Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz approaches the line of scrimmage during first-half action against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium, Sep 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. Wentz surveys the defense and prepares to adjust the play as Minnesota operates its offense early in the contest. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
When Carson Wentz re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings last week, some onlookers just couldn’t stomach that he may be on deck for a QB3 job. A few days later, it seems precisely that assignment awaits.
Minnesota appears to have a larger contingency plan in mind for Wentz this season.
A couple of different sources hinted this week that Wentz, indeed, will be the backup to the backup, and it’s not hard to comprehend.
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Wentz Will Factor into Minnesota’s QB3 Insurance Strategy
A tweaked role for Wentz is ahead.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz goes through pregame drills with focused intensity as fans fill U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of a key NFC matchup, with added intrigue surrounding his former team, Oct 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Wentz’s preparation stood out during warmups before facing a strong Eagles defense. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Schefter: Wentz as a QB3 in Minnesota Isn’t Weird
Schefter stopped by The Pat McAfee Show on Monday and dropped the Wentz tidbit: “Maybe there’s something to the Wentz signing that would dictate or influence J.J. McCarthy’s future, but I don’t view it that way. You can never have enough quarterbacks, that’s how I view it.”
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis added in a separate article, “Wentz, 33, had multiple opportunities with perhaps clearer paths to playing time. Why, then, would he choose Minnesota? It was not because he got any impression that the Vikings would be moving on from McCarthy, one league source said. Instead, Wentz came back because of his faith in O’Connell, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and the team’s core players.”
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Both men essentially stated that the Vikings did not re-sign Wentz as part of a McCarthy replacement plan, as many on social media suggested last week.
Burned by Meager QB Depth Last Year
At this time last year, the Vikings had two quarterbacks on their roster: McCarthy — and Brett Rypien, who is mostly showcased as a practice squader.
Then, the NFL draft arrived, and former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung a trade for Sam Howell, a young quarterback from the Seattle Seahawks, who had a year’s worth of starting experience with the Washington Commanders. Howell arrived at training camp and in the preseason, struggling mightily, and was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Minnesota then signed Wentz as a late-summer fix, and he started five games in 2025.
Because the plan to formulate depth behind McCarthy was so paltry last offseason, Minnesota has swung for the fences this go-round. It’s not weird to have Wentz as the QB3; the Vikings learned their lesson.
The Stats from Wentz in 2025
While Wentz’s stats — a 65.1% completion rate for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions — don’t scream dominance, he undeniably brought a cleaner and more consistent presence to the 2025 offense. He kept Minnesota on schedule more effectively than McCarthy, drive after drive, and that steadiness proved valuable.
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The team’s scoring output reflects this improvement. With Wentz at quarterback, the Vikings surpassed 20 points in four of his five starts, including a 38-point rout of the Bengals. McCarthy, in contrast, only reached that mark four times in ten starts, with far more erratic performances.
Advanced metrics further support this assessment. Among 40 quarterbacks with at least 200 dropbacks, Wentz ranked 25th in EPA per play, while McCarthy lagged behind at 37th. This difference often manifests on extended drives, where patience, timing, and Wentz’s consistent completions are crucial for maintaining momentum.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) scans the field and prepares to throw during second-quarter action in an international matchup, showcasing poise under pressure as the offense searched for rhythm, Oct 5, 2025, in Tottenham, United Kingdom. The Vikings battled the Browns in front of a global audience at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Wentz prioritized quicker decisions and shorter throws, enabling the offense to function even when the offensive line struggled. McCarthy, with his greater potential for big plays and penchant for downfield throws, offered flashier highlights. However, his ball placement and consistency weren’t on par with Wentz, who provided the Vikings with a more dependable presence under center.
Perhaps a Summer Competition with McCarthy for QB2
Some even speculated that Wentz could be back in Minnesota to compete with Murray, as former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber led that charge on social media last week. While that take is rather outlandish, Wentz may do battle with McCarthy for the QB2 job. McCarthy faced virtually no training camp competition last year, and usually in sports, that’s a healthy practice.
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The aforementioned Lewis also noted, “This spring, the Vikings were determined to prevent a repeat — at all costs. This is why they were linked to as many quarterbacks as they were before free agency, and why they brought in Wentz after already signing Murray.”
“Wentz’s addition is not a referendum on 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy’s future, according to team sources, but it is an exclamation point on the team’s plan.”
Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) participates in pregame warmups while preparing for a divisional contest, moving through drills with measured focus ahead of kickoff, Nov 14, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Wentz returned to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Eagles, drawing attention before the NFC East showdown. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota may rectify its ways in the summer of 2026, forcing McCarthy to earn the QB2 job if he can’t oust Murray from the QB1 hold.
But remember: Wentz as the QB3, on a $3 million deal, isn’t some big conspiracy or coup against McCarthy. It’s just how the Vikings have responded this offseason to the scarce QB depth chart last year, which ruined their season when the dust settled.
Minnesota Vikings guard Donovan Jackson takes part in position drills during minicamp, working through technique and conditioning sessions with coaches and teammates at the team facility, Jun 10, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The rookie lineman focused on refining fundamentals as he pushed to carve out a role along the offensive front. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson, who mostly worked out as a rookie. At the time, many considered him a slight “reach” on the draftboard, and here’s a look at who’s in play if the Vikings follow the same pattern.
Last year’s Jackson template may offer a clue about Minnesota’s next first-round swing.
A Familiar Draft Reach Could Be in Play for Minnesota
What’s your preference for the Vikings’ draft pick?
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter (98) and guard Donovan Jackson (74) celebrate with fans along the sideline following a road victory, sharing energy after the final whistle at AT&T Stadium, Dec 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas, USA. The moment captured postgame enthusiasm as Minnesota wrapped up its matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
Jackson at No. 39 on the CBB Last Year
Minnesota held the 24th pick heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, and they picked a man ranked at No. 39 on the Consensus Big Board. After-the-fact reporting claimed the Houston Texans would’ve chosen Jackson at No. 25 — he’s from Houston, so there was a hometown angle — and the Texans needed interior offensive line help.
The Vikings basically proved that they’re comfortable whisking public-facing draftboards to the side in the interest of getting their man. For example, per the draft community, Minnesota might’ve been able to trade down and still get Jackson, though the public didn’t know about the Texans-Jackson stipulation.
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This was the Consensus Big Board last year, men ranked from 24 to 40:
Kenneth Grant (DL, Michigan)
Grey Zabel (iOL, North Dakota State)
Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio State)
Derrick Harmon (DL, Oregon)
Tyler Booker (iOL, Alabama)
Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
James Pearce Jr. (EDGE, Tennessee)
Jaxson Dart (QB, Mississippi)
Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
Josh Conerly Jr. (OT, Oregon)
Luther Burden (WR, Missouri)
TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Trey Amos (CB, Mississippi)
Donovan Jackson (iOL, Ohio State)
Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)
Jackson climbed 15 spots when it was all said and done.
The Same Territory … This Year
Now, pretend the same situation arises — the Vikings swipe a player somewhat far removed from their organic draft pick.
That list would look like this in 2026 speak:
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Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)
C.J. Allen (LB, Georgia)
T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
Kevin Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
Caleb Banks (DL, Florida)
Kayden McDonald (DL, Ohio State)
Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
Lee Hunter (DL, Texas Tech)
Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)
Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter addresses reporters during a media session, discussing preparation and expectations ahead of the season at Big 12 Football Media Days, Jul 8, 2025, in Frisco, Texas, USA. Hunter fielded questions from assembled media as part of the conference’s annual preseason event at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
The translation? These are rookies who seem like a reach right now. Or might fit this lingo: “I like him, but the Vikings can trade down and still get him.” That was Jackson at this time last year, and he ultimately became a Viking at pick No. 25.
Who Makes the Most Sense?
Minnesota has more than one long-term roster need right now because of former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s nauserating drafting habits. But from the list above, the players who might propel the Vikings to “reach” can be reasonably narrowed to this:
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
Caleb Banks (DL, Florida)
Kayden McDonald (DL, Ohio State)
Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
Lee Hunter (DL, Texas Tech)
Interim boss general manager Rob Brzezinski would basically see one of those names and fear that another team would swipe him, and with Minnesota’s draft board not necessarily aligning with the CBB, he could pounce.
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (98) celebrates a fumble recovery with teammates after forcing a turnover, reacting quickly during first-half action at Gies Memorial Stadium, Oct 11, 2025, in Champaign, Illinois, USA. The Buckeyes capitalized on the play against Illinois as momentum shifted following the defensive takeaway. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Columbus Dispatch.
