In 2019 Bolton were not just relegated out of the Championship, but their very existence looked in doubt.

A takeover went through later that summer but the damage of an interrupted season had already taken hold and a second successive relegation in a Covid-interrupted campaign followed.

And then came the rebuild.

Ian Evatt led them back to the third tier and a pathway to the second could have followed in 2024, having narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to the Championship.

The League One play-off final beckoned and, off the back of an impressive campaign, perhaps they were destined to return to the second tier just five years after it had all gone wrong.

Bolton were, after all, a prolific play-off side, having twice won promotion to the Premier League via the nail biting end-of-season competition.

That day at Wembley two years ago felt like a step too far, however with a jaded Bolton looking off the pace. Opponents Oxford might not have been fancied before kick-off, but they controlled the game, scored twice, and earned their place in the Championship.

Fast forward two years and Oxford are down and face a return to League One, but could Bolton pull off a reverse in fortunes and take their place? Simons’ finish at Valley Parade means that dream moves a step closer.

“I couldn’t think of anyone better to score the goal to take us to Wembley. It’s been tough in the second half of the season for Xav,” Schumacher added.

“He’s found himself sometimes out of starting XIs or matchday squads but he’s a model pro, he’s done absolutely everything properly all the time, every single day.

“For him to come on and score the goal and take us to Wembley, I’m delighted for him.”

Remember the Lamar Jackson trade sweepstakes from a couple of offseasons ago that didn’t ultimately amount to much? That situation could be happening again, and the Minnesota Vikings would undoubtedly be a whispered destination for Jackson if so.

Minnesota’s quarterback room already has enough intrigue without another superstar trade rumor entering the picture.

SI.com‘s Jason La Canfora insinuated this week that an ugly holdout could be around the bend for Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, setting the stage for trade talks.

The Price Tag and QB Setup Make This Rumor Hard to Believe

The Vikings’ quarterback situation is pretty well set?

La Canfora’s Intel on Jackson

One of La Canfora’s sources, an NFL agent, recently told him about Jackson’s contract situation, “A trade demand would absolutely be on the table if I was advising Lamar. I’m not coming in with it, but I’m coming in with a very firm hand, and I’m not putting up with any of their bullsh!t. And if it’s not done before training camp, we’re done talking.”

“It’s pretty simple – and Lamar did a great job with this before, although the right agent could have earned that 1.5% commission and got it done sooner. You are giving us a significant increase on the Dak Prescott deal. That’s not even a discussion. We are asking for 100% guarantees again, and not wavering … And, yes, we are absolutely willing to play that trade-demand card.”

That sure sounds like the table-setting for an ugly summer.

Fansided’s Theory on Vikings + Jackson

In the fallout of La Canfora’s intel, Fansided‘s Alicia de Artola forecasted theoretical trade landing spots for Jackson, and somewhat unsurprisingly, the Vikings made the cut.

She explained, “The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray to a one-year deal and look all set to continue their pattern of letting Kevin O’Connell work his magic on a distressed asset.”

“Murray isn’t Jackson though. Instead of restoring a piece of furniture they found in a back alley, Minnesota could try bringing in an actual star and reopening their Super Bowl window. O’Connell is too good a head coach to let the Vikings slip into one of the draft slots that could give them a franchise QB.”

Trading for Jackson this summer would be a truly bizarre outcome from a Vikings standpoint.

de Arotla added, “Going out and getting him a readymade one could actually give the team the boost they need to contend. If I’m Jackson, I’m looking at the Vikings and salivating. A QB whisperer like O’Connell?”

“A receiving corps led by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? Sign me up. Would the Vikings actually bite? Well, they have to actually hire a GM first, so Jackson may have to keep dreaming.”

Money Would Be Tricky

Aside from having a full quarterback room — Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer — trading for Jackson would present financial hurdles for Minnesota. The Ravens would eat about $32 million in dead cap with the maneuver — pretty doable on their end — while his cap numbers look like this through the end of 2028 with his next squad:

Jackson would not take a discount to play for the Vikings, and in fact, would expect an extension as part of the would-be trade. And these are the same Vikings who just conducted a quiet free agency to reset their salary cap standing for 2027 and beyond.

Minnesota would essentially make a deal for a quarterback by sending multiple 1st-Round picks to the Ravens and bowing to his contract demands of $60 million+ per season. Meanwhile, it would be doing trade business with the team that recently backed out of the Maxx Crosby deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in controversial fashion.

It’s a long way of saying that Jackson to Minnesota is pretty damn unlikely.

