a featured piece of the offensive puzzle as the franchise pivots toward the 2026-27 campaign. The timing of Brady’s remarks appears calculated to unify a locker room that spent the latter half of the offseason absorbing speculation about possible roster upheaval. Coleman has yet to speak publicly since Pegula’s press conference, but teammates privately say the receiver has maintained a business-first approach throughout the episode. Buffalo’s front office, still guided by general manager Brandon Beane, has preached patience with homegrown talent since the franchise clawed out of a 17-year playoff drought. Brady’s ascension only reinforces that philosophy. By aligning himself so forcefully with Coleman, the 34-year-old head coach is betting that the wideout’s combination of size, route-running versatility, and red-zone instincts can blossom into the consistent playmaking the Bills have pursued in their quest for a first Super Bowl title. Organizational sources indicate no trade discussions involving Coleman have taken place, and the new coaching staff plans to expand his route tree in the coming offseason program. If Brady’s endorsement translates to on-field production, the Bills believe they can finally move past a month of unwanted headlines and focus on closing the gap in an increasingly competitive AFC. Buffalo opens its offseason workout schedule in March, giving Coleman his first opportunity to showcase the progress the new head coach insists is on the horizon.

Indianapolis—For the first time since Jim Harbaugh was hired in January, Giants general manager Joe Schoen and the new head coach shared a public stage at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, outlining their early vision for a franchise coming off a 3-14 season. Their separate media sessions produced five notable storylines that will shape New York’s off-season: 1. Schoen’s authority remains intact The addition of senior vice president of football operations Dawn Aponte—who will report directly to Harbaugh and oversee the salary cap, contract negotiations and personnel coordination—sparked questions about Schoen’s influence. Schoen flatly dismissed any suggestion of a diminished role. “I’m still the general manager of the team and my role has not changed,” he said, noting that he, Aponte and Harbaugh maintain “constant communication” after working together previously in Miami. Schoen declined to discuss whether he has received a contract extension entering the final year of his current deal. 2. Free-agent priorities come with a cost The Giants must decide by the March 11 opening of free agency whether to retain receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. Harbaugh praised all three but warned that fiscal reality could limit retention. “I saw guys we want back,” Harbaugh said. “Now do we have the wherewithal to bring them back and is it a good use of resources? That’s the next part of the conversation.” Spotrac projects average annual values of $17.6 million for Robinson, $9.5 million for Flott and $8.7 million for Eluemunor; the Giants currently sit $5.1 million under the cap. 3. Kayvon Thibodeaux stays—for now Entering the fifth-year option season of his rookie contract, the edge rusher played only 10 games in 2024 before a shoulder injury ended his year. Schoen acknowledged fielding trade calls before November’s deadline but said, “Right now, Kayvon’s going to be with us. He played well, he’s motivated, and you can’t have enough pass rushers.” 4. Dexter Lawrence’s future looms Despite a dislocated elbow that limited the defensive tackle to half a sack last season, Harbaugh called Lawrence “really important” and a “middle-stone” of the defense. With three years left on his deal but no remaining guarantees after 2025, extension talks could accelerate this spring. 5. Run defense “a must” fix New York finished last in yards allowed per carry (5.3) and second-to-last in rushing yards allowed per game (145.3). Harbaugh tasked new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson with reversing that trend, calling it foundational to the team’s identity. “Can’t let people run all over you, there’s no doubt about it,” Harbaugh said. “It’s been important since football started.” Both Harbaugh and Schoen deflected questions about co-owner Steve Tisch’s recently revealed email exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, referring reporters to Tisch’s Jan. 30 statement and saying they would leave the matter to the NFL’s review. Giants beat reporter Evan Barnes contributed from Indianapolis.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington, the 2023 third-round pick whose rare 6-foot-8, 300-plus-pound frame has already made him a cult hero among fans, received the strongest vote of confidence yet from the organization on Tuesday at the NFL Combine. General manager Omar Khan, speaking to reporters in Indianapolis, left little ambiguity about Washington’s place in the franchise’s long-term blueprint, describing the second-year tight end as a “cornerstone” of the roster the Steelers intend to build. The declaration arrives at a pivotal moment: Washington is under contract only through the 2027 season, and negotiations on a rookie-deal extension are widely expected to intensify before the 2026 league year begins. Washington’s first two professional seasons have been equal parts tantalizing and turbulent. Former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith unlocked the University of Georgia product’s versatility, motioning him across formations and manufacturing touches that showcased his punishing stiff-arm and open-field power. Despite sharing a room with proven pass catchers Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth, Washington steadily carved out a role, finishing the 2025 campaign with 31 receptions on 43 targets for 364 yards and one touchdown in 16 games before a late-season injury landed him on injured reserve. The raw totals belie the impact: nearly every Washington touch became social-media fodder, clips of defenders bouncing off his shoulder pads circulating well beyond Steelers Twitter. Still, ball-security hiccups and intermittent knee maintenance have kept the conversation around him cautiously optimistic rather than unbridled. Questions naturally surfaced when Mike McCarthy took over as head coach, replacing the staff that originally championed Washington. Would the new regime value a jumbo tight end whose greatest utility may still be as a sixth offensive lineman who can detach and stress linebackers down the seam? Khan’s emphatic answer Tuesday—coupled with reports that Washington has resumed full workouts in Arizona—suggests Pittsburgh has no intention of finding out what life would look like without him. An extension is not imminent, but Steelers insiders interpret Khan’s phrasing as a signal that negotiations will be prioritized once the new league year opens. For a fan base that has already embraced Washington’s throwback, physically imposing style, the front office’s stance offers both clarity and excitement: the most unique weapon in the tight-end room isn’t going anywhere.