Yahoo Sports‘ Nate Tice mock-drafted McDonald to Minnesota at No. 18 this week and explained, “There are a couple of interesting safety options, they could look to find the T.J. Hockenson replacement in Kenyon Sadiq, or they could add some tangible beef to their defensive line. Brian Flores is going to scheme pressures and big plays for his defense, but the Vikings could use someone to eat up blocks to let teammates fly to the football.”
“McDonald isn’t the sexiest prospect, but his ability to hold up against the run is his calling card, while also having light enough feet to be used on the twists and stunts that Flores loves so much. McDonald is basically the defensive version of the line of thinking that led to the Donovan Jackson selection last year at offensive guard: a tangible trench talent who can let the creative coaches be creative.”
The Favorites Otherwise
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Back to reality, if the Vikings do not follow last year’s pattern, these are arguably the frontrunners to join the club with the 18th overall pick:
Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
In the last two weeks, since the NFL Combine, Thieneman has morphed into the Vikings’ almighty mock-draft darling.
Chris Waller, the trainer, and John Messara, the owner, made public on Tuesday their plan for Autumn Glow to challenge herself at a mid-distance journey for the first instance in her unblemished 11-start sequence, for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes scheduled April 11 on The Championships’ Day Two.
Consequently, the mare Autumn Glow will forego entry in the Group 1 $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at that venue a week before.
Monday saw Waller, Messara and star jockey James McDonald confer on potential races, ultimately converging on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes target for her.
In the George Ryder Stakes last Saturday, Autumn Glow unleashed her strongest performance to date, taking the prize by almost three lengths with plenty in reserve.
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A Timeform score of 128 came her way, level with The Everest conqueror Ka Ying Rising as Australia’s highest racetrack rating this season, solidifying beliefs among her team that 2000m in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is feasible.
“We’ve been very pleased with how she’s come through her impressive George Ryder Stakes victory,” Waller said.
“James McDonald and I have been particularly taken with her ability to relax in her races, along with her outstanding recovery post run.”
Messara explained Autumn Glow’s stellar showing in the Ryder sealed his view to pursue the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
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“I felt her win last Saturday was so dominant, she deserves the opportunity to go to 2000m – she wasn’t even blowing after the race and has pulled up so well,” Messara said.
“We looked at the Doncaster Mile carefully, it is a great race but it comes with the usual risks and a very big field.
“Plus it will be worthwhile finding out of Autumn Glow gets a strong 2000m as we have a race in the spring called the Cox Plate we want to consider.”
The announcement prompted TAB Fixed Odds to compress Autumn Glow’s price from $1.60 to $1.50 for Sydney’s autumn weight-for-age highlight.
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Doncaster Mile odds shifted correspondingly, installing exciting three-year-old filly Sheza Alibi as the $2.10 frontrunner.
“With confirmation Autumn Glow will go to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, she is into $1.50 now,” TAB’s Tim Ryan said.
“Pending further news on who else is going to the Queen Elizabeth, Autumn Glow will probably start even shorter.
“We had Autumn Glow at $3.50 for the Doncaster but now we know she isn’t going to run, Sheza Alibi has firmed from $2.30 to $2.10 favourite. The money for Sheza Alibi has been relentless.”
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A Queen Elizabeth Stakes success would crown Autumn Glow, dubbed racing’s “Miss Invincible”, as Horse of the Year.
Mar 24, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong against the New York Yankees during spring training at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
A day after news broke that the Chicago Cubs and Pete Crow-Armstrong were finalizing a contract extension, multiple media outlets reported the specifics on Tuesday.
The center fielder reportedly is receiving a six-year, $115 million deal.
It’s quite a present one day before Crow-Armstrong’s 24th birthday on Wednesday.
Last season, Crow-Armstrong received his first All-Star selection, won a Gold Glove and ended up ninth in National League MVP voting.
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In his third major league campaign, Crow-Armstrong got off to a great start in 2025, hitting .265/.302/.544 with 25 homers and 71 RBIs in 95 games before the All-Star break. He faltered in the second half, however, batting .216/.262/.372 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 62 games.
He ended the year at .247/.287/.481 with 31 homers and 95 RBIs. Crow-Armstrong also amassed 37 doubles and 35 stolen bases, becoming the first Cub with 30-plus doubles, homers and steals in the same season.
Crow-Armstrong, through 293 major league games, has a .240/.285/.437 batting line with 50 doubles, 10 triples, 41 homers, 143 RBIs and 64 steals.