Probably a 2027 Talker if Anything

Pretend for a moment that the Vikings have a palpable interest in Jackson. They’ll likely want to see how the affordable solutions at quarterback — Murray and McCarthy — play out in 2026. It just doesn’t add up to trade gobs of draft picks for Jackson, who will want $60 million, when Jackson-lite (Murray) is ready and waiting to lead the franchise for $1.3 million in 2026. The pay gap is too vast.

However, if one assumes that the Murray + McCarthy experiment goes pear-shaped in 2026, Minnesota would be back at square one in the 2027 offseason, examining the quarterback-rich draft class of 2027 and all trade options, including Jackson, if he’s still in the trade rumor mill.

Therefore, reasonable Jackson trade rumors regarding the Vikings should be reserved for the 2027 offseason, if at all.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Harlem Queen’s path post-three hasn’t mirrored initial expectations, but trainer Nathan Doyle views her recent smooth prep positively for recapturing form steadiness.

Resuming Saturday at Scone’s Dark Jewel Classic (1400m), the mare suits longer journeys later yet barrier five bodes well per Doyle for an encouraging return.

“The 1400 is probably a perfect starting point,” Doyle said.

“I don’t want any less of a trip than that, she’d probably get run off her feet. But she’s on a big spacious track in Scone, she’s had two decent trials, and she’s as forward as we can get her first up.”

In 2024’s Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), she placed before fourths in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and VRC Oaks (2500m) same year.

Follow-up outings proved inconsistent, standout being a Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) placing last year and Listed Ladies Day Cup (1600m) triumph at Hawkesbury in November.

Doyle explains previous niggling concerns shaped her schedule, contrasting this flawless run-up.

“She’s a horse that’s had a few little niggles along the way, so that’s why she didn’t have too long a preparation (last spring), and we just elected to pull up stumps and give her a break,” Doyle said.

“Touch wood, this time in everything’s been quite smooth sailing with her, and she seems in a good spot. I can’t fault her.

“If she’s anywhere near her best, she’ll be running well.”

Mercy Me tests stakes grade for Doyle in the 1100m Denise’s Joy Stakes among fillies, after her summer-ending treble.

Targeted fresh for Saturday, Doyle eyes continuation of her strong prior finish into this prep.

“She probably disappointed me earlier because I always said to the owners she was a filly with a stack of ability, and I didn’t expect her to get beaten at her first start and I didn’t expect her to be beaten first-up (in December),” he said.

“That was a bit of a head-scratcher, but obviously she’s now gone to the races and proven what I’ve said to the owners and what I’ve thought, which is a bit of a relief.

“She’s got two trials under her belt after a little bit of a freshen up, and 1100 at Scone is a perfect race for her. She deserves her chance at stakes class.”

Joining Harlem Queen and Mercy Me as Doyle stakes hopes is Churchill’s Choice in the Friday Scone Cup (1600m).

For the Dark Jewel Classic, punters can check betting sites offering competitive racing odds.

Connacht sit 9th in the URC table, just one point outside the top eight. A win in Edinburgh is essential if they are to keep alive their hopes of knockout rugby and Champions Cup qualification.

Mumbai Indians found success under their new stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, as the franchise handed Punjab Kings their fifth consecutive defeat of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season on Thursday. The result didn’t just make playoff qualification a complicated affair for the Shreyas Iyer-led side, but also gave Mumbai a glimpse into the future, where Bumrah could be seen leading the team. With Hardik Pandya nursing a back injury and Suryakumar Yadav out due to personal reasons, Bumrah was given the team’s leadership responsibility. While the marquee pacer was elated to have helped his team secure a victory on the day, he did have a few jokes up his sleeve regarding the captaincy situation.

Bumrah, who has led Team India in Test cricket in the past, had said during the toss that he didn’t expect to have led the national team in the longest format before captaining his IPL side, Mumbai. After the game, he said that Tests and T20s are done; now the only thing left, as far as his captaincy ambitions are concerned is ODI cricket, but he doesn’t think that is going to happen.

Bumrah felt pleased with the team’s overall performance and execution of plans on a slightly drier pitch where bowling a consistent length proved crucial. He praised the bowlers for maintaining composure and highlighted the impact of Varma’s match-winning knock, along with the support from Will Jacks and the bowling efforts of Shardul Thakur, noting that all contributions were equally important.