Wrexham AFC have tied down one of the architects of their recent promotion success, announcing that midfielder Ollie Rathbone has put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep him at the Racecourse Ground through the end of the 2027-28 campaign. Rathbone, 27, arrived in north Wales last August after 128 appearances for Rotherham United, a stint that included promotion to the Championship and EFL Trophy glory. A graduate of the Manchester United academy, the midfielder has quickly become a fan favourite, registering 14 goals in 64 matches and playing a pivotal role in the club’s surge out of League One. The 2024-25 season proved to be a breakthrough campaign for Rathbone, who was named Wrexham’s Player of the Season as Phil Parkinson’s side sealed promotion. His most recent strike came on the opening day of the current Championship season, a late equaliser away to Bristol City that set the tone for the club’s second-tier return. Speaking after committing his future to the Red Dragons, Rathbone said: “I’m absolutely delighted to sign a new contract. It’s a special day for me and my family. I’m over the moon. My time here has been great so far. It’s probably the best football I’ve played in my career. I want to keep playing, keep improving, and create more special moments for this Club.” Manager Phil Parkinson echoed those sentiments, praising the midfielder’s resilience and impact: “We’re delighted for Ollie to be rewarded with a new contract. He was outstanding for us last season in our promotion campaign. He’s come back stronger than ever from his pre-season injury and this contract is well deserved.” Rathbone’s emergence is the latest example of Manchester United’s academy influence extending well beyond Old Trafford. Wrexham have already dipped into that talent pool once more this summer, adding fellow former United prospect Matty James to the squad last month. With Rathbone now secured for the next three seasons, Wrexham supporters will hope his energy, goals and creativity can help stabilise the club in the Championship and continue the remarkable upward trajectory begun under the club’s Hollywood ownership.

When Everton’s Idrissa Gueye strode out for Monday night’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United, television cameras zoomed in on a flash of brilliant white: full-length leggings peeping from beneath his royal-blue shorts. The Senegalese midfielder’s choice was neither a wardrobe malfunction nor a sartorial whim; it was the latest example of how function and fashion continue to collide on the modern football pitch. Gueye’s leggings—dyed to match his shorts in accordance with competition regulations—are primarily a practical response to plummeting temperatures, offering an extra thermal layer rarely seen on outfield players. Yet they also underline a broader trend in which performance aids morph into talking points. Ryan Giggs pioneered the look in the late-1990s, slipping into black support leggings while protecting a hamstring injury, but two decades on the sight remains unusual enough to trigger social-media debate. The same could be said for gloves. While outfield players covering their hands is broadly accepted, history shows the accessory can still raise eyebrows. Nicolas Anelka scored twice for France against England in 1999 wearing a pair of goalkeeper gloves, and Nottingham Forest’s John Metgod took to the City Ground turf in brown gardening-style mitts during the 1980s. Purists remain divided on the propriety of gloves paired with short sleeves, but players continue to weigh marginal gains over tradition. Perhaps the most contemporary hack is the deliberate shredding of socks. Stars across the Premier League now cut holes in the fabric around the calves to release compression and reduce muscle fatigue. The modification, barely visible to spectators, has become as routine for some as lacing boots. Goalkeepers, unconstrained by the same aesthetic expectations, have long embraced alternatives. Tracksuit bottoms remain permissible between the posts, a throwback that Gabor Kiraly championed throughout his career. “I’m a goalie, not a model,” the former Crystal Palace No 1 famously retorted, explaining that jogging bottoms softened the impact of frozen or clay surfaces. Manchester United’s Massimo Taibi and Colombia’s Rene Higuita—who performed his audacious scorpion-kick save at Wembley in 1995—similarly favoured comfort over convention. Caps, too, are entrenched in goalkeeping culture, designed to shield eyes from low winter sun. Recent adopters include Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson and Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario, both opting for club-branded versions that double as marketing tools. In outfield ranks, headbands and Alice bands have migrated from women’s football to the men’s game. England internationals Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke wear them regularly, while Yves Bissouma appeared in one during Sunday’s north-London derby. The accessories keep long hair in check, though the Football Association fined Allan Saint-Maximin in 2022 for sporting a designer-branded version, breaching kit regulations. Snoods, once sported by Carlos Tevez, Samir Nasri and Ashley Young, were outlawed in matches by Ifab in 2011, yet remain a familiar sight on training grounds during winter warm-ups. Their thermal cousin, the skin-tight undershirt, is ubiquitous; long-sleeved match jerseys are increasingly scarce, forcing players to layer short-sleeved shirts over compression tops or wear replica long-sleeved shirts manufactured for retail. Wrist and finger tape, ostensibly medical, has become almost decorative, stabilising joints while offering space for discreet personal messages—though Ifab now prohibits tape used merely to conceal jewellery. Shinpads have simultaneously shrunk: Burnley’s Marcus Edwards and Jack Grealish have favoured tiny guards that maximise mobility, testing the lower limits of the laws. Even socks and boots are being customised. Footless socks—achieved by scissors or purchased pre-cut—are paired with separate ankle socks to ease pressure points, while some players, including former Brazil stars Neymar and Philippe Coutinho, slice holes in their boot heels to accommodate Haglund’s deformity or simply to relieve chronic discomfort. From leggings to snoods, gloves to garish headbands, football’s wardrobe continues to expand. Whether driven by medical necessity, micro-advantage or plain personal taste, each new accessory sparks conversation—and occasionally regulation—reminding fans that what players wear can be every bit as scrutinised as how they play.