Chosen by the Mets in the first round (19th overall) of the 2020 draft, Crow-Armstrong was sent to the Cubs in the July 2021 trade that moved infielder Javier Baez and right-hander Trevor Williams to New York.
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The Cubs begin the season on Thursday at home against the Washington Nationals.
McDavid became the fifth player in Oilers history to reach 400 goals when he took a feed from Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard and beat Karel Vejmelka with 7:53 left in the second period.
The go-ahead goal was his 40th of the season and put Edmonton in front 3-2. He scored his 401st goal on an empty-netter with 7.5 seconds remaining that also gave him his 1,200th point. McDavid also has 799 career assists.
Evan Bouchard had three assists to give him 82 points as he joined Cale Makar, Erik Karlsson and Roman Josi as the only NHL defencemen to record multiple 80-point seasons since 2005-06.
To complete the milestone-rich contest, Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins posted his 800th career NHL point with an assist in the first period on one of two goals by Roslovic. Matt Savoie scored a short-handed goal in the second.
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Edmonton had 24 blocked shots and allowed just 18 shots on goal. Tristan Jarry made 16 saves.
The Oilers have won their last five games against the Mammoth and leapfrogged the Vegas Golden Knights (79-78 points) for second place in the Pacific Division as the playoff races heat up.
Alexander Kerfoot and Lawson Crouse scored for Utah. Vejmelka stopped 11 shots, but was replaced after the second period by Vitek Vanecek.
Utah’s André Tourigny coached his 400th career NHL game (164-191-45).
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Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton left in the first period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return.
Oilers: Visit Vegas on Thursday night.
Mammoth: Host Washington on Thursday night to finish their four-game homestand.
1 min read Last Updated : Mar 20 2026 | 11:00 AM IST
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has torn a muscle in his upper right leg, jeopardizing his availability for a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Courtois was substituted at halftime of Madrid’s Champions League game at Manchester City on Tuesday. Madrid won 2-1 and the round-of-16 tie by 5-1 on aggregate.
The club on Thursday did not say how long its top goalkeeper would be out. Andriy Lunin will take his place.
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Madrid hosts Atletico Madrid in a La Liga derby on Sunday before an international break, when Courtois’ Belgium plays the United States in a friendly in Atlanta on March 28.
Belgium also plays Mexico in another World Cup warmup in Chicago on April 1.
Madrid then starts its Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern on April 7.
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The 33-year-old Courtois has been a key part of Madrid’s most recent European successes, helping to win its 14th and 15th European Cups in 2022 and 2024.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tiger Woods insists he wants to play in next month’s Masters despite getting his “arse kicked” on his return to action in the TGL Finals.
The 15-time major champion had back surgery last October, having been sidelined since The Open in the summer of 2024, but made his return as his Jupiter Links team were beaten in the final of the golf league co-founded by Woods and Rory McIlroy.
Woods replaced Kevin Kisner in the Jupiter Links side for the second finals contest against Los Angeles Golf Club, with LA having won the opener on Monday.
The 50-year-old looked in good shape physically as he hit a couple of drives over 300 yards, but was unable to prevent a 9-2 defeat as Los Angeles, featuring English pair Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, secured the best-of-three series with a game to spare.
“It was fine physically,” Woods said afterwards in a press conference broadcast by Sky Sports.
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“I had a couple of drives I had to hit and a couple of putts… it was a lot of fun to be a part of it.
“We got our arse kicked at the end. Three eagles in a row, we didn’t respond. I missed a short one to kind of get it started and give them momentum and we never got it back.
“I’m frustrated that we didn’t get it done, we had opportunities like last night – we should have won that match – and they steam-rolled us at the end.”
On his chances of playing the Masters at Augusta National, which starts on April 9, Woods, who has been plagued by back issues in recent years, while he also ruptured his Achilles tendon last spring, added: “I’ve been trying, this body doesn’t recover like it did when I was 24, 25.
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“It doesn’t mean I’m not trying; I’ve been trying for a while.
“I’ve had a couple of bad injuries last year that I’ve had to fight through and has taken some time. I keep trying – I want to play.
“I’ve loved the tournament, I’ve loved being there since I was 19 years old so it’s meant a lot to me and my family over the years and I’m going to be there either way.
“We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be practising, playing, and keep trying to make progress.
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“It feels good to be back but I would have liked it to be better circumstances. That’s the way sport is – you put yourself out there and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and you deal with it.”
