GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Notre Dame tight end James Flanigan knew exactly how he wanted to celebrate scoring his first career touchdown in the stadium where his father and grandfather played.

Flanigan’s father and grandfather, both named Jim Flanigan, each played for the Green Bay Packers. After scoring on a 3-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of No. 4 Notre Dame’s 41-13 victory over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, Flanigan pumped his fist in the air just as his dad used to do during his own playing days.

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“I saw some clip of my dad, there’s like this highlight reel out there I’ve watched before,” Flanigan said. “I used to make fun of him for doing it, but now it’s kind of become my thing, I guess. It’s just super fun.”

Flanigan’s father also played at Notre Dame before launching a 10-year NFL career as a defensive tackle with the Chicago Bears (1994-2000), Packers (2001), San Francisco 49ers (2002) and Philadelphia Eagles (2003). He won the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2000.

Flanigan’s grandfather, who died last year at the age of 80, played linebacker for the Packers from 1967-70 and New Orleans Saints in 1971. His 1967 Packers team won Super Bowl II.

That made it particularly special for the sophomore tight end to return to his hometown and play Notre Dame’s season opener at a place where his family had so much history.

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He worked hard to keep his emotions in check.

“My plan for it worked,” Flanigan said. “It was in pregame warmups, go out on the field and soak it all in. If I see family, say ‘Hi,’ and wave. And then, once we run out of the tunnel after warmups, it’s all business from there.”

Flanigan played four games for Notre Dame last year and didn’t have any catches, but he figures to have a bigger role this year. He scored the Irish’s first touchdown of the season by catching a CJ Carr pass around the line of scrimmage and getting into the left corner of the end zone.

Then he paid tribute to his dad.

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“The boys were pumped about that,” Carr said. “Really cool to see him come home and end up having a touchdown.”

He became just the latest Flanigan to make a name for himself at one of football’s grandest cathedrals.

“There’s three generations of Flanigans who have been on that field and made some plays,” Flanigan said. “That’s really special.”

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“I think my intent was very positive, and I had thought that I would play with positive intent because that is my game. I think I had a positive mindset. There was no such pressure because I have come here after playing a Ranji match, so my mindset was just that the way I was playing in the Ranji match, I should have the same intent here. (On Easwarn’s run-out) I think it was there for two or four overs, like he was the set batter, he was batting on 81, so there was a little bit of a thought that it would be a loss for our team, but I thought that then I would also score his runs,” said East Zone batter Shikhar Mohan. 

Ask around. Various people will have various opinions for about the Vikings’ breakout candidate. Allow me to insert a new name into the mix.

Last year, LG1 Donovan Jackson had a solid season. He did so even as a rookie newcomer who had spent his past college season playing left tackle instead of his more natural home of left guard. So, too, did he offer sturdy football despite working through his own injury. Might he have a large jump in his near future? I’ll argue that he does.

The Vikings’ Breakout Candidate: LG1 Donovan Jackson

Before moving on too quickly, consider the coalition of factors that worked against Jackson.

The kid was playing in his debut NFL season after a long college run that led to winning the CFB National Championship. In a truncated offseason, he got chosen at No. 24 overall to become a Minnesota Viking. He then worked through injury and saw many of his teammates work through injury, as well. The player to his left (Christian Darrisaw) and player to his right (Ryan Kelly) both missed a lot of time.

Worse yet, the quarterback play has shaky at best. Blocking for a passer who is struggling is much more difficult than somebody who is thriving. Moreover, the lack of a run game can also make life difficult for a blocker. The large lads like to fire out of their stance every so often rather than needing to constantly be on their heels in pass pro.

And one more thing: OL coach Chris Kuper got shown the door following the season. Doing so evidently came due to being displeased with how the offensive lineman were playing.

Despite all of these factors, Donovan Jackson played reasonably well He wasn’t Steve Hutchinson out there but he was an NFL starter.

— READ MORE: Roster Grind Continues for Vikings —
— READ MORE: 3 Quick Vikings News Updates —

In the PFF rankings, Jackson found himself listed at 45th among the 81 under consideration. Where he showed the most promise was in pass protection, an area of the game where he pulled down a 65.7 grade that led to being listed at 26th overall.

His report card shows 2 sacks allowed, 5 QB hits allowed, and 26 pressures. There were then 4 penalties.

Generally speaking, football rewards players who combine talent with a work ethic. Likewise, the game tends to smile on those who are rugged, durable, and willing to battle. Donovan Jackson qualifies.

Not often does a guard get scooped up in the 1st. In opting for the Ohio State alumnus, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah put the ball straight down the fairway. Jackson is already a good player who appears ready to see growth arrive due to better health, confidence in the scheme, and coaching.

The left guard is listed as being 6’4″ and weighing 323 pounds. Seeing him form a gruesome twosome along the left side with Darrisaw wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Those two are capable of putting a dent into the line of scrimmage on a regular basis.

Jackson is 23.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Filip Hrgovic has positioned himself for an immediate title defence after causing a major upset against Moses Itauma last Saturday.

The pair squared off for the vacant IBF strap at London’s O2 Arena, with many favouring Itauma to become the youngest world heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson.

And, indeed, the 21-year-old appeared likely to do so, having scored a second-round knockdown and dominated the vast majority of their exchanges.

In a truly dramatic turn of events, however, Itauma emptied his tank in round eight before succumbing to a stoppage defeat during the following three minutes.

The heavyweight prodigy therefore suffered the first loss of his career, both amateur and professional, while Hrgovic became his country’s first-ever world heavyweight champion.

Instead of pursuing unification matches, though, the Croatian must first face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who took step-aside money while Hrgovic and Itauma collided for the IBF title.