Miami, Okla. – The Miami Wardogs will have a new voice on the sideline this fall after the district announced Monday evening that Daniel Chamberlain has been hired as head football coach. Chamberlain succeeds Zach Gardner, who departed after eight seasons to take the head-coaching position at Wyandotte. Gardner leaves with a 29-52 overall record at Miami, but the program showed recent flashes of success, collecting 25 wins over the past three years and securing playoff victories after a postseason drought that dated back to 2008. An Oklahoma native with two decades of military service in the U.S. Army National Guard, Chamberlain arrives in Ottawa County following analyst and assistant-coach roles at Bristow Public Schools. According to a Miami Public Schools release, his work with the Pirates coincided with “a significant increase in offensive production and in-game problem-solving.” Prior to Bristow, Chamberlain spent time on Bill Blankenship’s staff at Owasso High School, contributing to a program lauded for “discipline, preparation and a culture of winning.” Away from the field, he hosts a pair of football-centric podcasts that connect coaches across the state to discuss program building, culture and player development. “Beyond the field, Chamberlain is committed to growing the game of football and investing in leadership development,” the release stated, adding that his military background “emphasizing discipline, resilience, teamwork and service” will shape his approach with Wardog student-athletes. Athletic Director Rusty Mercer said Chamberlain came “highly recommended by a few highly prominent Oklahoma High School football coaches” and presented “an exciting and clear vision” that spans the high-school program down to youth levels. Chamberlain inherits a roster that finished 2-8 a year ago, though Miami was 8-3 and playoff-bound just two seasons prior. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity and emphasized a broader mission. “This isn’t just about the game,” Chamberlain said. “It’s about developing disciplined, resilient young men who represent their school and community the right way. I’m looking forward to connecting with our players, families, staff and all those invested in our future. The foundation is here. The work starts today.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni left little doubt about his desire to keep star wide receiver A.J. Brown in Philadelphia, telling reporters at the NFL Combine on Monday night that both he and Brown want the partnership to continue. Speaking alongside general manager Howie Roseman, Sirianni praised Brown’s impact on and off the field. “A.J.’s a great player and A.J. is a good teammate and A.J. is a good person,” Sirianni said. “Does he want to be here? Yes. Do I want him to be here? Yes.” Despite the mutual affection, Sirianni stopped short of guaranteeing Brown’s roster spot for 2024. “Will A.J. be here next season? I think we’re still in a spot … I can’t guarantee how anything is going to play out,” he said, adding that even his own role as head coach isn’t certain beyond today. “You can’t guarantee anything past tomorrow.” Roseman echoed the difficulty of replacing elite talent, noting, “It’s hard to get good players in this league,” while also acknowledging the front office’s responsibility to explore every avenue for roster improvement. “There’s very few things that I would shoot down without even hearing what that means, because how does it hurt to listen,” Roseman said. The comments set the stage for what could be another spring of speculation surrounding Brown’s future. Philadelphia enters the draft cycle open to dialogue, ensuring trade rumors will linger until the April selection meeting.