“Yeah, one from one (smiles). Both teams played good cricket, and we really pulled back well. A little bit, but the wicket in this game looked a little bit drier than the previous one. Maybe it wasn’t as cold as it was in the last game. Whatever we saw in the previous game and reading this game, holding your length was key. That was the plan, and credit to all bowlers, and they kept their nerve as well. I think Tilak’s knock and the way Shardul bowled both deserve equal credit. Tilak kept his shape, Jacks also contributed. I have captained a Test match, I have captained T20s, and now the only game left is ODI cricket, but I don’t see that happening. Jokes apart, very happy. Had good fun, good weather, great ground, so enjoyed my time,” Bumrah said in the presentation ceremony.

Bumrah made his IPL captaincy debut for the Mumbai Indians on Thursday. Full-time skipper Hardik Pandya is recovering from a back spasm injury, and stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav was missing from the clash due to personal reasons.

A blistering half-century from Tilak Varma and an explosive knock from Ryan Rickelton powered the Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket victory over the Punjab Kings. The defeat marked Punjab Kings’ fifth straight loss, leaving them stranded on 13 points, with Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals closing in on them in the playoff race.

Varma anchored the chase with composure, forging a crucial stand with Will Jacks. He struck a scintillating 75 off 33 balls, while Jacks provided explosive support with 25 off just 10 deliveries.

With ANI Inputs

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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season

After scoring its third-most runs of the season on Tuesday against Georgetown, Maryland baseball only scored three runs in seven innings against Penn State Thursday, leading to the Terps’ 10th loss in a conference series opener.

Maryland fell, 13-3, to Penn State in the first game of its final conference series at the Bob Thursday night. The Terps only scored in two out of the seven innings, struggling to keep Penn State at bay.

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“It doesn’t matter whether we’re out or not, we’re coaching and doing all those different things,” head coach Matt Swope said. “Next year, it’s definitely going to have to be a point of emphasis, or do some things differently.”

The Nittany Lions snagged the lead in the top of the first after Maryland starting pitcher James Gladden walked the first two batters and then threw a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly and an error by shortstop Ty Kaunas then sent those baserunners home.

Maryland failed to score but kept the Nittany Lions scoreless in the top of the second. Gladden’s first and only strikeout of the game, a fly out to left center and a sliding catch in shallow right field by redshirt junior Jordan Crosland retired the side.

That would be one of the only innings the Nittany Lions failed to score in.

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The Terps grabbed their first run of the game in the bottom of the second after a single to right center by sophomore Paul Jones II — his 12th RBI in the past 48 hours. Jones II notched 11 on Tuesday against Georgetown.

A couple minutes later, Maryland loaded the bases with two outs. Brayden Martin stepped to the plate but promptly grounded out to Penn State shortstop Preston Yaucher to strand three runners on base.

“We needed somebody to come through there early on and keep it going and keep it close, and we didn’t do that,” Swope said. “Whether it’s bases loaded or nobody on, it’s more process oriented stuff, and we didn’t come through today.”

Thursday night was Gladden’s first start with the Terps. After pitching two innings with one strikeout and three walks, he was replaced by junior left-hander Landon Edwards.

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“We’re just trying to piece together the game,” Swope said. “I think we’re just trying to get through the game.”

After hitting a batter, Edwards punched out his first strikeout. Jones II reached into the Penn State dugout to snag a foul ball for a highlight-reel second out.

Penn State’s Jesse Jaconski blasted a solo homer over the left center wall to extend the Nittany Lions’ lead. The Terps ended the inning after catcher Devin Russell threw out Spencer Barnett in a second base steal attempt.

Maryland attempted to catch up to Penn State in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run by junior David Mendez over the right center wall. The junior’s 10th slam this season flew off the bat at 108 mph.

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Mendez’s homer also marked Maryland’s final runs of the contest.

The Nittany Lions extended their lead in the top of the fourth after a two-run home run by Maddox McDonald to center field.

Right-hander Andrew Koshy took the mound in place of Edwards with no outs. Following a single through left field and strikeout, Penn State’s Michael Anderson notched another two-run blast to make it an 8-3 game.

The Terps left three runners on base once again in the bottom of the fourth after a single and two walks. Penn State brought in right-hander Ben DeMell with two outs, and he struck out redshirt freshman Ryan Costello to end the inning.

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“It was going to be a slug it out day, and [we] needed to just get a couple more big swings in those situations,” Swope said. “We didn’t do enough offensively today in those situations.”

The Nittany Lions snagged another four runs in the top of the fifth after an RBI double by McDonald down the left field line slid right under Martin’s glove. A walk loaded the bases before Anderson drove a two-run RBI single between shortstop and third base.

Penn State’s Bryce Molinaro then doubled off the left field wall. A runner scored from third, but Anderson was thrown out on the relay to home.

Maryland failed to score throughout the remainder of the game. The Nittany Lions scored one more in the top of the sixth after back-to-back failed pickoff attempts to give them a 10-run lead.