Jupiter Links had gone 2-0 up in the second game of the finals but Woods missed a three-foot putt on the seventh and Los Angeles seized the momentum with three eagles in a row from the eighth.
That run culminated in Rose, who lost a play-off to Rory McIlroy at Augusta last year, hitting a five-wood to four feet on the par-five 10th, prompting Jupiter to concede the hole and tournament.
Rose said: “They got off to a good start, fair play, but we were doing nothing tragic to second guess ourselves.
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“You’re not always going to go three eagles on the bounce, that’s an insane way to finish and we’ve even taken ourselves by surprise there. It finished in a hurry which was good for us and a shame for everyone else here today.”
Between North Carolina’s tradition-rich history, iconic brand and ample resources, the Tar Heels should have a conga line of proven coaches eager to take the job. And yet the vast majority of elite programs that have had recent coaching vacancies have struggled to land the type of prominent names that will undoubtedly be atop North Carolina’s wish list.
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Can North Carolina still land a big fish even in an era when an elite coach doesn’t necessarily need to be working at a blue blood to compete for a national title? This job search will be a litmus test. Here are a half-dozen heavy hitters that North Carolina could consider and some pros and cons to each of them.
Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls head coach
Age: 60
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Why he makes sense: There are few coaches North Carolina could target with a better resume than that of Donovan. The three-time SEC coach of the year guided Florida to six regular-season conference titles, four Final Fours and a pair of national championships over the course of a brilliant 18-year run as head coach of the Gators.
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Donovan has spent the past 11 seasons coaching the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls. He has passed when other top-tier college jobs have opened, but might he be in need of a fresh start with the Bulls in 12th place in the East and facing a long rebuild.
Why he doesn’t: Donovan might still be happy in the NBA and decide he prefers to stick it out with the Bulls rather than return to the college level. Then there’s also the fact that the timing isn’t ideal with the Bulls not playing their final regular-season game until April 12.
But the biggest concern might be how drastically the college game has changed since Donovan left it more than a decade ago. Donovan is an excellent tactician and a skilled communicator, but would he be able to seamlessly adjust to the world of NIL payouts, unlimited transfers without restrictions and annual roster churn?
Florida’s Todd Golden would be a likely candidate for the UNC job if he wants to leave Gainesville. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
(Mike Carlson via Getty Images)
Todd Golden, Florida coach
Age: 40
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Why he makes sense: If North Carolina can’t get Donovan, why not try for the coach who returned Florida to the mountaintop? Golden became the youngest coach since Jim Valvano to win a national championship last season. He followed that up this season by leading the Gators to a second straight No. 1 seed and an outright SEC title.
Analytically, he is cutting edge. He has also displayed a sharp eye for talent and a knack for player development, plucking the likes of Walter Clayton and Will Richard from the mid-major ranks and transforming Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon from three-star recruits into NBA prospects. Golden appears to be one of the next generation of coaching stars.
Why he doesn’t: The first stumbling block is whether Golden would be interested. Why does Golden need to go to North Carolina when he has already shown that he can win national titles and annually compete at the highest level where he is now?
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Then there’s the matter of how much it would cost even before North Carolina ponied up to pay Golden and a new staff. If Golden leaves for another college job before April 15, 2026, his new school would owe Florida $16 million. This figure drops to $11 million on April 16, 2026.
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North Carolina would also have to do its due diligence on off-court concerns about Golden. He was the subject of a four-month Title IX investigation last season regarding allegations of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and stalking. Florida closed that investigation in January 2025 with no findings of policy violations.
Tommy Lloyd, Arizona coach
Age: 51
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Why he makes sense: For years, Lloyd was Mark Few’s most trusted lieutenant at Gonzaga. It wasn’t just that Lloyd was college basketball’s finest international recruiter, bringing the likes of Domantas Sabonis, Rui Hachimura, Kelly Olynyk and Kevin Pangos to Spokane, Washington. Lloyd was also a well-rounded coach who constructed Gonzaga’s offense and was instrumental in game planning and player development.
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Since becoming the head coach at Arizona four years ago, Lloyd has excelled. He has earned top-two NCAA tournament seeds in four of his first five seasons in Tucson and has the Wildcats poised to challenge for a national title this year. He has shown the ability to build elite offensive and defensive teams, to recruit elite American prospects and top-tier international talent.