Speaking with BoxingScene, Sanchez’ advisor, Guadalupe Valencia, has confirmed that the Cuban will not be incentivised to wait in the wings for any longer.

“Frank called me during the [Itauma-Hrgovic] fight to say, ‘Lupe, I’ll fight both of these guys’. He saw that fight and knew neither of those guys can compete with him. And after the fight, he called to say, ‘You’ve gotta make that fight. I’ll fight tomorrow’.

“Now Frank is the mandatory for Hrgovic. We plan on enforcing it. We’ve already had discussions about it. It’s happening. There’s not going to be step-asides for no amount of money.”

With Sanchez coming off a second-round finish over Richard Torrez Jr in May, the 34-year-old represents a dangerous and well-schooled opponent for Hrgovic, who just defeated another southpaw in the form of Itauma.

Tyson Fury has suggested his all-British blockbuster bout with Anthony Joshua is off and has challenged Oleksandr Usyk to a third fight.

Fury and Joshua have been locked in negotiations over a mega-money bout but the ‘Gypsy King’ has grown impatient at a lack of confirmation, calling his rival a “coward” earlier in the week.

Fury has now said Joshua has “s**t his pants” and turned his attention to Usyk, who he lost twice to on points in 2024.

“AJ has s**t his pants again, yet again,” he told his followers in a post on social media. “After 11 years he has finally s**t his pants yet again.

“This will only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Oleksandr you’re his (Joshua’s) trainer and his sensei and you know he is a weak minded piece of s**t and that he would never fight the Gypsy King, which you have had the guts to do twice.

“You got the decisions last time, fair play to you. Good luck to you, let’s do it again. Let’s run it back in November. The ball is now in your court… do you want to fight me this year, 2026, or are you calling quits? Let me know because I am now looking for a new opponent.”

Joshua’s promotor, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, has previously said an agreement hinged on his client’s net purse.

New York’s Madison Square Garden was widely expected to be announced as the venue despite Joshua’s camp preferring Wembley Stadium as Sela, the Saudi state-owned promotional company financing the fight, wanted a bigger American audience on Netflix.

The only ranked-on-ranked matchup of the Week 1 college football schedule comes on Sunday evening as the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels and No. 24 Louisville Cardinals meet in Nashville. Ole Miss made the College Football Playoff last year but is beginning a new era with Pete Golding in charge for his first full season after he took over in the playoff run following Lane Kiffin’s exit to LSU. Heisman candidate quarterback Trinidad Chambliss returns, giving Ole Miss a sky-high ceiling this season. Louisville has been a consistent contender in the ACC under Jeff Brohm as the Cardinals have won at least nine games in all three of his seasons. Visit our DraftKings promo code review and get $200 in bonus bets as a new user after $5+ in wagers here:

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. The Rebels are 6.5-point favorites in the latest Ole Miss vs. Louisville odds, while the over/under is 55.5 points. The Rebels are at -255 on the money line (risk $255 to win $100). Before making any Louisville vs. Ole Miss picks, check out the Louisville vs. Ole Miss predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. It is on a 32-19 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks on betting sites since the 2024 season, and it has been upgraded for the 2026 season to even better factor in the transfer portal. Anybody following its college football betting picks could have seen strong returns. 

Now, the model has set its sights on Louisville vs. Ole Miss. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the FBS college football odds and trends for Ole Miss vs. Louisville.

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Top Ole Miss vs. Louisville predictions

After simulated Louisville vs. Ole Miss 10,000 times, SportsLine model is going Under (55.5 points) on the total at the best betting apps. Ole Miss has arguably the best backfield in the nation with Chambliss at quarterback and Kewan Lacy at running back. Louisville, however, is projected to be stout defensively this year after finishing in the top 40 in scoring and total defense last year. Anchored by NFL prospects such as Clev Lubin and A.J. Green on the defensive front, Louisville appears have the personnel to at least slow this high-powered Ole Miss attack.

The Rebels might have bigger names on offense, but they were one of the better defenses in the nation last year, and they reinforced that side of the ball with several big transfer portal additions. SportsLine’s model has neither team scoring more than 30 points as they combine for 49, making the Under the value play in 60% of simulations in an A-rated pick. See the model’s spread and money-line picks at SportsLine.

How to make Louisville vs. Ole Miss picks

In addition to going Under on the total, the model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Ole Miss vs. Louisville, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that’s on a 32-19 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks, and find out.

Top trainer Kenny Ellis has highlighted a key attribute which, if Conor Benn nullifies the left hook of Ryan Garcia, could lead to a major upset victory for the Brit.

The 29-year-old has, indeed, been made a sizable underdog as he approaches his maiden world title challenge at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12.

Not only are his world-level credentials somewhat questionable, but Benn has also not made 147lbs since his second-round stoppage of Chris van Heerden in 2022.

Later that year, ‘The Destroyer’ tested positive for banned substance clomifene, before eventually rescheduling his middleweight contest with Chris Eubank Jr for April 2025.

And despite losing a unanimous decision, Benn received immense credit for the character he showed in the heat of battle, where it appeared, at times, that he was getting the better of Eubank, who he widely outpointed in their immediate rematch.

Because of this grit, American coach Ellis, who helps train the likes of Gervonta Davis, has told FightHype that he is predicting a shock defeat for Garcia, who will make a first defence of his WBC welterweight title against Benn.

“I like Ryan – he’s a better boxer [than Benn] – but I think Conor Benn has a better tolerance for pain. He might overcome Ryan’s boxing skills.”

“If he can get past the left hook, he should be good.”

Garcia became a world champion at 147lbs in February, dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory after scoring a first-round knockdown.

This followed his points defeat to Rolando Romero in May 2025, which arrived after the American served a year-long doping ban.