Robert Carradine, whose wide-eyed portrayal of Lewis Skolnick in the 1984 cult comedy “Revenge of the Nerds” turned him into an unlikely pop-culture icon and who later endeared himself to a new generation as the laid-back dad Sam McGuire on Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire,” has died at age 71. The youngest scion of Hollywood’s prolific Carradine acting dynasty, Carradine had, according to a brief statement, spent recent years navigating bipolar disorder. No further details regarding his death were provided. Carradine’s breakout role came as the enthusiastic, adorably awkward Lewis, leader of the Lambda Lambda Lambda fraternity, in “Revenge of the Nerds,” a film that celebrated underdogs and became a surprise box-office success, spawning sequels and cementing the word “nerd” into the American lexicon. Two decades later he transitioned smoothly into family television, playing the supportive, guitar-strumming father to Hilary Duff’s Lizzie in the Emmy-nominated series that ran from 2001 to 2004 and became a touchstone of early-millennium youth culture. Off-screen, Carradine was a familiar face at fan conventions and, in 2013, co-hosted TBS’s reality competition “King of the Nerds,” a tribute to the franchise that had launched him to fame. His passing marks another loss in a month that has already seen the deaths of sports legends such as Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and NHL ironman Glenn Hall, as well as civil-rights pioneer Claudette Colvin and fashion titan Valentino Garavani. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

INDIANAPOLIS — Lucas Oil Stadium is once again the epicenter of the football universe as more than 300 draft hopefuls convene for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the annual four-day audition that can recalibrate draft boards from top to bottom. Quarterbacks headline the on-field storyline. With no defenders rushing their faces, the scripted throwing sessions will still carry heavy weight, especially for those eyeing top-10 slots. Evaluators will dissect footwork, timing, and velocity, searching for the subtle clues that separate franchise quarterbacks from the pack. Along the defensive line, the bench press remains the first measuring stick, but scouts will lock in on three-cone agility and 10-yard split times to gauge the burst and bend prized in edge rushers. For receivers, running backs, and defensive backs, the 40-yard dash is the marquee metric; one electrifying clocking can rocket a mid-round projection into Day 1 discussion, while a sluggish time invites skepticism about true game speed. Yet the stopwatch only tells part of the tale. Formal 15-minute team interviews probe football IQ, leadership, and cultural fit, while comprehensive medical exams can confirm or cloud long-term durability outlooks. Several high-profile prospects are skipping on-field drills, betting that interview rooms and training tables will secure their draft standing before campus pro days offer another stage. By the time prospects depart downtown Indianapolis, front offices will exit with verified measurements, updated grades, and a reshaped big board. For the athletes, it is a condensed window—four days to prove they belong under the bright lights of Sundays.

New Orleans, LA—As the Saints map out their 2026 roster, one item on the offseason checklist looks refreshingly straightforward: securing veteran center Luke Fortner for the next three seasons at a projected cost of roughly $18.5 million. Fortner, 27, arrived as injury insurance for two-time Pro Bowler Erik McCoy and wound up starting 10 of 17 games in 2025 while McCoy missed extended time. Pro Football Focus graded Fortner at 66.5, ranking him 18th among 40 qualifying centers and validating his reliability inside the arc. With McCoy logging only 14 appearances across the past two campaigns, New Orleans values Fortner not merely as a fill-in but as a dependable rotation piece who already has chemistry with quarterback Tyler Shough. Spotrac’s valuation—about $6.2 million per year—slots Fortner in the middle tier of NFL centers, a figure the club can absorb without straining the cap. A shorter, incentive-laden deal could drive the price even lower, but even at the full projection the Saints would lock in continuity at a position that has become increasingly volatile. The offensive line’s broader outlook supports the move. Bookend tackles Taliese Fuaga (2024 first-rounder) and Kelvin Banks Jr. (2025 first-rounder) are under affordable rookie deals through at least 2027, and guard Cesar Ruiz remains under team control for two more seasons. Retaining Fortner would solidify the interior while the franchise continues to evaluate guard upgrades elsewhere. Given the modest price tag, Fortner’s proven production, and McCoy’s recent health concerns, executives inside the Caesars Superdome are expected to treat the decision as a formality once the new league year opens.

Detroit, MI — The Detroit Lions will return to the global stage in 2026, officially announcing Tuesday that they will face an opponent at FC Bayern Munich Stadium in Munich, Germany. The contest fulfills the league’s requirement that every franchise surrender one home date every eight seasons for international play; the Lions’ last overseas appearance came on Nov. 1, 2015, at London’s Wembley Stadium. This will mark Detroit’s second regular-season game outside the United States, following a 2014 Wembley matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. It will also be the franchise’s first international tilt under head coach Dan Campbell. “We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,” team president Rod Wood said in a release. “As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.” The Lions secured international marketing rights covering Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 2024 and have since deepened roots across the region. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose mother Miriam is from nearby Cologne, hosted a youth football camp in Germany last offseason and has become one of the country’s most recognizable NFL players. “It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” St. Brown said. “I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country.” Detroit’s outreach includes a partnership with Bundesliga side F.C. Köln designed to promote both brands across continents. The NFL will stage nine international games in 2026, with three in London and single contests in Munich, Madrid, Mexico City, Melbourne, Paris and Rio de Janeiro. The Lions’ exact date and kickoff time will be unveiled during the league’s spring schedule release.

