The Daytona 500 is almost here. On Thursday night, the drivers competed in the Duels to determine the starting order for the Great American race.
The single-car qualifying took place on Wednesday night. In single-car qualifying, each driver ran a timed lap around the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The top 10 drivers advanced to Round 2 to compete for the pole position, racing another timed lap. The two fastest drivers in that round will be in the front row for the Daytona 500.
Kyle Busch finished first and won his first Daytona 500 pole. Last year’s pole-sitter Chase Briscoe finished with the second-best time, putting him right behind Busch in the lineup.
The single-car qualifying also set the lineup for each Duel qualifying race. Drivers that placed in odd number positions (third, fifth, etc.) raced in Duel 1. Drivers who placed in even number finishes (fourth, sixth, etc.) raced in Duel 2.
The Duels are 60-lap, 150-mile qualifying races that set the third to 40th positions in Sunday’s race. Duel 1’s finishing order determines the inside rows and Duel 2’s finishing order determines the outside row for the Daytona 500.
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Points are awarded to the top 10 finishers in each Duel and will count towards the regular season. First place of each Duel race will get 10 points, second will get nine points, etc.
Daytona 500 order
1. Kyle Busch 2. Chase Briscoe 3. Joey Logano 4. Chase Elliott 5. Ryan Blaney 6. Carson Hocevar 7. Austin Dillon 8. Kyle Larson 9. Brad Keselowski 10. Michael McDowell 11. John Hunter Nemechek 12. Christopher Bell 13. Shane van Gisbergen 14. Josh Berry 15. Daniel Suarez 16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr 17. Casey Mears 18. Todd Gilliland 19. Ryan Preece 20. Ty Gibbs 21. Alex Bowman 22. Denny Hamlin 23. Cole Custer 24. Erik Jones 25. Noah Gragson 26. Tyler Reddick 27. Bubba Wallace 28. Riley Herbst 29. Corey Heim 30. Zane Smith 31. Jimmie Johnson 32. Connor Zilisch 33. Cody Ware 34. Ty Dillon 35. AJ Allmendinger 36. Austin Cindric 37. Ross Chastain 38. Anthony Alfredo 39. William Byron 40. Justin Allgaier 41. Chris Buescher
Failed to qualify
Corey LaJoie (Duel 1)
Chandler Smith (Duel 1)
BJ McLeod (Duel 2)
JJ Yeley (Duel 2)
Duel 1 results
1. Joey Logano 2. Ryan Blaney 3. Austin Dillon 4. Brad Keselowski 5. John Hunter Nemechek 6. Shane van Gisbergen 7. Daniel Suarez 8. Casey Mears 9. Ryan Preece 10. Alex Bowman 11. Cole Custer 12. Noah Gragson 13. Bubba Wallace 14. Corey Heim 15. Jimmie Johnson 16. Chandler Smith 17. Cody Ware 18. Kyle Busch 19. Corey LaJoie 20. AJ Allmendinger 21. Ross Chastain 22. William Byron 23. Chris Buescher
Duel 2 results
1. Chase Elliott 2. Carson Hocevar 3. Kyle Larson 4. Michael McDowell 5. Christopher Bell 6. Josh Berry 7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr 8. Todd Gilliland 9. Ty Gibbs 10. Denny Hamlin 11. Erik Jones 12. Tyler Reddick 13. Riley Herbst 14. Zane Smith 15. Connor Zilisch 16. Ty Dillon 17. Austin Cindric 18. Anthony Alfredo 19. BJ McLeod 20. Chase Briscoe 21. Justin Allgaier 22. JJ Yeley
Australia suffered one of the most shocking defeats in their second Group A clash of the 2026 T20 World Cup against Zimbabwe in Colombo on February 13. After a comfortable win over Ireland in their tournament opener, the Men in Yellow looked off-color from the get-go against a spirited Zimbabwean unit.
On a two-paced wicket, the Aussies conceded 169 to Zimbabwe in 20 overs, picking up only two wickets. In response, they suffered an embarrassing collapse in the power play to be relegated to 29/4 in the fifth over.
Despite a brief recovery, thanks to Matt Renshaw’s brilliant 65, Australia lost wickets throughout their innings. They were eventually bowled out for 146 in the last over, resulting in a 23-run defeat.
It was Australia’s second defeat in as many T20 World Cup matches against Zimbabwe, following their stunning five-wicket loss in 2007.