Why he doesn’t: The one element missing from Lloyd’s resume is a deep NCAA tournament run. While he might take care of that in the next week, Lloyd’s previous Arizona teams have failed to advance beyond the Sweet 16.
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Would North Carolina pay an $11 million buyout to secure a coach who has never advanced beyond the Sweet 16? And would Lloyd pack his bags and leave the West’s top program — apologies to Gonzaga and UCLA — to head to the Triangle?
Dusty May, Michigan coach
Age: 49
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Why he makes sense: After taking Florida Atlantic to back-to-back NCAA tournaments and a Final Four, May has crushed it at his first big-boy job. He has shown a keen eye for talent in the transfer portal and a knack for building rosters that fit in two seasons at Michigan.
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In a 12-day shopping spree last spring, May assembled a title contender via the transfer portal, adding skilled 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara, rim runner Morez Johnson, do-it-all forward Yaxel Lendeborg and pass-first playmaker Elliot Cadeau. That quartet has carried the Wolverines to 33 wins, including routs of Howard and Saint Louis to open NCAA tournament play.
Why he doesn’t: Michigan has given May all the resources he needs to assemble top-tier rosters and compete for national championships. He has said repeatedly that he is very happy in Ann Arbor.
Does he have any reason to mess with happy? Especially when one of the reasons he chose Michigan over Louisville was to avoid the media scrutiny and job pressure that comes with coaching at a traditional basketball power?
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Nate Oats, Alabama coach
Age: 51
Why he makes sense: Start with Oats’ on-court accomplishments. The offensive mastermind has won big at both Buffalo and Alabama, piling up 59 wins in his final two seasons as coach of the Bulls before leading the Crimson Tide to unprecedented heights. Alabama has advanced to the Sweet 16 or beyond in five of the past six seasons. The Tide have been no worse than fourth nationally in offensive efficiency each of the past three seasons.
Basketball at North Carolina is more important than it will ever be at football-first Alabama. Might that appeal to Oats to go somewhere that he’ll never play second fiddle?
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Why he doesn’t: The buyout is among the highest in college basketball. The school that hires Oats away from Alabama would have to pay $18 million until April 1 or $10 million after that date.
Then there’s the controversy that has followed Oats in recent years with several high-profile player arrests and poor crisis management. Is that something that North Carolina would be eager to deal with?
TJ Otzelberger, Iowa State coach
Age: 48
Why he makes sense: It’s easy to forget that Iowa State was 2-22 the year before Otzelberger arrived. The Cyclones have made the NCAA tournament in each of Otzelberger’s five seasons in Ames, earning top-three seeds each of the past three years.
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Otzelberger’s success is driven by shrewd player evaluation, a culture of grit and accountability and a defensive system that relies on using aggressive traps and ball pressure to force turnovers. Iowa State has boasted a top-13 defense nationally every season under Otzelberger and was No. 1 in the country two years ago.
Why he doesn’t: Otzelberger has deep ties to Ames spanning multiple stints as an Iowa State assistant coach before taking over as head coach in 2021. His roots might be too deep for him to pick up and leave, though North Carolina is the sort of job that could make anyone have a wandering eye.
Then there’s the issue of whether his blue-collar approach would translate well at a blue blood. Could he lead a team of millionaires? And would his lack of a NCAA tournament run beyond the Sweet 16 prevent North Carolina from targeting him?
Hyacine is featured in one of Honkai Star Rail 4.1’s phase one banners. The character first debuted during version 3.5 and has been reigning supreme ever since. Hyacine is one of the best healers who tread on the Remembrance Path and is required to complete most endgame activities. Since players can acquire her during the first half of this update, they might wonder if she is worth getting.
If you have a surplus of Stellar Jade, getting Hyacine in Honkai Star Rail 4.1 is a good choice. Here’s why.
Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflects the author’s opinion.
Reasons why you should be getting Hyacine in Honkai Star Rail 4.1, explored
Character Preview | #Hyacine Hey, Trailblazers! Today, we bring you the character preview for Hyacine (Remembrance: Wind)! Learn More: #HonkaiStarRail
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As mentioned, Hyacine is currently available in Honkai Star Rail 4.1. Her banner will expire when the second half of the ongoing patch commences. Hence, players roughly have two weeks to add this unit to their collection. While she is obtainable, you definitely should get Hyacine.
In the current meta, the premium Castorice team is reigning supreme. Since she consumes all of her allies’ HP alongside her own, Hyacine’s healing comes into play as the amount she can replenish is astonishing. Moreover, she can easily help Castorice gain Newbud charge at a surprising rate, allowing the DPS to summon her memosprite, Netherwing.