Guadalajara, one of three Mexican venues slated to stage 2025 World Cup matches this summer, is under intense scrutiny from Fifa after the weekend death of cartel kingpin Nemesio Oseguara Cervantes—known as “El Mencho”—triggered a nationwide wave of violence. Cervantes, head of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed during a Mexican military operation in Jalisco state on Sunday. Within hours, reprisals spread across 20 states: highways were choked by blazing vehicles, banks and storefronts were torched, and plumes of smoke rose above city skylines. At Guadalajara’s international airport, passengers were filmed sprinting and crouching between check-in counters after gunfire erupted on a nearby thoroughfare. The unrest arrives only four months before the Estadio Akron in Zapopan, part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area, is scheduled to host the World Cup final. The 48,000-capacity ground is also pencilled in for a trio of play-off fixtures at the end of March involving Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia. With fan safety now in question, Fifa issued a terse statement on Monday: “At Fifa Mexico, we are closely monitoring the situation in Jalisco and remain in constant communication with the authorities. We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy.” Domestic football has already felt the fallout. Liga MX postponed two Sunday fixtures—Querétaro vs Juárez in the men’s top flight and the women’s Clásico between Chivas and Club América—while second-tier games in Cancún and Celaya were also shelved. In Aguascalientes, the women’s match between Necaxa and Querétaro was abandoned after players dashed for the tunnel when what were believed to be gunshots echoed outside Estadio Victoria. El Tri’s preparations have likewise been disrupted. Mexico are due to face Iceland in a friendly on Wednesday at Querétaro’s Corregidora Stadium, yet local organisers have yet to confirm whether the game will proceed as scheduled. Away from the turmoil, tennis events have pressed ahead. The Mexican Open in Acapulco started on schedule Monday, although British number one Cameron Norrie crashed out in under an hour to 17-year-old Rafael Jodar. On the opposite coast, the WTA Merida Open continued at the Yucatán Country Club under heightened police presence; Katie Boulter advanced with a straight-sets win over Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. With governments, broadcasters and travelling supporters watching closely, Fifa says it will not hesitate to adjust plans should Jalisco’s security climate deteriorate further.

INDIANAPOLIS — When the 49ers convene Thursday along the Lucas Oil Stadium sideline for the defensive-line workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine, one number will dominate every conversation: 20. That is the sack total San Francisco produced in 2025, a figure that placed the franchise dead last in the league and a full 48 behind the league-leading Denver Broncos. With Myles Garrett setting an NFL-record 23 sacks by himself in Cleveland, the 49ers’ inability to harass quarterbacks has become the roster’s most urgent liability. The solution may arrive on April 23 at the 27th overall selection of the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager John Lynch and the personnel department are expected to keep the pick, and while blue-chip rushers such as Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Miami’s Rueben Bain and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk are unlikely to escape the top 20, a second tier of edge defenders offers both immediate help and long-term upside. Here are the five names most frequently linked to the 49ers in Indianapolis: 1. **Miles Mesidor, Miami (FL)** A six-year college veteran who logged his first two seasons at West Virginia, Mesidor turns 25 in April and is viewed as one of the most pro-ready pass rushers in the class. He closed 2025 with 12.5 sacks and was virtually unblockable during Miami’s playoff run. Concerns about his arm length are offset by elite hand usage and nonstop effort. Several clubs picking ahead of San Francisco covet his plug-and-play traits, so his availability at 27 is no guarantee. 2. **T.J. Parker, Clemson** Parker’s junior film (11 sacks, six forced fumbles) is more tantalizing than his senior production (five sacks, zero forced fumbles), but evaluators left Mobile raving about his Senior Bowl week. The 6-foot-4 edge setter showed a refined counter sequence and the ability to convert speed to power, traits that could flourish in the 49ers’ wide-nine alignment. 3. **Jordan Thomas, USC** Thomas is the classic “designated pass-rush” projection. At 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds, he lacks the sand in his pants to hold up against NFL run fronts, yet his burst and flexibility produced 27 career sacks split between Bowling Green and Texas A&M. If San Francisco opts for a rotational rusher who can close games on third down, Thomas offers value late on Day 1. 4. **Eli Howell, Texas A&M** Howell’s calling card is ankle-bending bend. The former Bowling Green transfer pairs loose hips with an explosive first step, giving tackles fits when the down-and-distance tilts toward the pass. His slender frame raises durability questions, but defensive coordinator Steve Wilks could deploy him as a wide-9 specialist to protect leads. 5. **Darius Young, Missouri** Young’s 6-foot-6, 280-pound frame and 16.5 tackles-for-loss make him an intriguing chess piece who can reduce inside on nickel downs. The red flags are off the field: prosecutors in Columbia last month charged him with driving while intoxicated after he was clocked at 64 mph in a 50-mph zone and refused sobriety tests. Teams must weigh the character evaluation against his rare length and power. San Francisco’s current depth chart underscores the need. Nick Bosa and 2024 first-rounder Mykel Williams are rehabbing torn ACLs. Bryce Huff recorded four sacks in the first seven games but disappeared down the stretch. Mid-season acquisition Keion White is recovering from surgery to repair a gunshot wound to his left ankle, leaving his 2026 availability murky. The 49ers have historically mined the later rounds for pass-rush gems, yet the urgency created by last season’s 20-sack nadir could push Lynch toward an immediate contributor. Thursday’s combine drills will provide the next data point as the franchise searches for the one piece capable of transforming its dormant pass rush into a quarterback’s nightmare once again.