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Fans on X reacted to Australia’s loss to the lower-ranked Zimbabwe as follows:
ZIMBABWE JUST BEAT AUSTRALIA in the T20 World Cup 2026! 🔥 23-run upset! Underdogs turning giants into dust 🇿🇼🏆
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Congratulations Zimbabwe for “eating” australia ❤️
@GabbbarSingh “Expected: Kangaroos hopping to victory 🦘 Reality: Zimbabwe playing chess while Australia brought checkers.” ♟️🔥 Cricket — the only place where “minnows” casually eat the sharks. 🏏😌 #AUSvsZIM
Fans continued reacting to Australia’s stunning loss to Zimbabwe, with one saying:
“Australia deserve to lose for not taking T20 World Cup seriously.”
“Australia’s overconfidence has been broken,” a fan posted.
“The second time they have beaten Australia in T20Is. This was a pathetic performance by Australia. I haven’t been convinced by their squad since the start. I don’t like their approach towards the World Cup at all. One of the weakest Australian units I have seen,” said a fan.
“We’ve been here before” – Travis Head
Australian skipper Travis Head remained upbeat despite the side’s stunning defeat to Zimbabwe, pointing to the 2023 ODI World Cup as an example of their ability to bounce back. The Men in Yellow lost their opening two matches of that tournament but bounced back to clinch the title by defeating India in the final.
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“We’ve been here before. We said at the toss a little bit about 23 and having injuries and working through navigating through tournament play, which is typical. And we’re seeing a lot of tight games. And yeah, we’ve found ourselves in this position before. We had a few guys in that dressing room who were here in India in 23 that navigated through that, and we ended up on the right side of it. So, we’ll go back to the blueprint of that,” said Head at the post-match presentation (via Cricbuzz).
The loss leaves Australia in a precarious position in Group B, with the side having to win its last two group stage games to have a chance of advancing to the Super Eights. They will take on co-hosts Sri Lanka in their next outing at Pallekele on Monday, February 16.
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New Delhi: India all-rounder Riyan Parag is all set to be named as the new Rajasthan Royals captain at 4pm today. While options included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel and even the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, the think tank favoured Parag, who has been with the franchise since making his IPL debut in 2019. The RR unit has consistently backed the youngster and even retained him for Rs 14 crore ahead of the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league.
He was always groomed for bigger roles in the franchise and the big hint came last season when he served as the stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Sanju Samson. The original captain also signalled what the future could hold.
“I won’t be Rajasthan Royals’ captain forever. There has to be someone groomed for the future. The franchise has developed multiple leaders, and for the next three games, we believe Riyan Parag is ready and capable of leading the side,” Sanju Samson told PTI in 2025.
The 24-year-old has been with the IPL franchise for seven years but his best performance came in 2024 where he scored 573 runs in 16 games at an average of 52.09 and a healthy strike rate of 149.22. His IPL outings put him on the selectors’ radar, earning him his first T20I and ODI caps for the country that same year.
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Under Parag, who became the youngest player to lead RR last season, the franchise is set to usher in a new era and hopes the long wait for the title — which was last won in the inaugural IPL edition under the late Shane Warne — will end.
A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the turf prior to kickoff against the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 19, 2023, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the purple shell and horn logo prominently displayed as players completed warmups before preseason action. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Minnesota Vikings tight end coach Brian Angelichio a couple of weeks ago to run Mike McCarthy’s offense, and Minnesota will promote from within to replace him. Game management coordinator and passing game specialist Ryan Cordell will take the tight end coaching job, further rounding out O’Connell’s staff with free agency about three and a half weeks away.
Cordell moves up for the Vikings after Angelichio left, and the tight end group now becomes a 2026 storyline.
Minnesota’s tight end could experience some turnover, but Cordell will be there to cook regardless.
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Ryan Cordell Moves Up on the Vikings Offensive Coaching Staff
More coaching staff changes for the purple team.
Minnesota Vikings tight ends coach Ryan Cordell instructs his group during 2025 training camp, working closely with the position unit as drills unfold on the practice field and emphasizing technique, timing, and physicality in preparation for the upcoming regular season. Mandatory Credit: Vikings.com
Cordell Promoted
CBS Sports announced the promotion news on Thursday, as Matthew Zenith tweeted, “The Vikings are expected to name Ryan Cordell as their new tight ends coach, sources tell CBS Sports. Has worked for Minnesota the last four years and had been game management coordinator/passing game specialist. Now expected to be promoted to tight ends coach.”
The aforementioned Angelchio landed one of the most unexpected promotions among all Vikings coaches this offseason, taking over the Steelers’ offense. Now, it’s time for Cordell to possibly shine in his stead.