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Other than that, Hyacine can be played in any compositions, due to her potent healing capabilities. Furthermore, her memosprite, Ica, can deal a significant amount of Wind damage to the enemies. The damage scales with how much HP Hyacine has replenished. Ica’s extra damage can prove to be useful in most endgame activities, since the majority of enemies have abnormally high HP pools.
Hence, if you want to have the upper hand while clearing such activities, then getting Hyacine in Honkai Star Rail 4.1 is a no-brainer. However, pulling a limited-time 5-star character solely depends on the player and their account. If you think your account will benefit from you pulling Hyacine, then do so. Otherwise, save your Stellar Jade for future characters.
For more articles related to Honkai Star Rail, check out the following section:
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The Brooklyn Nets still have two games left on their west coast road trip and that means they have two more chances to end their losing streak before heading home. Brooklyn has had some tough matchups over the course of March, but as they head into another hostile environment, they are still dealing with some crucial injuries to the current rotation.
The Nets announced on Tuesday that forward Noah Clowney, as well as rookies Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore, are out for Wednesday’s game at the Golden State Warriors due to their respective reasons. Traore is out on Wednesday due to rest while Wolf is still recovering from a left ankle sprain and Clowney is nursing a right wrist sprain.
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Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has not had much of an update on either Wolf or Clowney after their went down with their injuries so it’s probably safe to assume that they will be out for the rest of the road trip. Assuming that’s the case, Brooklyn will have to rely on some of the other players that have been available recently, such as forward Ziaire Williams and center Nic Claxton.
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Williams is coming off one of the better games that he’s had this season after he dropped 16 points, four rebounds, and two steals in Monday’s 134-99 loss at the Portland Trail Blazers. Claxton, who returned for Monday’s game at Portland after being rested himself, played well against Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan with his 10 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes.
The good news for the Nets is that they should have an easier time going against the Warriors on Wednesday as they are missing several key players, including Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Moses Moody. Fernandez has had to rely on players towards the end of the roster, such as Two-Way guard Tyson Etienne, and it looks like all of those healthy players will be needed once again if Brooklyn is going to snap its losing streak at eight games.
Ten horses have been removed from contention at the latest Grand National scratchings stage leaving 34 runners for the showdown at Aintree on 11 April
The latest scratchings stage of the Grand National has arrived with 10 horses now out of the running. This leaves a current field of 34 set to compete in the Aintree showdown.
National Hunt enthusiasts will soon flock to the Liverpool course as the historic £1million National is less than a month away. The demanding four-mile, two-and-a-half furlong race sees the sport’s top staying chasers tackle 30 fences.
Prior to Tuesday, three horses had been withdrawn. Dan Skelton’s Gold Cup contender Grey Dawning was pulled, as was Olly Murphy’s Bet365 Gold Cup champion Resplendent Grey. Mouse Morris also scratched Gentlemansgame.
Now, an additional seven horses have been removed. These include Gordon Elliott’s entries Western Fold, Croke Park, Better Days Ahead and Search For Glory.
Ben Pauling has also withdrawn Handstands and Pic Roc, whilst Anthony Honeyball has taken out Leave of Absence.
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This leaves a final field of 34, led by Willie Mullins’ pair of 2024 winner I Am Maximus and Bobbyjo Chase victor Grangeclare West. The latter finished third last year.
It’s worth noting that many of the current 34 contenders could withdraw in the coming weeks leaving others to get in, with some choosing to participate in the Irish National on 6 April instead. Oscars Brother is currently leading that market.
One of the top British prospects could be Welsh and Irish National winner Haiti Couleurs. Rebecca Curtis’s gelding last competed in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but his trainer has indicated he will be aimed at Aintree if all goes well.
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Earlier this month, she stated: “I’m excited to run him in the National now, hopefully, if everyone agrees. Where else do you go with him? That is his forte, National-type races, that’s where he’s done well.
“If he shows me that he’s fit and well in the next few weeks there’s no reason not to go. Plenty of horses run at Cheltenham and then Aintree.
“It’s not a lot different to what we did last year when he ran at Cheltenham and then in the Irish National, that was similar timing. The fences are not that big anymore are they so that’s the plan if he trains well the next few weeks, I don’t see why not.”
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The 34 horses currently set to compete in the Grand National
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