Bloomington, Ind. – Curt Cignetti’s signature on yet another contract extension Wednesday formalized what the college-football world has already conceded: the sport’s most improbable dynasty now resides at Indiana, and the man who built it will be paid like it. The new deal, Cignetti’s third in two seasons, lifts his annual compensation to $13.2 million through 2033 and places him in the sport’s pay stratosphere alongside Kirby Smart, Dabo Swinney and Steve Sarkisian. The trigger was written into his previous contract: finish among the top three coaching salaries if the Hoosiers reach a College Football Playoff semifinal. After Indiana’s 2025 semifinal berth, the clause activated, and athletic director Scott Dolson moved immediately to keep the number accurate. The numbers, like the story itself, border on the surreal. Three winters ago Cignetti was lobbying the NCAA to grant James Madison a bowl waiver. Today he is 27-2 at Indiana, the lone defeats coming against eventual national champion Ohio State and runner-up Notre Dame in 2024. Along the way he has stacked firsts that read like a program bucket list: • First 10-win season in 135 years of Indiana football. • First unbeaten and untied regular season. • First Big Ten title since 1967. • First College Football Playoff appearance. • First 16-0 season in major-college history, punctuated by the school’s inaugural national championship. The avalanche of milestones has flipped the Big Ten-SEC pecking order in real time. With Michigan reloading and Penn State rising, league officials now market the conference as the nation’s deepest, a boast backed by television partners and recruiting analysts alike. Context underscores the magnitude. Kevin Wilson needed six seasons to win 26 games; Tom Allen required six to reach 27. Bill Mallory, patron saint of modern Indiana football, totaled 31 victories in his final six years. Cignetti hit 27 in 29 Saturdays. The roster formula is equally unconventional. Since arriving in December 2023, Cignetti has signed 62 high-school prospects; only one carried a national ranking via the 247Sports composite. Star receiver Charlie Becker and linebacker Rolijijah Hardy arrived unranked. The staff’s developmental acumen—coupled with a surgical strike on the transfer portal—produced rent-a-quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft and another Indiana first. Recruiting services have taken notice. The Hoosiers’ 2026 class opened with a nationally ranked signee, ending a symbolic drought and signaling that the developmental pipeline may soon be supplemented by blue-chip talent. Cignetti’s ascent also reframes the Nick Saban coaching tree. Georgia’s Kirby Smart captured a title in Year 6 inheriting a program that averaged nine wins. Cignetti needed two seasons, inheriting a team that went 1-8 in league play the year before his arrival. The comparison invites debate over which branch has borne the most transformative fruit. Athletics department officials privately acknowledge the contract escalation is defensive as much as celebratory. The marketplace for proven winners has never been more volatile; buyouts and bidding wars arrive weekly. By guaranteeing top-three money now, Indiana pre-empts suitors who would court Cignetti after any future playoff run. Publicly, the message is simpler: the most storied rebuild in college-football history is still being written, and the university intends to keep its author. Cignetti, ever pragmatic, brushed aside questions about the paycheck after Wednesday’s announcement, choosing instead to spotlight the next horizon. “We’ve got spring ball in ten days,” he said. “Another team to mold, another season to chase. That’s the only number I’m worried about.” For Indiana, the only number that matters is the one attached to the man who keeps making history—and who, at least for the next eight years, will be paid accordingly.

The National Football League will shatter its own international footprint in 2026, staging a record nine regular-season contests outside the United States—two more than the previous high set last season—and stretching gridiron action across four continents. London remains the epicentre of the league’s global push, with three dates split between Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (two games) and Wembley Stadium (one). Elsewhere in Europe, Munich’s Allianz Arena will welcome the NFL for the third time after successful visits in 2022 and 2024, while Madrid’s Bernabéu will stage consecutive-year action and Paris will make its long-awaited debut at Stade de France. Beyond Europe, the schedule spans the Americas and into the South Pacific. Mexico City returns to the rotation for the first time since 2022, bringing its historic Estadio Azteca tally to five games. Brazil keeps its streak alive with a third straight season hosting, but shifts from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracanã Stadium. Australia will enter the NFL map when Melbourne Cricket Ground hosts its inaugural contest. While the league has not yet unveiled the full slate of matchups, it has begun identifying designated home teams for select venues. The most recent confirmation came on Feb. 24, when the Detroit Lions were announced as the designated home club for the Munich game. Additional host-opponent pairings are expected to trickle out over the coming weeks. The complete 2026 schedule—including dates, kickoff times and broadcast assignments—will be released in mid-May, following the conclusion of free agency and the NFL Draft. That timing allows the league to craft marquee showdowns featuring newly signed stars and top rookies in fresh uniforms. With nine international fixtures locked in and more teams still waiting to learn their passport requirements, the 2026 season is poised to become the most globally distributed campaign in league history.