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Cordell’s Bio
The Vikings have employed Cordell since 2022, and before that, he worked in Cleveland as a running backs coach and also helped bolster the offensive line. From 2014 to 2018, Cordell served as an assistant to the general manager with the San Francisco 49ers, where he rubbed shoulders with a young whippersnapper named Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Vikings.com writes on his most recent responsibilities, “As the Vikings game management coordinator, Cordell continues to play a key role in helping the team become ‘situational masters.’ During the 2022 season, Cordell’s first in Minnesota, the Vikings finished the regular season with an 11-0 record in one score games after finishing 5-8 in those same situations the previous season. In 2024, Minnesota also boasted a 9-1 record in one-possession games in 2024, the second-best mark league wide trailing only the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs (11-0).”
“Cordell helped lead the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record and playoff appearance in 2024, the second-most wins in team history, as the team only trailed for league-low 3:31:56 combined in its 17 regular-season games in 2024. Cordell also assisted in the Vikings finishing ninth in scoring (25.4 points per game) and seventh in passing offense (237.8 yards per game).”
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In Cleveland, his job title as RB coach had an interim caveat, so his promotion to TE coach this week is the most illustrious of his career.
The TE Room for 2026
Some believe Minnesota could release TE1 T.J. Hockenson to save cap space, but if that is not correct, here’s what the TE1 room might look like with the players under contract:
T.J. Hockenson
Josh Oliver
Gavin Bartholomew
Ben Yurosek
Bryson Nesbit
Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half on Dec. 7, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, celebrating in front of the home crowd after finishing a red-zone drive. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Another tight end, Ben Sims, is slated to test free agency.
Hockenson to Stay or Go?
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Hockenson’s status is the largest question facing Cordell out of the gate in his new job. Minnesota can cut Hockenson and save nearly $16 million if the transaction is dated with a post-June 1 designation. The Vikings, without an official general manager, could turn around and sign two new players with those funds.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with Hockenson; it’s just that quarterback J.J. McCarthy rarely targeted him, and when Minnesota suffered persistent and nagging offensive lineman injuries last season, Hockenson was used to pass- and run-block more than usual. It’s worth noting that he was the NFL’s fourth -highest-paid tight end last season, so using him as a blocker felt a little silly.
A writer at Daily Norsemannoted on Hockenson this week, “Restructuring T.J. Hockenson is a viable alternative to cutting him, though many analysts predict he may be a ‘cap casualty’ due to declining production. A restructure is a good idea if the Vikings believe he can return to his pre-injury Pro Bowl form and want to avoid a massive hole at tight end.”
“Conclusion: If you value Hockenson as a core piece for J,.J. McCarthy, a restructure is the preferred ‘save space’ move. However, if the team prefers a “clean” 2027 cap, a Post-June 1 Cut provides the most total relief across both seasons.”
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Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) speaks with quarterback Sam Darnold (14) following a road victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, discussing plays as teammates gathered after the final whistle. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
Theoretically, Minnesota could drop Hockenson, sign a veteran like David Njoku or Cade Otton for cheap, and add more talent around the roster with savings from Hockenson’s release.
The Vikings’ offense ranked 28th in the NFL last year in EPA per play. Yes, the club somehow won nine games with the league’s fifth-worst offense.
That number may increase this fall when recently drafted players play their first games as pros.
Click on the name of each school to see the players who have played in NFL games.
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New Mexico’s Carlsbad High School has produced seven NFL players to lead the State, followed by Eldorado, Highland, Roswell, Rio Rancho and Clovis high schools with three each.
Here is a list of the state’s top pro-producing high schools with their respective ranks, player counts, and cities.
Top New Mexico High Schools
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Plus six schools with two: Hobbs, Clovis, Albuquerque, Lovington, Cibola, Alamogordo.
Blessing Muzarabani claimed a superb 4-17 as Zimbabwe held their nerve to stun Australia with a thrilling 23-run win in the T20 World Cup.
Set the tricky target of 170, Australia had looked in big trouble at 29-4 before Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell’s 77-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Australia needed 34 runs off the final two overs, but when Renshaw was caught for 65 after he skied Muzarabani with eight balls remaining the game was effectively up.
The result leaves Group B delicately poised after two games apiece, with Australia two points behind Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, who face the Aussies on Monday.
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Zimbabwe initially looked to have been guilty of playing too cautiously after they were asked to bat first at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Opener Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 64 off 56 balls featured seven fours but came at a strike rate of 114.28 as he played the anchor role.
Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl were decidedly more aggressive, both hitting 35 off 21 and 30 balls respectively.
Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 13-ball 25 provided some late impetus as he struck their only six off the final ball of the innings.
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The chase looked to be comfortably within reach for an Australian side that made 182-6 in their victory over Ireland in the opening game.
However, Muzarabani and Brad Evans removed the key wickets of Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green and Tim David to leave Australia in a world of trouble.
Renshaw and Maxwell rebuilt but when the latter dragged on to Burl to fall for 31 – one of only three Australia players to make double figures – it piled on the pressure.
Muzarabani then returned to bowl the penultimate over and, after the 6ft 8in pace bowler removed Renshaw, Zimbabwe swiftly administered the coupe de grace.
Devin Haney has already ruled in three weight divisions and after just one fight at welterweight, the 27-year-old southpaw may be set to move on to another new weight.
Haney became the undisputed lightweight world champion when he defeated George Kambosos, before defending the throne in a rematch with the Aussie and then against the legendary Vasyl Lomachenko.
The Californian then routed Regis Prograis to get his hands on the WBC super-lightweight crown in 2023 and, after a controversial no-contest against Ryan Garcia and a catchweight clash with Jose Carlos Ramirez, Haney moved on to the welterweight scene.
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On his 147lb debut in November, Haney put together one of the performances of the year to overcome Brian Norman Jr and claim the WBO welterweight strap, teeing up a host of superfights at welterweight, including a grudge match rematch with Garcia.
Although, despite a number of lucrative options in his current division, Bill Haney, father and trainer of Devin, told ThaBoxingVoice that his son may move up to super-welterweight in order to take on unified WBA and WBO 154lb titleholder, Xander Zayas.
“We have a relationship with Top Rank and we know that [Zayas fight] can be an option.
“Being a four-time champ, has a lust, an appeal, a legacy component in there. Xander having a country behind him in Puerto Rico, it makes for an exciting story.”
Yet, despite Zayas being boxing’s youngest unified world champion, holding two of the four super-welterweight belts, Bill Haney went on to dismiss the Puerto Rican star’s chances in the proposed contest.
Manchester City Women are top of the Super League and strong favourites to lift the title.
05:00, 13 Feb 2026
Manchester City Women are enjoying themselves on and off the pitch. The Blues may have suffered just a second Women’s Super League defeat of the season last time out but they remain well placed to end a decade-long wait for title glory and the confidence and clarity in the squad is clear to see.
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City were beaten 1-0 at the Emirates by Arsenal last time out and entertain Leicester City today aiming to return to winning ways and extend their advantage at the top of the table. The Blues are eight points clear of Manchester United with defending champions Chelsea a further point back. Arsenal, with a game in hand, are 10 points adrift of City.
The lead is a sizeable one with only seven games to go and it should grow further when bottom of the table Leicester visit the Joie Stadium. You won’t hear anyone at City thinking it’s job done yet, mind, but there has been a noticeable change in approach this season under new manager Andrée Jeglertz.
Appointed in the summer, he has enjoyed something of a dream start to life in Manchester with 13 wins from 15 league games. On the pitch City are performing, off it the squad is closer than it has ever been.
There has been a focus on forging a togetherness with players socialising together in large groups and regularly going out for team meals. Jeglertz wanted to build on what was in place at City and identified the culture and mentality as something that could be improved. The players have bought into it and are reaping the rewards.
“I think we did it right in the beginning of building on what was done before and changing the things I felt we needed to change,” he explained, speaking to the MEN. “What we have done a lot is building a group that can work together, that is there for each other and that is the most important thing with the quality we have.”
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
Jeglertz believes that togetherness is perhaps the most important ingredient in building success. “It is crucial,” he said. “I think you see that in many sports teams. The team likes to spend time with each other on and off the field and means we rely on each other.
That has transferred to the pitch with the trust built up by becoming a tight-knit unit away from matchdays, helping City execute when it comes to the games.
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“We talked a lot about building a structure but keeping the creativity side of it,” he added. “We have a gameplan for each game but the players are very good with relationships on the field and feeling that they have so many options. I am not on the sides telling them, it has to be their decisions. They feel comfortable in making the decisions.”
The key for Jeglertz and City has been bringing that togetherness to the table alongside an elite mindset. Join the two together, and the Swede believes the results and success will follow.
“We can have a great group that likes to be together but there has to be a competition part and a want to win. Everyone in the group needs to have that.
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“I didn’t expect that we should be in this situation after six or seven months but in every game we have played, it is to try to win the game with a strong belief. It is a team that is enjoying playing football together at the moment.”
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