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Right-hander Quinn Yellin made his third appearance of the season in the top of the seventh and managed to keep Penn State scoreless for the second frame of the night.

However, the Terps failed to bring any runs in the bottom of the seventh, causing the game to prematurely end for their seventh run-rule ending and final series-opener of the season.

“The things that we’ve struggled with are pretty apparent, but we’re continuing to struggle with those things [injuries] too,” Swope said.

Three things to know

1. Lack of offense. Maryland has scored less than four runs in 13 out of its 54 games this season. Two days prior to Thursday night’s game, the Terps slammed 14 hits against Georgetown including four home runs and 11 RBIs. Thursday, Maryland recorded eight hits and one home run against Penn State.

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2. Stranded runners. The Terps stranded a total of 12 runners on base Thursday night, including leaving the bases loaded twice. Costello has the most grand slams in the nation with four, but failed to make it five during his at bat in the bottom of the fourth.
3. Busted bullpen. The Terps went through five pitchers Thursday night after going through seven on Tuesday against Penn State. The five pitchers allowed 12 earned runs, walking eight batters and throwing seven strikeouts.

Roberto Duran is certain who deserves the honour of being known as the greatest boxer of all time.

To many people, Duran himself would be one of the contenders for that accolade, having had an illustrious career over the course of five decades, making him just the second boxer to have competed over that timespan.

During that period he became a four-weight world champion, reigning at lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, with his final record standing at 103 wins from 119 fights.

It is perhaps his time as one of the ‘Four Kings’ that Duran is best known for, competing in epic clashes with fellow greats Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns throughout the 1980s.

When it comes to the debate of the best to ever do it, modern fighters such as Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are sometimes mentioned, while past legends like Muhammad Ali are more regular suggestions.

Another fighter that is often selected by fans is the man Duran had in mind for his pick though, as he revealed to ESNews.

“Sugar Ray Robinson is the best.”

Robinson’s incredible achievements inside the ring speak for themselves, holding the world welterweight title for five years from 1946 to 1951, before going on to become world middleweight champion on five occasions.

He went on a remarkable 91-fight unbeaten streak and at one stage had recorded 129 wins from 132 fights, with 85 of those victories coming by knockout.

Robinson eventually called time on his career in 1965 having won 174 of his 201 fights, and it is clear why Duran and so many others deem him to be the best of all time.

The Cincinnati Bengals will open their 2026 NFL season in what is expected to be an exhilarating game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was revealed by NFL insider Jordan Schultz ahead of the league’s official release of the full schedule for the upcoming season on Thursday.

The matchup immediately sparked reactions among fans across social media, with many visualizing the level of entertainment the game is bound to offer. It’s a clash between two quarterbacks who entered the league as No. 1 picks and are both looking to brush off the disappointment of 2025.

Both Cincinnati and Tampa Bay missed out on playoff football last season, and the game is an opportunity for the two to set the tone for the new season. It was the Bucs’ first playoff miss in five seasons, while the Bengals made it a streak of three seasons without postseason football.

The two teams last met during the 2022 season, with the Bengals securing a 34-23 win over the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. They’ve squared up 13 times in the history of the NFL, with the Bengals leading the series with a 7-6 record.

Social media reaction to the Week 1 game ranged from excitement to anticipation, down to nervousness. Fans are waiting to see the Bengals’ electric offense face the Buccaneers’ physical defense in a compelling early-season encounter.

Here’s a look at some of the reactions online:

Update: The Bengals’ full 2026 schedule

Here’s the Bengals’ schedule for the 2026 NFL season as released by the NFL on Thursday night.

Preseason schedule

Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles

Regular Season Schedule

Week 1: Sept. 13 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)

Week 2: Sept. 20 at Houston Texans – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)

Week 3: Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)

Week 4: Oct. 4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)

Week 5: Oct. 11 at Miami Dolphins – 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: Oct. 25 at Baltimore Ravens – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)

Week 8: Nov. 1 vs. Tennessee Titans – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)

Week 9: Nov. 8 vs. Atlanta Falcons (Madrid) – 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network)

Week 10: Nov. 15 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Week 11: Nov. 23 at Washington Commanders – 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Week 12: Nov. 29 vs. New Orleans Saints – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)

Week 13: Dec. 6 at Cleveland Browns – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)

Week 14: Dec. 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs – 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)

Week 15: Dec. 20 at Carolina Panthers – 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)

Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts – TBD

Week 17: Dec. 31 vs. Baltimore Ravens – 8:15 p.m. ET (Amazon)

Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns – TBD