MONROE COUNTY — Bedford, Gibraltar Carlson, Flat Rock and Ida opened the state boys basketball tournaments with dramatic victories Monday night, punching tickets to Wednesday’s district semifinals while Monroe, Airport, Dundee, Milan and St. Mary Catholic Central saw their seasons end. Bedford 53, Trenton 51 TRENTON — Nick Coberley’s buzzer-beater capped a stunning comeback for the Mules, who trailed 11-0 before scoring and were down 16 at halftime. Ish Hakki poured in 23 points and Henry Albring added 10 as Bedford improved to 9-14 and advanced to Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Division 1 semifinal against Woodhaven at Trenton. Gibraltar Carlson 45, Monroe 28 TRENTON — The Marauders held Monroe to 16 points through three quarters and rode Trent Ison’s 14 points to the win. Jacob Collins and Carmine Carafelli each chipped in 9 for Carlson, now 14-8 and winners of three straight. They face New Boston Huron in Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. Division 1 semifinal at Trenton. Julian Espinoza scored a season-best 8 for the 2-20 Trojans. Flat Rock 59, Airport 54 NEWPORT — Evan Szalay posted 22 points and 5 rebounds and Jorand Godfrey supplied 14 points, 5 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals as the Rams swept Airport in a week after an earlier-season loss. Airport, closing at 10-13, had four players in double figures: Aidyn Stahr 14, Dillon Byrd 10, Jack Baker 10 and Wally Sisler 10. Flat Rock (9-14) meets host Jefferson in Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Division 2 semifinal. Ida 45, Dundee 32 NEWPORT — Luke Hennessey buried two early triples and Connor Zimmerman finished with 12 points as the Blue Streaks beat their rival for the third time this season. Owen Snyder added 9 and Gavin Albring keyed the defense for 15-7 Ida, which faces Grosse Ile in Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. Division 2 semifinal at Jefferson. Elsewhere, defending state champion Gabriel Richard ended St. Mary Catholic Central’s year in Erie, 55-31. Brock Cousino scored 11 for the 3-20 Falcons. Milan bowed out at Tecumseh, with Landon Talladay scoring 11 and Kingston Webster 9 in the 4-19 Big Reds’ finale. Wednesday’s semifinals will trim the field again as the chase for a state title rolls on.

Mount Enterprise, Texas — In a swift, unanimous decision Monday night, the Mount Enterprise ISD board tapped East Texas native Daniel Davis to steer the Wildcats’ athletic department and lead the football program, filling the void left by Scott Ponder’s January departure for Alto. Davis, a 2001 New Diana graduate, arrives from Weatherford ISD, where he spent recent seasons molding football and powerlifting athletes. Stops at Godley and Seymour dot a résumé built on small-town roots and a belief that community and team are inseparable. During a brief interview after the special-called meeting, Davis said the district’s vision mirrors his own, citing the family atmosphere that first drew him to the rural campus. “Extremely excited,” Davis said. “Our family and I are really excited to be here. We’re very excited to get to serve this community and get the football program going in the direction I feel like we need to go.” Davis promised supporters a fast, physical product built on discipline and selfless play. “We’re gonna be team first,” he said. “Again, we’re meant to serve others and so that’s what we’re gonna try to do as a team. That’s kind of the vision that we’re gonna build here.” Athletic department officials have not announced a timetable for spring practices, but Davis indicated he will waste no time implementing his system and meeting players, teachers, and community leaders.

BOULDER, Colo. — A chance encounter between two University of Colorado students and head football coach Deion Sanders offered a brief but telling snapshot of the reverence the Hall of Famer expects on his own turf. While relaxing on a campus bench earlier this week, the undergraduates spotted Sanders strolling past and greeted him with an excited, “Deion Sanders?” followed by, “How you doing, Deion?” Sanders, ever the showman, paused just long enough to deliver a playful correction: “They call me Coach around here,” before offering a fist bump and continuing on his way. The lighthearted exchange, captured in a moment that quickly circulated among students, underscored the identity Sanders has embraced since taking over the Buffaloes program. The 2025 season tested that identity as never before. After star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way phenom Travis Hunter departed for the NFL, Colorado’s on-field results fell short of preseason optimism. Yet within the context of Sanders’s personal trials—most notably a summer bladder-cancer diagnosis that required surgery and a forced hiatus from preseason activities—program insiders still label the calendar year a success. Doctors ultimately declared the 58-year-old cancer-free following a bladder replacement, and Sanders credits the temporary step away with reshaping his lifestyle and dietary habits. Off the field, 2025 brought additional milestones. In March, Sanders signed an eight-year, $8.9 million annual contract that places him among the highest-paid head coaches in college football. Weeks later, both of his sons heard their names called during the NFL Draft, capping a bittersweet but triumphant spring. Still, Colorado’s roster depth remains a concern. The 2025 squad lacked the volume of four- and five-star signees needed to compete consistently in the Big 12, exposing the lag between national buzz and tangible recruiting victories. Analysts caution that until Sanders and his staff convert publicity into elite commitments, the Buffaloes risk remaining on the periphery of the national conversation. Yet those same analysts acknowledge that overcoming cancer has a way of re-ordering priorities. If Sanders’s health scare offered clarity, his brief interaction with the students offered a reminder: titles matter, and in Boulder, “Coach” is the only one he’s ready to answer to.

TAYLORS — In the record books, Mountain View Prep is barely 18 months old. On the hardwood, the Stars already play like seasoned veterans. The school opened its doors in July 2024. Twelve months ago the boys basketball team stepped into the SCHSL playoffs as an unknown quantity and exited quickly, falling 63-56 to Palmetto in the opening round. That taste of early elimination, coach Nick Lagroone said, became the program’s accelerant. “We knew we didn’t need a decade to build something special,” Lagroone reflected after Mountain View’s 49-30 dismantling of St. Joseph’s Catholic on Feb. 23 in the Class 3A quarterfinals at Greer Middle College. “We needed buy-in, reps, and a refusal to accept the idea that ‘new’ equals ‘behind.’” The Stars turned a tight first half into a rout with a 21-2 third-quarter blitz, holding the Knights to a single field goal over the final 16 minutes. Senior guard Ma’Ori Henderson scored 13 of his team-high points after intermission, while junior two-sport standout Mak Anderson—best known as the school’s star quarterback—chipped in 10 and hounded St. Joseph’s ball-handlers on the perimeter. “When I traded shoulder pads for high-tops, I had to check my ego,” Anderson said. “Basketball isn’t about one position leading; it’s about five pieces fitting.” The victory vaults Mountain View (20-6) into the Upper State finals against Christ Church on Feb. 27, completing a single-season leap from first-round fodder to final-four participant. Athletic director Hailey Martin, herself in her first year on campus, called the run validation of a culture constructed overnight. “Coach Lagroone laid the foundation last year; these guys believed in it and stacked bricks every day,” she said. “You see it in how they celebrate and how they respond when things go sideways.” Henderson, one of only two seniors in the rotation, echoed the sentiment. “Playoffs reset everyone to 0-0,” he said. “We wanted to be the bigger dogs, and we’re not done growing yet.” Lagroone plans a brief celebration before turning the page. “Christ Church has winning in its DNA,” he noted. “We’ll enjoy tonight, then get back to chopping wood.” In just two years, Mountain View Prep has turned the concept of program-building on its head, proving that in high-stakes postseason play, heart and cohesion can outpace the calendar.

Martinsburg, W.Va. — Spring Mills turned a two-point deficit after one quarter into a 25-point blowout, outscoring Martinsburg 23-2 in the second period en route to a 73-48 victory that completed a regular-season sweep of their city rivals. The Bulldogs controlled the tempo early, leading 14-12 when the first eight minutes ended, but the Cardinals flipped the script as soon as the second quarter began. A blur of transition baskets ignited a 14-0 burst that stretched well beyond the Martinsburg bench’s first timeout and never truly stopped until the halftime horn sounded with Spring Mills up 35-16. “I told them that we needed to get out in transition,” head coach Shannon Layton said. “We are really good when we push the tempo and they finally decided to follow the game plan. When we did that, we probably went on about a 14-0 run. The goal was to get out in transition, get them on their heels, and good things will happen.” Good things indeed followed. The Cardinals’ defense, which has now held six of nine conference opponents under 50 points, limited Martinsburg to single digits in both the second and fourth quarters. Layton had set a pre-game target of keeping the Bulldogs under 45; the final 48 still felt like mission accomplished. “I know in order to compete again for another state championship, we have to get after it on the defensive end,” Layton added. Offensively, Spring Mills showcased a balanced arsenal. Senior guard Chase Jones poured in a game-high 21 points, while versatile wing Akwasi Opoku-Achampong contributed 20. Opoku-Achampong’s slashing style collapsed the Martinsburg defense, creating kick-outs that found Jones and others for clean looks. “Akwasi does a lot for this team, on and off the court,” Layton said. “But on the court, he gets into the paint. He gets kickouts to the Jones’ and other players on the floor to get them wide open shots. Not only does he do it on the defensive end, offensively he gives us 20 points a game and he averages about six assists per game. That’s a tough guy to deal with if you are an opposing team.” Tyler Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers with 16 points, and WVU football signee Xavier Anderson supplied an emotional lift in his first game back after a month-long injury layoff, chipping in eight points, relentless defense, and key rebounds. “He brings so much energy to our program,” Layton said of Anderson. “He gets after it on defense. He gets us rebounds.” The win lifts Spring Mills to 16-2 overall and extends its current winning streak to four games. The Cardinals, fresh off last season’s historic Class AAAA state title, now prepare for a Wednesday visit to Hedgesville and have added a March 5 road date at University. Martinsburg, which fell to 8-11, was paced by Nykeem Thompson’s 15 points. Brayden Amsler added 13 and Mikey Green finished with 11, but the Bulldogs never recovered from the second-quarter avalanche.